This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Scottie Scheffler occupies this spot – my favorite pro golfer.

Actually, he has been close to the top for most of the last year as he has carved out a special place in golf.

But, with this Players Championship win last weekend, the top spot is his.

I first ran into Scheffler when I watched him play in the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship in 2015 as the event was held at Eugene Golf and Country Club.  Scheffler led his University of Texas team into the match play portion of the tournament.  In the finals, Texas played the University of Oregon Ducks.

Eventually, in a great result for U of O coach Casey Martin, a Eugene resident, the Ducks prevailed 3 and 2.

In one of the five matches, Scheffler played the Ducks’ number one player, Aaron Wise, and beat him.  Still, the Ducks won.

Besides being a great final, it was, overall, a star-studded field, with four players in the field who are now making a name for themselves on the PGA Tour – Scheffler, Wise, John Rahm, and Beau Hossler. 

I used to say that Phil Mickelson was my favorite golfer, but his defection to LIV golf, not to mention his antics since bolting, have removed him from my favor.  However, I suspect he wouldn’t care.

While there are a handful of pro golfers I also like – Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Max Homa, to name three – Scheffler stands alone.

Here’s why:

• His style of playing is to illustrate that old golf question and answer:  What’s the most important shot in golf?  The next one.  He talks about “staying in the moment,” which is hugely important in pro tournaments.

• His Christian lifestyle is attractive and he often talks about his “values,” which include living a life for God.

• He values his family and talks about the great relationship he has with his wife, as well as his parents, his siblings, and his grandmother.

• After a victorious round, such as the one last Sunday, he is quick to praise his caddy, Ted Scott, for the role he played in producing the victory.  Many players don’t do that; I like that Scheffler recognizes his accomplishments are not singular.

Shortly after Scheffler and Scott got together more than a year ago, they shared how their Christian faith had buoyed them individually over the years and how their shared values would form a solid foundation for their tandem.

So, here’s to both of them – Scheffler and Scott.