'This Can't Be All': Tom Brady Gets Candid on Scottie Scheffler

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 1:37 PM ET

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler set his priorities straight during The Open Championship week: “I would much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer.”

Scheffler went on to explain saying, "I’m blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or my son, that’s going to be the last day that I play out here for a living."

His openness about wrestling with fame and family resonated across the sports world.

Enter Tom Brady. In his newsletter Tuesday on TomBrady.com, the NFL legend, broadcaster and entrepreneur waded into the debate from his own perspective.

Reflecting on a 2005 “60 Minutes” interview, Brady confessed that he sounded just like Scheffler. He recalled being 27, freshly adorned with three Super Bowl rings and questioning whether championships alone could satisfy a life’s purpose.

But later he changed: “I found myself thinking, ‘There’s gotta be more than this … this can’t be all.’

“At the top is yourself, and your physical, mental and emotional health. Then there’s the relationship with your significant other or partner. Then you have your children, then your work, then your extended family, your friends, your hobbies and finally your greater community.

Tonight, Tom Brady has his 7th ring.

He now has more Super Bowl wins than all 32 NFL franchises. pic.twitter.com/9n1SpNlUFt
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 8, 2021

“Every layer of that pyramid is a priority. At any given moment, one of these priorities is taking precedence over the others. And the question is always whether it’s the right priority for the moment. That is the question it seems Scottie Scheffler is wrestling with: do I have my priorities straight?”

"My question is: why are those mutually exclusive? Sure, they’re different blocks on the pyramid, but they’re part of the same pyramid. They’re connected!"

By pursuing greatness on the field, athletes model commitment and teamwork for their children, demonstrating that work can enrich rather than diminish family life.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: