Scottie Scheffler reveals how early Nike deal changed his life before PGA Tour stardom

Scottie Scheffler has revealed that an early deal with Nike gave him the financial freedom to concentrate on becoming a professional golfer without constantly worrying about how he would pay for his next tournament.

Scheffler turned professional in 2018 but was already backed by Nike, who clearly saw something special in the young American. They were proved right, with Scheffler going on to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2019-20 season before establishing himself as the dominant player in world golf.

Scheffler has now won 21 times on the PGA Tour, highlighted by four major titles, and he also captured a FedEx Cup and Olympic gold medal in 2024. 

The 30-year-old is also about to take down Tiger Woods' longstanding career earnings record on the PGA Tour. 

Scheffler is currently leading the FedEx Cup standings heading into the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club, having arrived in Missouri fresh from an emphatic eight-shot victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

However, his life today is a world away from his early days as a professional.

Speaking ahead of the BMW Championship, Scheffler explained just how important Nike's backing was when he was travelling around the country trying to make his way onto the PGA Tour.

"I signed with Nike right when I got out of school and was able to give me some money that I needed going forward to where I didn't have to worry about like a place I was going to stay or, like, can I afford these Monday qualifiers, Q-School, stuff like that," he told reporters during his Wednesday press conference. 

Scheffler explained that the support allowed him to travel across the country and compete without the same financial pressure facing many young professionals.

"Nike was a partner of mine growing up and they were a partner right from the beginning when I turned pro. I was able to have some freedom when it came to flying across the country," he added. 

Watch Scheffler's comments in full here:

That freedom proved particularly valuable because life on the mini tours and Monday qualifying circuit can quickly become expensive.

Scheffler recalled making trips where he would spend hours driving between events, while accommodation was often anything but luxurious.

"I think Doc Redman and I were driving around the Midwest for a few weeks playing Monday qualifiers and mini-tour events," he said.

He even revealed that he sometimes travelled with a mattress pad so he could sleep on hotel floors rather than uncomfortable beds.

"I played I think three mini-tour events, and a couple of them I traveled with my mattress pad in my car because I could sleep on the floor, it was going to be more comfortable than the hotel bed, so I slept on the floor in the hotel rooms."

Those memories may seem extraordinary given Scheffler's current status, but they provide an insight into just how far he has come.

Today, the American is one of the highest-paid and most successful golfers in the world. 

Back some 10 years ago, Nike's early support meant he could focus on improving his game rather than constantly checking his bank account to see whether he could afford the next flight, hotel or Monday qualifier.

The deal did not make Scheffler the golfer he is today, but it gave him something invaluable during the most uncertain stage of his career: the financial freedom to chase his dream.