Who’s in Scottie Scheffler’s inner circle? Millionaire caddie, wife, and childhood coach

Scottie Scheffler further cemented his place in golf's annal of history on Sunday, securing the 2025 PGA Championship. The American concluded with a brilliant six-under 65 in the final round, warding off a late surge from Jon Rahm.

His third major title reasserted his position at the pinnacle of the golfing world, after briefly yielding to Masters champion Rory McIlroy. However, behind each swing, putt, and triumphant gesture is a close-knit group of supporters who have moulded Scheffler's career. From his reliable caddie to his loving wife and lifelong coaches, Express Sport takes you through the individuals who helped propel the world No. 1.

Caddie

Ted Scott, Scheffler's caddie since late 2021, is more than just a bag-carrier - he's a trusted advisor and a crucial component of the dominance. Having previously caddied for Bubba Watson during two Masters victories, Scott has been present for all 15 of Scheffler's PGA Tour triumphs.

His 2024 earnings, bolstered by Scheffler's nine wins, reportedly reached millions, with caddies typically receiving 10 per cent of a player's prize money for a win. Scott's soothing presence and shared Christian faith, which Scheffler prioritised when hiring him, have fostered a strong connection, with the pair often attending Bible study together.

Caddie Scott has raked in an impressive $19million from his 25-year career, with earnings so substantial under Scheffler that the golfer had to employ financial help. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast last year, Scheffler said: "We have a girl that helps us pay bills basically because I'm a child and I can't keep track of all that stuff.

"She quickly took over that job and texts me at the end of each week, saying, 'Hey, this is how much we're paying Ted?' I'm like, 'That's great.'"

Meredith Scheffler

Meredith, Scottie's high school sweetheart, has been a constant in his life since their days at Highland Park High School in Texas. The couple tied the knot in 2020 and celebrated the arrival of their son, Bennett, in May 2024. As a director at Behind Every Door, a Dallas-based charity, Meredith juggles her successful career with being a supportive partner at Scheffler's golfing events.

Although she couldn't attend his 2024 Masters victory due to her pregnancy, her calming influence was pivotal during his initial Augusta win in 2022, helping to soothe his pre-final round jitters. Meredith stood by Scheffler as he revelled in his triumph at Quail Hollow on Sunday, and after his decisive putt on the 18th green, she expressed her heartfelt admiration. She said: "I am so proud of you, so proud of you."

Scheffler had many warm words for her, saying: "I've got a great family, a great wife and a wonderful son. I feel like off the golf course, my life is wonderful. We live what I would feel like is a pretty simple life at home. Life on the golf course has been great as well.

"I've been able to win some tournaments. When we go home, sometimes I think Meredith and I still feel like we're in high school. We have great friends, and we're looking forward to getting home this week and doing normal stuff with our friends, celebrating a nice win."

Scheffler's parents

Scheffler's ascent in the world of golf wouldn't be possible without the love and commitment of his parents, Scott and Diane, who've been instrumental since his early years. Moving from New Jersey to Dallas when he was six and joining Royal Oaks Country Club was just the start. With Diane working as a lawyer and Scott dedicating himself as a stay-at-home dad, they provided Sceffler and his sisters with everything they needed, including securing memberships at clubs through loans for his budding golf career.

Speaking about their influence, Scheffler said: "I was fortunate to grow up in a home with two parents that loved all of us very dearly, and my mom was the one who was working and supporting our family financially, which I would say is a little bit different. I couldn't speak highly enough of the hard work that my parents invested into my career through the years."

His father Scott once expressed his awe at his son's talent, saying: "I used to wonder, 'Can Scottie really be that good at his craft, at the game of golf?' And he is. He truly has been given a gift, and he uses it. It does surprise me. He's my child. He's my son. Sometimes you just say to yourself, 'Wow.'".

Scheffler's parents have consistently shown their unwavering support over the years, with Scott and Diane regularly spotted cheering him on at tournaments. Like Meredith, they embraced their son after his victory at Quail Hollow, with Scheffler Sr heard telling Jr: "Words can't describe what we just watched. You are the toughest guy, and the sweetest boy. I'm so proud of you. Thank you for never giving up, Scottie."

Deputy Caddie

Brad Payne, a PGA Tour chaplain and close friend of Scheffler, stepped in as a backup caddie during the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship when Ted Scott attended his daughter's graduation. "That's something we talked about from the beginning of our relationship was family always comes first, and it's the same thing for me as it is for my caddie," Scheffler explained at the time.

"It was a pretty easy decision. He told me at the beginning of this year that that was the date that it was, so I got a backup caddie lined up."

Payne, an ex-college golfer at Pepperdine who occasionally caddies for Paul Stankowski, shares Scheffler's Christian faith, fostering a deep bond between them. Payne's influence extends beyond the course, as he serves as a spiritual mentor, guiding Scheffler through life's challenges, including a 2024 arrest incident in Louisville.

Scheffler values Payne's golf expertise and calm demeanour, making him a crucial member of his inner circle.

Putting coach

Scheffler's putting, once a significant weakness, was transformed under the guidance of Phil Kenyon, whom he began working with in late 2023. Kenyon, a highly respected coach who has worked with golfers like McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, brought an open-minded approach that Scheffler admired. By 2025, Scheffler was gaining 0.62 strokes on the green, ranking among the tour's top putters. Kenyon's coaching sessions, including one at the 2025 PGA Championship, helped Scheffler refine his stroke, contributing to his major victory.

"I had watched Phil before and watched him coach players. When you're out here as long as I've been, I just see stuff, and I loved the way Phil coached his players," Scheffler said after his 2024 Masters win.

Scheffler's mental fortitude, bolstered by Kenyon's guidance, is now evident in high-stakes situations, as he rarely relinquishes leads in the final round of tournaments. Following Scheffler's triumph at Quail Hollow, Kenyon expressed his admiration on Instagram: "Congrats to my man @scottie.scheffler. It's an absolute privilege to get to work with him and see him do his thing up close every day."

Long time coach

Scheffler's long-time coach, Randy Smith, has been a constant presence in his life since he was seven years old. Scheffler affectionately refers to Smith as his "fun uncle" from his junior days. A PGA of America Hall of Famer, Smith recognised Scheffler's potential at Royal Oaks, impressed by the consistency of his swings even as a child. Having coached professionals like Justin Leonard, Smith has carefully honed Scheffler's unique swing without altering his distinctive footwork. After his latest victory, Scheffler praised Smith as "a special man" who "taught me everything" about golf.

"It's tough to put into words what Randy means to me," he said. "He's a special man, and he's taught me everything about the game of golf. This is a pretty cool moment for the both of us. I don't really know how to put it into words, but he definitely is family to me.

"I always described him as the fun uncle growing up. I could ask him stuff that I wouldn't necessarily ask my dad. He taught me a lot more than the game of golf. I'm looking forward to celebrating this one with him. He's the one who teaches me how to swing, and he's pretty much the only guy I consult when it comes to that kind of stuff.

"He's a bit of a crazy person at times, but he's a savant when it comes to teaching me the golf swing, and he's a pretty special guy as well. I'm thankful for what he's taught me in the game of golf and life as well."