Scottie Scheffler 95% Recovered After T12 Finish at BMW Championship

Scottie Scheffler reports he is 95% recovered from hand, foot and mouth disease following a 7-under par performance at Bellerive Country Club.

Scottie Scheffler enters the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club reporting he is 95% recovered from hand, foot and mouth disease. The world number one finished the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis in a tie for 12th place, posting a total score of 7-under par. This result placed him 10 strokes behind the tournament winner, Wyndham Clark, as the FedEx Cup playoffs move toward the final event starting this Thursday in Atlanta.

The illness impacted Scheffler’s performance in St. Louis, where he noted it was painful to grip his golf clubs during the early stages of the week. Despite the physical discomfort, he managed to complete four rounds following his victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. In that opening playoff leg, Scheffler secured a win by an eight-stroke margin.

Symptoms and Recovery Status

Scheffler detailed his current physical state on Wednesday, noting that while he feels significantly better, a couple of sores remain in his throat. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness typically characterized by a low-grade fever, painful lesions on the tongue and gums, and rashes on the palms and soles. According to the Mayo Clinic, while the virus commonly affects children under the age of 5, it is transmissible to adults.

Gary Woodland, who shares swing coach Randy Smith with Scheffler, observed the golfer's struggle firsthand at Bellerive. Woodland noted that Scheffler dealt with blisters on his hands while attempting to maintain a consistent grip, a fundamental aspect of Smith’s coaching. During the week in St. Louis, Woodland and other players avoided Scheffler in the trainer’s room to prevent contracting the contagious virus.

Family Dynamics on the PGA Tour

Scheffler and his wife, Meredith, travel to various tournaments with their two sons: 2-year-old Bennett and Remy, who was born on March 27. The golfer acknowledged that balancing professional competition with parenting young children results in being tired "literally all the time." He described the current season as a balancing act, citing conversations with fellow professional Brian Harman regarding the challenges and rewards of having family on the road.

Harman expressed to Scheffler that he envies the ability to travel weekly with children, as the opportunity does not last indefinitely. Scheffler emphasized his desire to enjoy the present season because his sons will eventually be unable to accompany him to every event.

Performance Under Physical Duress

Woodland described Scheffler’s ability to finish within the top 15 while battling the virus as "impressive," noting the stubbornness required to compete through the symptoms. The illness followed a dominant stretch for Scheffler, who has maintained his position at the top of the FedEx Cup standings. As the Tour Championship tees off Thursday, the focus shifts to East Lake, where Scheffler aims to overcome the final 5% of his recovery to secure the season-long title. The golfer noted that other than the lingering throat irritation, he currently feels "really good" heading into the final event of the postseason.