Scottie Scheffler Battles Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease to Shoot 68 at BMW

Scottie Scheffler revealed he played through hand, foot and mouth disease during the BMW Championship, finishing with a 2-under 68 on Sunday.

Scottie Scheffler concluded the BMW Championship in St. Louis by shooting a 2-under 68 on Sunday, despite battling hand, foot and mouth disease throughout the week. The World No. 1 recorded his 13th bogey of the tournament on the final hole, finding the fairway bunker before dropping a shot. Over the course of the event, Scheffler struggled with his approach game, hitting only 65% of greens in regulation. This uncharacteristic performance followed his dominant eight-shot victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship the previous week.

Scheffler first reported feeling unwell on Monday night, noting that his body appeared to crash following the heat and adrenaline of his recent win. By Thursday, he was turning down interview requests, stating simply that he was sick. The illness manifested as painful blisters that made it difficult for the golfer to grip his clubs during the opening rounds. Despite the physical discomfort, a late surge of three consecutive birdies on Sunday briefly moved him into the top 10 of the leaderboard before his closing bogey.

Medical Challenges and Recovery

The diagnosis of hand, foot and mouth disease caused significant throat irritation and skin sensitivity. Scheffler noted that his hands finally felt normal during the final round, though his throat continued to cause discomfort as he finished the tournament. The recovery process was evident enough that he nearly shook hands with playing partner Cameron Young upon completion of the 18th hole, an instinctual move he checked due to his contagious condition. He admitted that while he is not yet 100% healthy, he expects the upcoming rest period to facilitate a full recovery.

FedEx Cup Standings and Bonuses

Prior to the start of the BMW Championship, Scheffler had already secured the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings. This position earned him a $23 million bonus regardless of his performance in St. Louis. Because the PGA Tour season concludes at East Lake for the Tour Championship, the specific seeding among the top 30 players is secondary to the final result, as any of the qualifying athletes can win the FedEx Cup by finishing first next week. Scheffler acknowledged that with so little at stake, withdrawing might have been the prudent choice, but his stubborn nature prevented him from pulling out mid-tournament.

Performance Statistics and Outlook

The 13 bogeys recorded across the four rounds represented a departure from Scheffler's typical statistical consistency. He described the week as frustrating, particularly because he felt he was playing high-quality golf before the illness struck. He chose to remain in the field with the hope that he could manage the symptoms quickly and remain in contention through the weekend. While he expressed pride in his ability to fight through the pain, he characterized his refusal to withdraw as both a personal strength and a weakness. He now turns his attention to the season finale at the Tour Championship, seeking to maintain his momentum despite the physical setbacks experienced in St. Louis.