World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler battled hand, foot, and mouth disease during the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club, according to reporting by Paul Hodowanic of PGATOUR.com. The viral illness caused painful blisters on his hands and throat, forcing him to alter his usual practice routine and play through physical discomfort just days after winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Onset of Symptoms After St. Jude Championship Victory
According to PGATOUR.com, Scheffler’s symptoms began on Monday, the day after he secured an eight-stroke victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The contagious viral infection quickly manifested painful blisters on his hands and in his throat.
“I got the hand, foot, mouth [disease]. So you’ve got blisters on your hands, and in your…” Scheffler said, describing his diagnosis bluntly after his round, as noted by PGATOUR.com. The blisters made gripping golf clubs exceptionally difficult throughout the week in St. Louis, forcing the top-ranked player to modify his training regimen.
Performance at the BMW Championship Despite Illness
According to PGATOUR.com reporting, he struggled initially with an over-par first round but rebounded strongly by carding three consecutive rounds in the 60s. He finished the tournament at 7 under par, tying for 11th place.
The physical limitations impacted specific facets of his game, including his normally dominant approach shots. PGATOUR.com noted that Scheffler ranked 31st in Strokes Gained: Approach during the event, a steep decline from his usual statistical dominance.
“If I was smarter, maybe I would have pulled out, but I was playing so good I felt like if I could knock it out quickly and just get through the first couple rounds I would still have a chance,” Scheffler told PGATOUR.com. “I think that’s part of my stubbornness, probably. That’s probably a strength of mine and a weakness at times.”
FedExCup Standings and Outlook
Entering the final stretch of the PGA Tour season, Scheffler holds the No. 1 position in the FedExCup standings. Unlike previous seasons, starting strokes were eliminated after the 2024 TOUR Championship, meaning all qualified players will start with a clean slate to determine the ultimate champion, according to PGATOUR.com. Scheffler’s primary focus ahead of the final event remains achieving a full recovery from the infection.
“I’ve never been one to ever pull out of a tournament, especially in the middle of it,” Scheffler told PGATOUR.com. “That’s really frustrating for me. So I definitely didn’t want to do that going into this week, even though it was suggested. But I’m proud of how I fought. Feel like I’m starting to heal up.”