The world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, revealed on Sunday that he fought through the 2026 BMW Championship with a nasty case of hand, foot and mouth disease. This isn’t just a runny nose, folks; Scheffler was dealing with blisters in his throat, on his hands, and on his feet. Imagine trying to swing a club when gripping it is agony, all while dealing with a sore throat!
Blisters, Pain, and Pure Stubbornness
Scheffler finished the tournament at 7 under, securing a spot inside the top 15, which is honestly insane given what he was up against. He literally had blisters making it tough to grip his clubs, not to mention what was going on in his throat. This guy called himself “stubborn” and it shows. He refused to pull out of the BMW Championship, an event crucial to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, even when it was suggested he should. He just powered through it! After an opening 72, Scheffler registered three straight under-par rounds, getting better as the week went on. That’s a true competitor right there, showing that mental toughness wins battles.
“I got the hand, foot, mouth,” Scheffler said, detailing the nightmare. “So, you get blisters on your hands and in your throat and on your feet. So, to start the week, it was pretty painful to grip the club.” He admitted that if he was “smarter, maybe I would have pulled out,” but he was playing too good to give up. He believes his stubbornness is both a strength and a weakness, but in this case, it clearly paid off. He was proud of how he fought, and honestly, we should be too. He was even almost caught shaking Cam Young’s hand on the 18th hole, remembering his contagious condition at the last second! What a battle.
Still No. 1 and Eyeing the Tour Championship
Despite not successfully defending his BMW Championship title, Scheffler wrapped up the week as the No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings. That’s massive, securing his place at the top of the bonus money distribution list. It’s a testament to his grit that even when battling through a highly contagious virus, he still dominated the standings. He’s got two kids under three, which is where adults often catch this stuff, so it wasn’t just him dealing with it.
He’s “starting to heal up,” confirming his hands feel normal now, though his throat is still bothering him. Walking was fine on the course once the adrenaline kicked in, but those hand blisters were the real enemy for his game. Next week, it’s the Tour Championship, the final leg of the FedEx Cup. Every player starts at even par there, but with Scheffler’s name still sitting at No. 1 in the standings, he’s absolutely on the short list of potential winners. He’s a fighter, and you know he’s going to bring everything he’s got to finish this season strong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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