Scottie Scheffler delivered an opening round at the BMW Championship that left the golf world scratching its head, but the explanation is less a dramatic slump in form than a persistent infection. After an uncharacteristic 2-over 72 and a missed media appointment, rumors swirled until the true reason leaked: The superstar was simply "under the weather".
Having just decisively won the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a strong eight-shot lead, Scheffler stumbled on the greens at Bellerive. Early in his round, he was temporarily four over par after just seven holes played. Putting and approaches, usually his specialty, were anything but smooth. A rare sight for the man who usually dominated the competition.
Coughs Instead of Interviews
Following his unusually poor performance, Scheffler declined the usual media availability – an absolute first for the otherwise professional athlete. Reports speak of a hoarse voice and his statement that he felt ill as he made his way to the locker room. What initially seemed like a boomerang-like silence now had a clear explanation.
No Slump, Just a Hiccup
Although Scheffler later admitted that his swing was a "work in progress," the explanation for this disappointing first round seems clear: this was not a deep slump in form, but simply his physical condition to blame. It was a setback that points more to a flu than a real crisis in his game. The big question remains: Can he recover for the subsequent rounds and show the field that he's far from being written off?
