Scheffler’s Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease Battle
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished T12 at the BMW Championship while battling hand, foot, and mouth disease.
The update
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished tied for 12th at the 2026 BMW Championship, revealing he played the event while battling hand, foot, and mouth disease. Scheffler said he contracted the virus the night after winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He described the symptoms as painful blisters on his hands, feet, and throat, which made gripping his clubs difficult early in the week.
Scheffler chose to play all four rounds rather than withdraw, citing his stubbornness and the importance of the event. He improved as the week progressed, posting three straight under-par rounds after an opening 72.
Why it matters
The illness likely impacted Scheffler’s performance, as he was reportedly struggling to grip his clubs at the start of the tournament. Despite the health setback, he remained in contention for the FedEx Cup title, finishing inside the top 15 in the penultimate event of the season.
What to watch
Scheffler said his throat was still bothering him and his hands were normalizing as of Sunday. The next event is the Tour Championship, where Scheffler will look to recover his health and compete for the season-long title.
Sources
- cbssports.com — Scheffler's diagnosis, symptoms, and decision to play all four rounds.
- Yahoo Sports — Timing of the diagnosis relative to his previous win and specific symptoms.