Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, recently opened up about his recovery progress from a hand injury sustained on Christmas Day, during an exclusive press conference held on Wednesday. Scheffler, who had been preparing ravioli at the time of the accident — a dish he plans to serve at the upcoming Masters Champions Dinner — underwent surgery to repair the damage.
The World No. 1 golfer did not sugarcoat the impact of the injury, acknowledging that it had indeed hampered his performance. “It would be naive to suggest that this setback didn’t impact me. The injury necessitated a substantial break,” Scheffler confessed.
The right-handed golfer stressed on the significance of any injury to the dominant hand, especially one requiring surgery, on a golfer’s performance. However, he also acknowledged the inevitability of such accidents, adding, “I can’t live my life in a bubble.”
Despite the setback, Scheffler, a native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with all his five tournaments post-injury finishing within the top 25. His return to the greens was marked by a commendable T9 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February, followed by a tie for 25th at the WM Phoenix Open. His gallant effort at the Genesis Invitational, hosted by Tiger Woods, almost saw him clinch the title.
Although Scheffler narrowly missed the top 10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing 11th, he secured a 20th position at last week’s Players Championship. Despite these impressive performances, Scheffler’s extraordinary track record in 2024 seems to overshadow his recent achievements.
The year 2024 saw Scheffler claim victory nine times globally. He won seven PGA Tour titles, his second Green Jacket at Augusta National in three years, and an Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics. It was arguably one of the best seasons on Tour since Tiger Woods’ prime.
However, if Scheffler’s recent “struggles” are merely the aftermath of his hand injury, his competitors need to be on high alert. “My hand is improving every day, and I’m getting back in shape,” Scheffler assured. “I see my swing coming around too. I’m genuinely excited about the progress I’m making. I believe I’m on the brink of playing some excellent golf again.”
