Scottie Scheffler on day one of the 2024 BMW Championship. | Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Scottie Scheffler had a bizarre reaction to his second shot on the 17th hole, which led many to wonder if he sustained an injury.
Scottie Scheffler stood on the fairway on the par-5 17th with a 5-iron in hand, looking to make one more birdie on the penultimate hole at the BMW Championship.
But immediately after making his swing, Scheffler grabbed his lower back—something we have seen Tiger Woods do far too often over the past decade. Of course, Scheffler’s remarkable season has led many to make Tiger-like comparisons. Yet those analogies have been made not because of injuries but because of his impressive victories.
Still, Scheffler says he feels okay.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Scheffler said.
“I woke up just a little sore this morning. I had trouble loosening it up. With it being a little bit tight, it was hard for me to get through it, and I was laboring most of the day to get through the ball. On 17, I was trying to hit a high draw, and that’s a shot where I’ve really got to use a big turn, big motion. I just felt it a little bit. But other than that, all good.”
Scheffler then added that he would do nothing out of the ordinary regarding his recovery on Thursday evening.
“Maybe I hit a few too many balls yesterday or something,” Scheffler added.
“It was just a little sore. I’m sure I’ll get some ice on it and stuff. I’ll be totally fine [on Friday].”
The World No. 1 made par on the 17th hole, a disappointing score considering it plays one of the easiest holes on the course. He could not get up and down from in front of the green, nearly 30 yards short of the hole, where he left his 5-iron.
Scheffler then missed a 9-footer for birdie on 18 to settle for a 1-under 69.
He trails 2025 Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who opened with a 6-under 66, by five after day one.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
