Scottie Scheffler's Illness Doesn't Deter BMW Championship Contention Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 golfer, continues to battle a respiratory illness during the BMW Championship, yet his determination to compete remains unshaken. Despite being far behind the leader, the Texas native is refusing to concede, leveraging his experience and resilience to stay in the hunt. On Friday at Bellerive Country Club, Scheffler posted a second-round five-under 65, moving him into red figures and positioning him as a contender despite his physical challenges. The 30-year-old’s performance on Friday was a mix of struggle and recovery. While he began the day with a 72 on Thursday, losing over two strokes to the field in approach and putting, he made significant strides on Friday. His putting improved dramatically, with a turnaround of nearly five strokes on the greens. Scheffler’s ability to convert long putts was on full display, as he drained 109 feet of putts during the second round—a testament to his precision and composure under pressure. Scheffler’s current standing places him nine strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark, who shot a 64 in the opening round. However, the World No. 1 is not deterred by the gap. “Yeah, I'm a ways back, but I'm not out of it by any means,” Scheffler said after completing 36 holes in three-under 133. “I'll see what I can do going out early tomorrow.” His comments reflect a mindset rooted in past success, where he has consistently turned around his fortunes on the weekend. Scheffler’s recent history at major tournaments underscores his ability to perform under pressure. Last week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he delivered an eight-stroke victory, the largest margin on the PGA Tour this season.#scottie_scheffler #wyndham_clark #fedex_st_jude_championship #bmw_championship #bellrive_country_club
Rory McIlroy Backs Scottie Scheffler as PGA Tour Player of the Year Amid Dominant Season Rory McIlroy has publicly endorsed Scottie Scheffler as the PGA Tour Player of the Year, acknowledging the American’s commanding performance this season. Speaking at the BMW Championship in St. Louis, McIlroy dismissed his own chances of winning the honor, citing Scheffler’s consistency and recent dominance. “No chance,” McIlroy said, adding, “Scottie is” the rightful recipient of the title. The world No. 1, Scheffler, secured his second victory of the year at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, winning by an eight-stroke margin at TPC Southwind in Memphis. McIlroy, who finished 25 strokes behind Scheffler at the same venue, praised the Texan’s ability to maintain a high level of play. “If he keeps playing like that and gains nine strokes on the greens every week, we’re all f’d,” he said, emphasizing Scheffler’s potential to dominate the tour. Scheffler’s rise to the top of the PGA Tour rankings has been marked by his resilience and adaptability. After a winless drought during the 2026 season, the defending BMW Championship winner rebounded with a string of strong finishes. He finished in the top 25 in all but one of his 18 starts, including five runner-up finishes and two third-place results. His performance in the FedEx Cup playoffs has further solidified his position as the tour’s most consistent player. With a lead in the FedEx Cup standings, Matt Fitzpatrick, a three-time winner this season, suggested Scheffler had effectively secured the Player of the Year title. “A certain someone’s sewed it up last week,” Fitzpatrick remarked, highlighting Scheffler’s dominance. Scheffler’s success is underscored by his statistical dominance. He leads the tour in strokes gained: total (2.374) and tee-to-green (1.#rory_mcilroy #pga_tour #scottie_scheffler #fedex_st_jude_championship #bmw_championship
Tommy Fleetwood Stat Emerges at FedEx St. Jude Championship Tommy Fleetwood finds himself in a precarious position heading into the final two rounds of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, as his putting struggles have become a critical concern despite an otherwise stellar performance at TPC Southwind. The Englishman, who entered the tournament with confidence after strong recent form at the venue, sits five shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler after two rounds. While Fleetwood’s game has been among the best in the field, his inability to convert his strong ball-striking into birdies has left him trailing the world No. 1. Fleetwood’s statistical profile through 36 holes highlights both his strengths and weaknesses. He ranks third in strokes gained off the tee, second in strokes gained around the green, and 27th in strokes gained approach, showcasing his dominance in key areas of the game. However, his putting has been a glaring weakness, as he ranks 51st in strokes gained putting and has lost 1.022 strokes to the field on the greens. This discrepancy has prevented him from closing the gap on Scheffler, who has surged to the top of the leaderboard with a record-breaking second-round 61. Scheffler’s performance has been nothing short of dominant, as his 9-under 61 in the second round propelled him to 11 under par for the tournament. The American’s aggressive approach has left him with a significant lead, with Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland tied for second at 8 under. Fleetwood, meanwhile, remains in a group of players at 6 under, including Nico Echavarria and Tom Kim. The challenge for Fleetwood is clear: to mount a serious title challenge, he will need to produce two low scores—likely in the 65 range—while dramatically improving his putting.#scottie_scheffler #tommy_fleetwood #nico_echavarria #tom_kim #fedex_st_jude_championship
