Scheffler says he played BMW Championship with hand, foot and mouth disease

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Scottie Scheffler wrapped a most ordinary performance by his standards with his 13th bogey of the week in the BMW Championship. Turns out it was a most extraordinary week given his health.

“I’m sick,” Scheffler said while turning down an interview request Thursday.

After he closed with a 2-under 68 on Sunday, Scheffler offered a few more details. He said he was dealing with hand, foot and mouth disease that causes blisters.

“So to start the week it was pretty painful to grip the club,” he said. “If I was smarter maybe I would have pulled out, but I was playing so good I felt like if I could knock it out quickly and just get through the first couple rounds I would still have a chance.”

Scheffler was coming off an eight-shot victory in the FedEx St. Jude Championship and appeared to be hitting his stride at just the right time for the three-week conclusion to the PGA Tour season.

In hindsight, Scheffler said it would have been prudent to pull out with so little at stake. He already was assured of being No. 1 in the FedEx Cup through the BMW Championship, which earned him a $23 million bonus. Seeds don’t even matter next week at the Tour Championship because all 30 players who advance only have to win at East Lake to capture the FedEx Cup.

“I think that’s part of my stubbornness, probably. That’s probably a strength of mine and a weakness at times,” Scheffler said. “I’ve never been one to ever pull out of a tournament, especially in the middle of it. That’s really frustrating for me.

“But I’m proud of how I fought,” he said. “Feel like I’m starting to heal up. My throat is still bugging me pretty good. But my hands feel normal today.”

His only mistake — aside from three bogeys — was nearly shaking hands with Cameron Young when they finished because he was feeling back to normal.

Scheffler had with three straight birdies that briefly got him inside the top 10, but he closed with a bogey from the fairway bunker. Scheffler hit only 65% of his greens this week.

“I felt better as the week went on,” he said. “I got sick Monday night. That was probably the most frustrating part. Playing really good golf, and you come out of the heat and get a little adrenaline, sometimes your body kind of crashes. Then it hit me pretty good all week.

“I’m still not 100% now, but I’ll get some rest now and hopefully that will help.”

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