New dad Scottie Scheffler, divorcing Rory McIlroy add emotion to PGA drama

LOUISVILLE – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler ends a three-week layoff at the PGA Championship with plans to use a back-up caddie, while second-ranked Rory McIlroy will compete after a shock divorce filing.

But do not write off the oddsmakers’ darlings just yet, even as tension builds for the opening round on May 16 at the 7,609-yard Valhalla Golf Club, where McIlroy won his last Major crown 10 years ago.

There is an epic emotional contrast between Scheffler’s return to action after becoming a father and McIlroy’s return to Valhalla following a split from wife Erica after seven years of marriage.

But those are just the sparks that can produce gripping drama on golf’s greatest stages.

Both players have won on their past two starts.

McIlroy clinched the PGA Tour pairs event in April with Irishman Shane Lowry and at Quail Hollow on May 12, a day before his divorce filing, and he arrived at Valhalla on May 14 for practice as news of the split became public.

Scheffler, whose wife Meredith gave birth to their first child on May 8, has four wins and a runner-up effort in his past five starts, taking titles at Bay Hill and the Players, finishing T2 at the Houston Open, then winning the Masters and Heritage crowns in back-to-back weeks in April.

He said that time away has not weakened his game.

“I’m definitely rested going into this week. I don’t really feel like any rust has accumulated,” he added.

“I was able to practise and play a lot at home. I’m able to do stuff at home to simulate tournament golf, especially on the greens, competing and gambling with my buddies. I don’t really want to lose to them.”

The 27-year-old is not worried about his mental game either.

“I feel like I’m in a good headspace,” he said.

“The last couple of months it seems like it has felt fairly easy at times. I think that’s always what you’re striving for and it has been nice to see some of the benefits of the work I’ve put in and see some results on the course as well.”

Ted Scott, Scheffler’s caddie, will miss the third round to attend his daughter’s high school graduation. Scheffler’s close friend Brad Payne, the PGA Tour chaplain, will fill in as the bagman on May 18.

“Something we talked about from the beginning of our relationship was family always comes first,” said Scheffler, an unsurprising decision now that he has been taking advice from his fellow players this week on how to be a No. 1 dad.

Four-time Major winner McIlroy, who said after his win that playing golf serves as an escape from stressful things beyond the sport, has played in a similar situation before.

Four days after breaking off his engagement to Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014, the Northern Irishman won the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship.

“I still have a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat but I am going into the next Major of the year feeling really good about myself,” the 35-year-old said.

While McIlroy is seeking his first Major win since the 2014 PGA Championship, Scheffler could become the first player to win the opening two Majors of the year since Jordan Spieth took the 2015 Masters and US Open.

Spieth, meanwhile, is trying to complete a career Grand Slam with a victory here.

“It’s the one that has eluded me so far and it would be pretty incredible to have a chance this week and see if I can try to make that history,” he said.

Defending champion Brooks Koepka is among 16 LIV Golf players in the field of 156. He became the first active LIV player to win a Major by capturing the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Hometown hero Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship winner, believes he has a chance because Valhalla is a “straightforward layout”. “It’s all right in front of you,” he said.

“Hit a driver far and straight and hit your irons well.” AFP, REUTERS