Scottie Scheffler is one of pro golf's very best. However, when he played in the BMW Championship in St. Louis from August 20 to 23, he was battling a case of hand, foot and mouth disease, per the Associated Press. Scheffler uncharacteristically finished tied for 12th. He readily admitted that he was under the weather.
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Per the outlet, Scottie Scheffler, 30, shared, "So to start the week it was pretty painful to grip the club. 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."
He Was Reluctant To Quit the Event
He also explained, "I think that's part of my stubbornness, probably. That's probably a strength of mine and a weakness at times. I've never been one to ever pull out of a tournament, especially in the middle of it. That's really frustrating for me."
Scottie Scheffler's stats are extremely impressive. He turned pro eight years ago. Per the PGA Tour, he notched 21 wins in his career and has won over $120 million. A native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, Scheffler grew up in Dallas. He presently lives there with his wife and two kids.
Scheffler Described How He Felt During the Tournament
The golf legend was clearly not feeling up to par. He conceded per the AP, "I felt better as the week went on. 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."
The Illness Is Easily Transmitted
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand, foot, and mouth disease usually affects young children, but "anyone can get it." Caused by a virus, it is considered "very contagious." Typical symptoms are mouth sores, a skin rash (hands and feet), and fever.
Someone who has this illness can avoid spreading it by taking some simple precautions. It's important not to have close contact with people, do hand-washing, and thoroughly disinfect surfaces.
