Scottie Scheffler Opens Up About Ongoing Hand Recovery Impact on His Game
Scottie Scheffler's hand injury from a Christmas cooking accident continues to affect his game performance, despite no remaining pain. The world's No. 1 golfer, who has maintained his position for 96 consecutive weeks, explains the ongoing impact on his play.
While Scheffler has secured three top-11 finishes in five starts this season, including a T3 at the Genesis Invitational, he acknowledges his performance hasn't met his usual standards. The injury, sustained while making ravioli, forced him to miss the first month of the 2025 season.
Key impacts of the injury:
- Limited range of motion in his hand
- Reduced strength due to muscle inactivity
- Disrupted training routine and gym workouts
- Affected overall golf-specific conditioning
"Just like getting the strength back in the hand and all that stuff," Scheffler explained during a pre-Masters press conference. "I have absolutely no pain in the hand. But getting the full total range of motion out of my hand is a little bit of a different story."
His recent performance at The Players Championship showed signs of struggle, particularly on the greens, where he lost strokes to the field in three of four rounds. However, Scheffler remains optimistic about his recovery and game improvements.
Before defending his Masters title, Scheffler will compete in the Texas Children's Houston Open alongside Rory McIlroy. He's currently practicing at home in Dallas, working to regain his championship form as his hand approaches 100 percent recovery.
"I think any time you don't play up to your expectations, it's frustrating," Scheffler admitted. "My ball-striking hasn't been as good as it has been the last few years. A lot of that is kind of getting the body back to where it needs to be."