Most golf events witness withdrawals due to injuries, and THE PLAYERS Championship wasn’t any different either. However, the limelight came to shine on the current No. 1 in the world, Scottie Scheffler, who had been spotted earlier dealing with pain in his neck during the second round at the event at TPC Sawgrass.

Over the two days of play at the deemed ‘Fifth Major’ of golf, a total of two people withdrew owing to health concerns. Consequently, one can’t help but wonder if such a similar situation would take place with the American pro as well, leading him to withdraw from the event if the pain persists!

To play or not to play, a Scottie Scheffler question

During a press conference following the second round at THE PLAYERS, the 27-year-old was asked about his neck pain. Recounting his experience following his shot on the 11th hole, he said, “I hit a shot on my second hole today, and I felt a little something in my neck… I tried to hit my tee shot on 12, and that’s when I could barely get the club back.”

Fortunately, soon after, Scheffler managed to get some treatment, as he was spotted taking a neck massage sitting beside the 14th tee as Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas hit their shots. “Maybe it loosened up a tiny bit, but most of the day I was pretty much laboring to get the club somehow away from me,” he stated, claiming that the massage only made things slightly better.

Despite the trouble, however, the reigning champions will not be deterred. “I did what I could to kind of stay in the tournament today, and hopefully it’ll loosen up and then I’ll be able to make somewhat normal swings tomorrow.”

Scheffler had placed himself in T6 post-round 1. Fascinatingly, despite his injury trouble, he managed to stay in contention for the top spot, ending the second round too in 6th place. After two days of play, the 1-time major champ scored a total of 11 birdies, five of which came on Friday in the last round, including one at the 13th, the hole he played after experiencing the pain. Well, it truly does seem the golfer is here to stay and fight through.

Nevertheless, the current No. 1 needs to take proper care of himself if he is to continue playing at the PGA Tour event. He certainly would not want to follow in the footsteps of Tom Kim and Garrick Higgo.

Kim and Higgo see their ‘Fifth Major’ journey cut short

Tom Kim and Garrick Higgo had withdrawn from the contest, the former of whom did it first due to an illness. Kim, who had started his Friday round at the back nine, could only finish until the 17th, following which he pulled himself out. Higgo, on the other hand, suffered a wrist injury, which forced him out of the contest after the 13th hole.

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The ongoing tournament seems to have been hit with a misfortune of sorts, as can be seen from two players not continuing their gameplay and the play being suspended for the two days that it was played. One can only hope that the rest of the rounds happen without a hitch so that everyone can witness an amazing display of golf.

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