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

ST. LOUIS (AP) 鈥� 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.

鈥淚’m sick,鈥� 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.

鈥淪o to start the week it was pretty painful to grip the club,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 part of my stubbornness, probably. That鈥檚 probably a strength of mine and a weakness at times,鈥� Scheffler said. “I鈥檝e never been one to ever pull out of a tournament, especially in the middle of it. That鈥檚 really frustrating for me.

鈥淏ut I鈥檓 proud of how I fought,鈥� he said. 鈥淔eel like I鈥檓 starting to heal up. My throat is still bugging me pretty good. But my hands feel normal today.鈥�

His only mistake 鈥� aside from three bogeys 鈥� 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.

鈥淚 felt better as the week went on,鈥� 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.

鈥淚鈥檓 still not 100% now, but I鈥檒l get some rest now and hopefully that will help.鈥�

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