Scottie Scheffler WDs from $9.9m PGA Tour event 16 days before The Masters

Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from the Texas Children's Houston Open. 

The world number one was expected to mount a serious challenge for his 21st PGA Tour title and second of the calendar year at Memorial Park Golf Course. 

But the 29-year-old four-time major champion confirmed on Tuesday he was withdrawing from the $9.9m PGA Tour event. 

He was due to take part in a pre-tournament news conference tomorrow after his nine-hole pro-am. 

The PGA Tour's official communications department said the reason for Scheffler's withdrawal was due to "family reasons". 

Golf Channel reported on Monday that Scheffler's wife, Meredith, is due to give birth to their second child any day now.

She gave birth to their first son, Bennett, on 8 May 2024 - days before the PGA Championship at Valhalla. 

Scheffler has been replaced in the field by nine-time PGA Tour winner Matt Kuchar.

It means that the highest-ranked player in the 135-man field is now America's Chris Gotterup. 

Scheffler isn't the only player to withdraw from the Texas Children's Houston Open. 

Austin Smotherman, Cam Davis, Ryo Hisatsune, Michael Kim, Matt McCarty and Bud Cauley have also withdrawn. 

Will Scheffler play before The Masters?

Scottie Scheffler soon turn his attention to the first men's major of the year.  

Scheffler was using the Texas Children's Houston Open as part of his preparation for the 2026 Masters Tournament, which begins on 9 April at Augusta National. 

It is a tournament that typically forms part of his schedule and he has three runner-up finishes across five starts at Memorial Park. 

The Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio will be staged next week and it seems unlikely that Scheffler will be in the field now. 

Scheffler's season so far has been mixed. 

He picked up a win on his first start of the calendar year at the American Express but then went on a peculiar run in which he struggled on Thursdays and appeared increasingly agitated with his performances. 

Scheffler registered top five finishes at the WM Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but was off his game in round one on both occasions. 

He was in danger of missing the cut at the Genesis Invitational and Players Championship but climbed the leaderboard over the weekend, finishing T12 at Riviera and 22nd at the PGA Tour's flagship event. 

Scheffler was asked about his form at TPC Sawgrass and it drew a curt response from the golfer.

Asked if he "found something" following a late night range session in the pouring rain, Scheffler replied: "Did I find anything? I think that would imply that I was lost, which is not the case."

Scheffler won six PGA Tour titles in 2025, including two major championships. 

He cantered to victory at the PGA Championship to win the Wanamaker Trophy for the second time in his career and lifted his first Claret Jug in July after another incredible performance at The Open. 

His record-breaking season saw him named the PGA Tour's player of the year for the fourth year in a row, a streak previously only matched by Tiger Woods.