Perfect timing by baby Scheff’
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The timing of Scottie Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, and the couple’s newborn baby boy seems as impeccable as Scheffler’s play on the golf course this year.
The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer welcomed his No. 1 child into the world Saturday, which allows him to play in this week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla as scheduled.
Scheffler, who withdrew from last week’s elevated Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C., to be with Meredith as she gave birth to their son, Bennett, arrived to the Valhalla practice range Monday afternoon to hit balls.
On his way to the range, Scheffler spent some time on the practice green having a chat with Jon Rahm, a former world No. 1 and fellow Masters champion.
Scheffler is scheduled to speak to reporters at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in his pre-tournament media interview.
Scheffler, 27, had been public about what his plan would be should Meredith go into labor while he was at a tournament. At the Masters last month, he said he would withdraw if she went into labor, saying he’d be “ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
Now, there’s no need for that concern.
Scheffler, who’s won four of his past five tournaments, including the Masters in April, is the favorite to win the PGA this week. He’s played 22 tournaments in the past 12 months and finished in the top five in half of them, with five wins.
Interestingly, the last two winners of the PGA Championship at Valhalla — Tiger Woods in 2000 and Rory McIlroy in 2014 — were ranked No. 1 in the world at the time.