HOUSTON — World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from this week’s Children’s Houston Open, ending his streak of annual appearances and three runner-up finishes at the event, including in the past two years.
Scheffler’s absence comes for a personal reason: he and his wife, Meredith Scudder, are expecting their second child. Golf Channel reported that the withdrawal is not injury-related, highlighting that family priorities are taking precedence over the usual tournament schedule. Matt Kuchar will fill Scheffler’s spot in the field.
Scheffler and Scudder, who met as freshmen at Highland Park High School in Dallas, have maintained a long-distance relationship through college — Scudder at Texas A&M and Scheffler at Texas — before getting engaged in June 2020 and marrying later that year in their hometown church. Their first child, son Bennett, was born on May 8, 2024, shortly after Scheffler’s second Masters win.
The two-time Masters champion will now focus on preparing for Augusta, with the break providing an opportunity to reset ahead of another run at the green jacket.
Scheffler has been a consistent presence at Memorial Park, using the Texas swing as a warm-up for major tournaments, making his withdrawal a notable change in the PGA Tour schedule.