World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler is set to miss the start of the PGA Tour season following hand surgery necessitated by an accident involving a broken glass while preparing Christmas dinner. The 28-year-old American sustained a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand, which required surgical intervention to remove small glass fragments. Scheffler is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, missing the winners-only tournament at Kapalua Resort, Hawaii, from January 2-5. His next planned appearance is at The Desert Classic in California, running from January 16-19.
Scheffler’s absence marks a setback following an impressive 2024 season, during which he maintained his world number one ranking. He earned the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour player of the year, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to win the accolade three times consecutively. His accomplishments included a second Masters title and becoming the first to win The Players Championship twice in a row. Additionally, Scheffler secured an Olympic gold medal and reclaimed the FedEx Cup with victory at the Tour Championship.
This latest incident follows a tumultuous year that also saw Scheffler face legal issues. In May, he was charged with multiple counts, including felony second-degree assault on a police officer during an event at the Valhalla Golf Club. However, all charges were later dropped, with Scheffler expressing no intent to pursue a civil suit against the officer involved.
