World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will not be in action as the PGA Tour starts in 2025
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer and reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year, has been sidelined temporarily after a freak Christmas Day accident left him with an injured right hand. While preparing dinner, Scheffler sustained a puncture wound from broken glass. His manager, Blake Smith, revealed in a statement that small glass fragments required surgical removal, but the prognosis is optimistic. “Scottie has been told he should be back to 100% in three to four weeks,” Smith said.
Scheffler’s injury comes on the heels of an extraordinary 2024 season. He captured a record-setting nine global wins, two of which were major championships or almost majors: the Masters and The Players Championship, won his first FedExCup title, and even clinched the Olympic Gold in Paris. He also delivered stellar performances in team events, going 3-2-0 in the U.S. victory at the Presidents Cup. In December, Scheffler wrapped up the year with a commanding six-shot victory at the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods, debuting a new claw grip that elevated his putting game to a third-place finish in Strokes Gained: Putting.
His undisputed form earned him PGA Tour Player of the Year honors for a third consecutive season, making him only the second golfer, after Tiger Woods (2005–07), to achieve such a feat. Scheffler also held the No. 1 World Ranking for the entire year, a milestone last accomplished by Woods in 2009.
Unfortunately, the injury means Scheffler will miss The Sentry, the PGA Tour’s season opener, held from January 2–5 at Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii. Formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, this event features a restructured field that includes winners from the prior season and select top-ranked players.
His absence removes a key highlight for fans early in the season, and they await confirmation of when Scotty Scheffler will be ready to tee it up.