Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from this week’s Texas Houston Children’s Open as he and his wife get set to welcome their second child.
Scheffler, 29, owns three runner-ups in six career starts at the Houston Open, including back-to-back second place finishes in each of the past two years.
Matt Kuchar will get the start in his place as one of 10 alternates listed for the tournament.
Scheffler has historically used the Texas Children’s Houston Open as a final tune-up ahead of the Masters. It is currently unclear whether he will enter into next week’s Valero Texas Open, the last tournament before the Masters begins on April 9.
The world No. 1 is set to go for his third title at Augusta National in two weeks time, which would make him just the ninth golfer in history to accomplish the feat.
Scheffler, however, has not displayed the usual dominance he’s shown in years past, and has now failed to record a top-10 finish in each of his past three starts for the first time since 2022.
After finishing first among Tour pros in Strokes Gained: Approach to Tee in each of the last three years, Scheffler has dropped to 78th in that category this season.
He has yet to record an opening round under 70 in his past five starts, and has looked uncharacteristically frustrated with his play in recent weeks at Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass, venues he has found success at in the past.
Scheffler has one victory on the year, a four-shot win at The American Express in his season debut.
