World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has faced backlash after a heated outburst directed at his caddie, Ted Scott, during the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. The incident occurred on the 16th hole when Scheffler's ball landed on the green before rolling into a water hazard.
Scheffler, who finished the round one-over-par and six shots behind the leaders, vented his frustration at Scott, saying: 'I never thought that I was in the water. I don’t know what to do. I can’t hear a word you’re saying.' He continued: 'Absolutely flushed a 7-iron and we get the wind wrong, and I end up in the water. I don’t think you understand how frustrating that is.'
Scott remained calm throughout the exchange, responding: 'I liked that shot.' However, Scheffler persisted, stating: 'I don’t understand what I’m meant to do. I don’t understand. I really don’t. I mean, it was five yards short of the green, flushed 7-iron, because it’s into off the right. Like there’s no way it could curve that much. … It’s so frustrating. … I’m hitting good shots and dropping. We cannot get the wind wrong.'
The outburst drew criticism from fans on social media. One commented: 'I don’t get unloading on a caddy. You’re top twenty in the world and you can’t read the wind?' Another said: 'No wind coming off the right as the flag on the pin was down! Hopefully Scottie should apologise to Ted for his rant, when the error was his!'
A viewer added: 'Dude you hit the shot. Own it. Becoming a bit of a cry baby lately.' Another remarked: 'Been watching professional golf for nearly 30 years, and that was one of the wildest things I’ve ever witnessed. I cannot remember a top player going on like that chirping their caddy for 15 mins straight as it’s all being televised in a featured group at a big tournament.' One fan even suggested: 'If I was the Caddy I’d drop the bag and walk off the course.'
This incident follows a previous display of frustration at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last month, where Scheffler smashed his driver on the tee box.
