Scottie Scheffler downplays his 'discomfort' back following injury speculations at the BMW Championship
The newly crowned Olympic gold medalist shared with press that he encountered some trouble in "loosening up" his back during the initial round, visibly winced and rubbed his back following a shot on the 17th hole.
"I woke up with a minor ache this morning," he admitted. "With it being a bit stiff, I found it hard to navigate through and spent most of the day exerting effort to swing the ball.
"On 17, I was aiming for a high draw, a shot that requires a significant rotation and motion. I felt a bit of discomfort there, but other than that, everything was smooth sailing."
Scheffler currently leads the FedExCup and might have contemplated skipping this week's event to focus on the Tour Championship in Atlanta next week.
However, he reassured fans about his health, indicating he would be ready to compete without any hindrances for the rest of the BMW Championship.
"Perhaps I hit a few extra balls yesterday, or something like that. It was just a minor ache. I'll apply some ice and rest, and I should be good as new tomorrow," he explained.
Despite facing some challenges with his shots, Scheffler lost some ground to leader Keegan Bradley, who stands at 6-under following the opening round.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama is positioned just a stroke behind with an impressive performance, following his victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship last week.
The high point of Matsuyama's day was an extraordinary 73-foot putt for a birdie on hole 4, marking his third in a row at that point.
Matsuyama's attempt took a while as it rolled down the green, eventually finding its way into the hole. The crowd erupted in cheers as the ball vanished.
The initial round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club, Colorado, was postponed for 3 hours and 10 minutes due to a storm in the area.
Lightning struck nearby, causing a temporary halt in play as the weather stabilized.
Organizers will hope for better weather conditions as the second round commences on Friday, with Bradley aiming to maintain his strong performance.
"I've been practicing my golf swings despite the discomfort, as I don't want to miss any opportunities to improve my game before the Tour Championship," he mentioned.
"After a tough day, I'm looking forward to playing a round of golf with some friends to help relax my back and maybe even improve my score."
