‘I don’t know what to do’: Scottie Scheffler goes after his caddie during rare meltdown at the Memorial
Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and is well on his way to becoming the best golfer of all time. But even the best of the best have their days. Thursday was one of those for the world No.1.
While Scheffler’s 2026 season hasn’t exactly been a disaster, he’s yet to match the highs of the previous two years. In 2024, he looked like he won every time he started; He brought home The Players, The Masters, the Memorial Tournament, the Tour Championship and, of course, the Olympic gold.
He followed that up by winning two majors in 2025: the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Although he earned his first start at American Express in Palm Springs in 2026, his results since then have been a frustrating mix of top-5s and near-misses. He was T3 at the WM Phoenix Open. T4 at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He shot 65-68 on the weekend and finished second in The Masters alone. He lost the RBC Heritage playoff, then finished second in the Cadillac Championship. Despite being in the thick of the PGA Championship, his 71-71 scores on Friday and Saturday meant he fell short of defending his 2025 win. He then followed this up with a third-place finish in The CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
PGA TOUR 2026: BEST BETS FOR MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT AT MUIRFIELD VILLAGE GOLF CLUB, ‘ONE AND MADE’ PICK
Scottie Scheffler reacts to his tee shot on the 16th hole during the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 4, 2026 in Dublin, Ohio. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour)
But this week it’s the Memorial course at Muirfield Village, which is known for its difficulty and often allows top players like Scheffler to leave the field. Unsurprisingly, he won two years in a row and finished third in 2023 and 2021.
Thursday’s opening round started strong, with Scheffler finishing the first nine at 2-under-par. But it was a struggle on the back nine and it boiled over on the par 3 16th hole.
He got back to level par with 10 and 14, then took a hard jab at 16. However, in a rare occurrence for Scheffler, his shirt bounced into the water and ended up falling well behind him. He would end up with a double bogey, but what was most surprising was his immediate reaction and frustration with reliever Ted Scott.
Scottie Scheffler talks to caddy Ted Scott as he walks the 16th green during the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 4, 2026 in Dublin, Ohio. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)
Scheffler was heard clearly becoming agitated and then shouting after Scott: “I don’t know what to do. I can’t hear a word you’re saying. I feel like this is a good shot, I’m in the water now.”
He was also heard saying, “I’m definitely flushing the seven iron and we’re getting the wind wrong and I’m in the water.”
“I don’t think you understand how frustrating this is,” he added.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. GET THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
“I don’t understand. I really don’t understand. I mean, he was 5 yards short of the green. With a 7-putt… I made good shots and fell out of the hazard because we misjudged the wind,” he said. Even after hitting his shot from the drop zone, Scheffler continued on, albeit with a less audible voice.
After the tour, he told reporters about his disappointment.
“It’s just another really good shot and the wind shifted pretty noticeably from the right side to the right,” Scheffler said.
“If it’s down the right, that ball is probably where I hit my wedge shot. So I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do there other than try to hit a good shot, and then it’s frustrating when it doesn’t work, especially when it doesn’t work that way.
Scottie Scheffler reacts to his tee shot on the 16th hole during the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 4, 2026 in Dublin, Ohio. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)
OUTKICK NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
“I’d rather attack from the left than the right. The only thing you can do is just try to take good shots. Sometimes it can be very frustrating to feel like you’re taking good shots and then you go into the drop zone.”
Scheffler finished with a birdie on the par 4 17th hole and received a +1 card on the day, putting him six shots behind the leaders. I guess it’s encouraging to know that even the best in the world are so disappointed in golf.
