Scottie Scheffler issues classy message to caddie who missed out on €307,000 payday
Scottie Scheffler won the BMW Championship, but was without his regular caddie
Scottie Scheffler delivered a heartfelt message to his caddie Ted Scott after clinching the BMW Championship title without him.
Scheffler rallied from four shots down to defeat Robert MacIntyre for the championship, with the Scottish golfer faltering in the final round with a three-over. The triumph bagged him a staggering €3.08million prize following his fifth win of the season, while stand-in caddie Michael Cromie enjoyed the largest payday of his professional career.
The world's top-ranked golfer, who had been irked on Saturday due to an official PGA Tour warning, sealed his victory with an impressive 81-yard chip shot on the 17th hole. He showcased his sportsmanship by promptly honouring Scott, who had withdrawn for personal reasons, after hoisting the BMW Championship trophy.
Scheffler expressed that Scott is "where he needs to be" and it remains unclear whether his regular caddie will return for the upcoming Tour Championship, reports the Mirror.
"Ted is at home with his family, and he's where he's supposed to be," Scheffler commented post his victory, as reported by Mirror US. "We are praying for them; his family is doing alright. Cromie did a great job this week.
"It's not easy stepping in and trying to fill in for Ted. Those are some big shoes to fill. But he did a great job. Him and Ted are good buddies, really glad to have him on the bag this week. It was a lot of fun."
Despite the caddie change, Scheffler maintained his exceptional form this season, having already secured two major championships. He also fired his 17th consecutive round under par, as his reliability persisted ahead of the Ryder Cup.
"I think it has a lot to do with the intensity that I bring to each round," Scheffler said of the streak. "I try not to take days off, take shots off. When it gets to this time of year, it can get a little tiring.
"Today was a grind, and I think it has a lot to do with the intensity that we bring to each round and each shot."
Scheffler also enjoyed the crowd's support, whilst MacIntyre faced heckling throughout the weekend.
MacIntyre was positioned at 16-under-par entering the final day but relinquished three strokes to hand Scheffler control. The battle remained tight until Scheffler delivered a moment of brilliance on the 17th hole, essentially clinching his triumph.
The Scottish golfer could only observe as Scheffler's chip shot from the rough journeyed 81 feet across the green before finding the hole. MacIntyre secured a comfortable runner-up spot and earned £1.6m, but he was visibly frustrated with his performance.
"Look, he's the better player on the day," he told reporters. "I'm just really p***ed off right now."
When asked about potential improvements he could make ahead of the Tour Championship and Ryder Cup, MacIntyre - who is expected to represent Team Europe at Bethpage in New York - was refreshingly candid. "Right now, not a clue," MacIntyre confessed.
"Right now, I want to go and smash up my golf clubs, to be honest with you."
