Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number one golfer, once again displayed visible frustration during the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis as he struggles to find his groove.
Despite coming off an exceptional season where he secured four titles including two majors, the 29-year-old’s recent temper tantrum on the course has drawn backlash from fans and critics alike.
The incident occurred on the 10th hole of Scheffler’s second round, where he faced a challenging bunker shot just outside the green as he trailed England’s Tommy Fleetwood by one stroke.
Attempting to gain an edge, the 17-time PGA Tour winner executed a wedge shot that soared out of the bunker and rolled rapidly past the hole and he was not happy as he repeatedly struck the sand with his wedge, damaging the club in the process.
This intense outburst appeared to be fueled by the intense heat and the pressure, and quickly went viral on social media prompting strong reactions from the golfing community online.
One user said via X.com, formerly Twitter, “Yes. Scottie is a petulant child when things don’t go his way. Please stop acting surprised at this.”
A second said, “Frustrated Scottie is so funny. Poor champ.”
And a third claimed, “If the tour is going to continue to ignore this stuff, maybe they can offer anger management classes for most of these guys, a little professionalism isn’t asking much. Golf is supposed to be a game of etiquette. The tour has a culture problem.”
This sentiment reflects a broader frustration with Scheffler’s repeated displays of temper throughout 2025 as he had a similar moment during the U.S. Open when he aggressively dug into the fairway after a shot that rolled away from the hole.
Despite his immense success, Scottie’s inability to maintain composure under pressure detracts from the sportsmanship expected of a pro, and even his caddie, Ted Scott, reportedly advised him in 2021 to work on managing his temper.
The PGA Tour has generally been reluctant to penalize top players for such behavior, even amid controversies like slow play. Yet, officials like Commissioner Jay Monahan and CEO Brian Rolapp may need to review this approach.
Fleetwood excels at FedEx St. Jude
Meanwhile, Fleetwood distanced himself from the controversy with an impressive performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship as he shot a six-under 64 in the second round, extending his lead to four strokes at 13-under par after 36 holes.
The 34-year-old from Southport, Merseyside, has shown consistent play, including four consecutive birdies on the back nine, reinforced his pursuit of a maiden PGA Tour victory
“It hasn’t happened for me yet out on the PGA Tour,” Fleetwood said. “But I would much rather be up there and not quite get it done than not there at all.
“And who knows? Maybe this weekend is the weekend and we’ll see, and we’ll crack on from there.”
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