Remember when Scottie Scheffler was absolutely dominating golf in 2024? Thirteen PGA Tour titles, a second Masters, an Olympic gold medal, and the FedExCup — he was a star. All before a Christmas Day kitchen mishap changed everything. While making ravioli, a broken wine glass punctured his right palm, requiring surgery and sidelining the world’s top-ranked golfer. Now, the defending RBC Heritage champion returns strong to Harbour Town Golf Links. And this time, he’s bringing not only his clubs but also some rare insights into his recent Masters performance. In which, he finished an admirable fourth, despite struggling with his ball-striking precision.

Scottie Scheffler’s candid conversation reveals Augusta struggles

During Tuesday’s press conference at Harbour Town Golf Links, Scheffler opened up about a particularly revealing moment he shared with his wife during the Masters.

“I told Meredith one night, one of the hardest parts of today is, when I aim the golf ball this way, it either went that way or that way. It very rarely went that way,” Scheffler admitted, capturing his Augusta frustrations with remarkable honesty.

This uncharacteristic directional uncertainty was particularly challenging at Augusta National. Especially because precision is of most importance there. Despite these challenges, Scheffler battled admirably to a fourth-place finish. He ended the tournament at 8-under par—an impressive showing considering his difficulties controlling ball flight.

When asked about his takeaways from Augusta National, Scheffler reflected on the mental fortitude it took to contend despite his swing issues. The World No. 1 emphasized that despite his struggles, he’s seeing consistent improvement in his game. “It was a taxing week for me, but like I said, I haven’t had my best stuff this year.” He added, “But I feel like I’m learning a lot. Each week I feel like I’m improving and continuing to learn,” he explained. He demonstrated the resilience that has helped him remain atop the golf world even through physical setbacks.

After spending precious practice time before the press conference working on his swing, Scheffler’s optimism was evident as he looked forward to competing at Harbour Town. “I hit some balls before I came over here today. I feel like each day I come to the range, I’m getting a little bit better.” He added,” Things are starting to feel more the way they should,” he shared. This suggests his game is moving in the right direction after weeks of frustrating inconsistency following his return from injury.

What makes his fourth-place Masters finish even more remarkable is understanding the journey Scheffler has been on since his December injury.

December’s ravioli-making mishap derailed Scottie Scheffler’s preparation

The bizarre Christmas Day accident that altered Scheffler’s 2025 trajectory couldn’t have come at a worse time. After his historic 2024 season, Scheffler was forced to undergo surgery to remove glass fragments from his right palm after a wine glass shattered while he was preparing homemade ravioli.

This seemingly minor kitchen accident disrupted his entire offseason regimen. Instead of fine-tuning his already spectacular game, Scheffler was sidelined completely for two weeks post-surgery. He was unable to practice or even maintain his usual fitness routine.

The injury forced him to miss the PGA Tour’s season opener, The Sentry, in Hawaii. He then withdraw from The American Express in mid-January. His 2025 debut didn’t come until the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. And this was approximately a month later than his typical season start.

As golf’s premier talent works to rediscover his championship form, his candid admission to Meredith reveals both the frustration and determination driving him forward. Will Scheffler’s improving form lead to a successful defense of his RBC Heritage title? Only time will tell, but one thing’s certain—his game is trending in the right direction.