Scottie Scheffler Withdraws From the Houston Open Because Baby No. 2 Is Coming and Golf Can Wait

Scottie Scheffler was supposed to play the Houston Open this week. His home state. Memorial Park. The perfect final tune-up before heading to Augusta National for what everyone assumes will be his third green jacket attempt in dominant fashion.

Instead, he’s home waiting for baby No. 2.

The PGA Tour announced Scheffler’s withdrawal on Tuesday, citing “family reasons.” Golf Channel confirmed what everyone suspected — Meredith Scheffler is expecting their second child, and Scottie is doing the right thing by being there for it. Matt Kuchar slid into his spot in the field.

What This Means for the Masters

Here’s the thing that has everyone talking: Scheffler hasn’t exactly been Scheffler lately. Three starts without a top-10. Ranked 78th in strokes gained: approach in that stretch. We already covered why that’s an overreaction, but the Houston Open withdrawal means he’ll likely arrive at Augusta with zero competitive rounds in the two weeks prior.

That’s not unprecedented. Plenty of major winners have skipped the week before and played just fine. But for a guy whose entire game is built on reps and rhythm, two weeks off when he’s already searching for form is… interesting.

The most likely scenario? Scheffler next tees it up at the Masters on April 10. He may or may not play the Valero Texas Open next week, but with a newborn at home, don’t count on it.

The Houston Open Just Got Wide Open

With Scheffler out, the betting favorite is now defending champion Min Woo Lee at +1300. And honestly? Lee deserves it. He’s been playing some of the best golf of his life — top-15 finishes in three of his last four starts after switching putters at Pebble Beach.

But the real story in Houston is the collection of guys who need this week badly:

• Chris Gotterup (+1600) — Two wins already in 2026. The 25-year-old is playing with the kind of confidence that makes everyone else nervous. If Memorial Park suits his power game (and it should), win No. 3 is very much in play.
• Brooks Koepka (+2200) — Fifth in strokes gained tee-to-green in this field. Second in approach behind only Shane Lowry. The five-time major winner helped renovate Memorial Park back in 2019, so he knows every blade of grass. His comeback is the real deal.
• Jake Knapp (+2000) — Returned from a back injury at the Players and is ready to resume the hot start that saw five straight top-11 finishes.
• Sam Burns (+2200) — Louisiana native, three years since his last win (WGC Match Play in Austin). Due.

The Masters Bubble Is the Real Drama

More on the Masters bubble situation in our preview, but the short version: Rickie Fowler (No. 61 OWGR) needs roughly a top-5 finish to crack the top 50 and earn a Masters invite. Pierceson Coody (No. 51) needs to hold steady. Michael Thorbjornsen (No. 56) needs a big week after collapsing on Sunday at the Players.

For Fowler especially, this is getting desperate. Four top-20 finishes in 2026, all six cuts made, and he’s still on the outside looking in. The man hasn’t played the Masters since 2023. That’s three years of watching from home for one of the most popular players in golf.

The Bottom Line

Scheffler being out is obviously the headline, but it might not actually matter much. He was going to show up at Augusta as the favorite regardless. A $9.9 million purse, a wide-open field, and a dozen guys playing for their Masters lives?

That’s appointment viewing.

The Houston Open tees off Thursday at Memorial Park. Grab a cold one and enjoy the chaos.