THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 16, 2024

Scottie Scheffler

TPC Sawgrass

Quick Quotes

Q. Defending champion, sounds like a title you're not going to give up very easily. What a finish for you.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, it was nice. I hit some good shots towards the end. It was good to see some quality shots. Yeah, kept battling until the end. I did my best to stay patient out there, but this place can be fairly frustrating and it was nice to get some birdies to close.

Q. How was your patience out there until you hit that streak at the end where you birdied the last three holes?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, not bad. It was tough. I was battling my swing a little bit today. But overall I'm pleased being able to get in the house in a few under par. I wouldn't say I'm out of the tournament. I'm definitely on the outside looking in, but a hot day tomorrow could go a long way.

Q. What do you have to do to win this tomorrow?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Shoot very low.

Q. What's been the key to staying in contention the last two days with not being 100 percent?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I'm just battling, doing my best to just maneuver my way around the golf course, hitting shots. Really just doing my best. That's about it.

Q. The broadcasters imply you might be taking an extra club and taking something off the iron shots. Was that because of the wind and flighting it or because of the injury?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Definitely because of the injury. I don't know if y'all could hear many of our conversations out there today, but basically when I get the club to about halfway back I start feeling a lot of pain in my neck. So, from here to there it's very difficult to get the club back. First is, curving the ball right to left with longer clubs is very difficult, just because I can't get fully turned back. Overall I'm just using my hands a lot, trying to hit shots, I would describe it as kind of slapping it around out there is kind of what I'm doing. Just using my hands as much as I can, and just trying to slap it around, get it up there somewhere near the green and hopefully get up-and-down or make some putts.

Q. Is it getting any worse during the rounds?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No, no. Yesterday on 12 I'd say was probably the worst that I've felt, which is good. I got some good treatment yesterday, good recovery last night, and I woke up feeling better today than I did yesterday.

Q. When you were reaching, is that because the tape was annoying you?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Well, I tried to keep the tape on. It's tough with the sweat and everything. A little rub here and there doesn't hurt, either.

Q. How valuable is it for your confidence to complete this round birdie-birdie-birdie, knowing all the adjustments you've had to make because of this?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, it's great to have a nice finish like that. Standing on 16 tee I would say that I was pretty significantly out of the tournament, and to birdie the last three holes, I may be six or seven back, but still have a chance. I'd say there's a big different between being six back and nine back. I think I'm still within shooting distance.

Q. Are there any other adjustments you've had to make because of the injury?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No, just the ones I described.

Q. Have you ever dealt with something like this before?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, yeah, it's happened to me in college a few times. Hasn't happened in a while. It's just one of those things, it's unfortunate timing. But outside of that, it's nothing serious. It's just a little pain in the neck.

Q. You said the time you feel pain is in the middle of the backswing?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I would say right when I get to about here. So if I turn my head, right there is where I start feeling pain. It's not going to make it any worse. If anything, today playing golf may have loosened it up a touch, which is great news really. A lot of times after you get an acute injury like that, waking up the next morning can be pretty tough. This morning I woke up feeling better than yesterday, and hopefully I'll feel even better tomorrow.

Q. There may have been some questions when you woke up this morning because of your neck, but going out and playing like you did today, how much does that instill belief in you heading into tomorrow that maybe this isn't as bad for my swing as I thought?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think just my reflections on today would just be I was proud of how I battled out there. I'm not one to ever really give up. So to finish the round the way I did and still give myself a chance in this tournament is very good, and I'm definitely going to use that momentum going into tomorrow.

Q. Do you know a cause or did it just pop up?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Just stuff like this happens when you play golf.

Q. What's the plan for treatment here?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Marnus will just go take care of me. He's the doc, so I couldn't tell you.

Q. Do you do the cold plunge?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Uh-huh.

Q. Does it help?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah. It's hard to get to the neck, though.

Q. Do you think it'll impact how much you play between here and the Masters?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I don't think so. When it's happened to me before, it's usually been a few days and been back to normal. My guess is tomorrow I'll hopefully be feeling better, and I'm sure I'll be back to normal by Tuesday or Wednesday next week.