Scheffler withdraws due to imminent birth as Power earns surprise Houston start

Scottie Scheffler during the final round of the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America

World number one Scottie Scheffler won’t play again until the Masters after his withdrawal from this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open due to the imminent birth of his second child.

The Texan’s wife, Meredith, who gave birth to son Bennett a few weeks after his second Masters victory in 2024, is expected to give birth soon.

Scheffler's withdrawal, which is the seventh from the Houston event since Friday’s entry deadline, was good news for Matt Kuchar.

But there was also good news for Seamus Power, who was the eighth alternate but moved up to first reserve when the field was expanded from 133 to 135 players on Monday.

He wasn’t expecting to play again until next Monday’s qualifier for the Valero Texas Open, but thanks to Bud Cauley’s withdrawal yesterday (Tuesday), he’s in the field and has a chance now to clinch a third PGA Tour win and the reward of a spot in the Masters field.

It’s the third week in a row that the West Waterford man has made a PGA Tour field from the reserve list.
Power will join Shane Lowry at Memorial Park Golf Course, where the Offaly man will be bidding to put the finishing touches to his Masters preparations.

Lowry has missed the cut in his last two starts since blowing a three-shot lead with just three holes to play at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens just over three weeks ago.