World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open, opting to be with his family as he and his wife, Meredith, prepare to welcome their second child.

The PGA Tour listed his exit as “family reasons,” but reports from Golf Channel indicate there are no injury concerns, and the decision to withdraw is tied to the imminent birth. Veteran Matt Kuchar has been added to the field in his place.

Scheffler’s participation in Houston had been uncertain given the timing. The event has traditionally served as his final tune-up before the Masters, and he’s enjoyed consistent success there, finishing runner-up three times, including each of the past two years. In 2025, he narrowly missed the title after firing a course-tying 62 in the second round and finishing one shot behind Min Woo Lee.

This year, however, Scheffler will head into Augusta following a three-week break after his last start at The Players Championship, where he finished tied for 22nd. Despite the gap in competition, his track record at the Masters — including victories in 2022 and 2024 and additional top-10 finishes — is expected to keep him among the favorites.

His 2026 campaign has been solid but not dominant by his standards. He opened the season with a win at The American Express but has since shown some inconsistency, particularly off the tee. A streak of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes, which began in Houston last year, came to an end with a tie for 12th at the Genesis Invitational.

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