Rory McIlroy has opened up on the health challenges that come with raising his young daughter after Scottie Scheffler contracted a painful illness ahead of the Tour Championship.
The Northern Irishman and wife Erica Stoll are parents to daughter Poppy, who was born in 2020.
McIlroy admitted that illnesses can quickly spread through a family once children begin attending school or day care, with parents often catching the viruses brought home.
The five-time major champion was discussing family life after Scheffler revealed that hand, foot and mouth disease had disrupted preparations for the BMW Championship.
“Kids bring stuff home from school,” McIlroy said.
“They bring stuff home from day care out here. I think anyone that’s had children, it’s a part of it.
“That’s the only way that they’re going to build up their own immunities. Unfortunately the parents fall foul of that at times.
“But that’s part of life. You’re going to get little viruses and little things that happen.”
Rory McIlroy has opened up on the health challenges that come with raising his young daughter after Scottie Scheffler contracted a painful illness ahead of the Tour Championship
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REUTERS
McIlroy also joked about an encounter with Scheffler in Atlanta after learning of the world No 1’s illness.
Scheffler was the first golfer McIlroy encountered while collecting lunch, prompting an immediate check on whether the American had recovered and remained contagious.
“I was getting lunch yesterday and the first person I saw that was putting food on his plate beside me was Scottie,” McIlroy explained.
“So I was like: ‘Are you okay? Are you fine? Are you feeling better?’”
Scottie Scheffler ended up tied for 12th at the BMW Championship despite battling illness
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GETTYMcIlroy said Scheffler appeared to recover as last week’s tournament progressed and hoped his rival would return to full fitness at East Lake.
Scheffler remarkably finished tied for 12th at the BMW Championship despite painful blisters making gripping a golf club difficult during the opening rounds.
“I got the hand, foot, mouth,” Scheffler revealed.
“So you get blisters on your hands and in your throat and on your feet.
“To start the week it was pretty painful to grip the club.
“If I was smarter maybe I would have pulled out, but I was playing so good I felt like if I could knock it out quickly and just get through the first couple rounds I would still have a chance.”
Scheffler admitted stubbornness persuaded him to continue competing rather than withdraw.
Rory McIlroy is seeking another FedExCup success and believes each of his previous victories carried a different significance
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REUTERSMcIlroy and Scheffler are now among the leading contenders for the Tour Championship, where all 30 players will begin at level par.
McIlroy is seeking another FedExCup success and believes each of his previous victories carried a different significance.
“They’ve all been meaningful in their own ways,” McIlroy said.
“You could argue that each of the FedExCups I’ve won I maybe wasn’t the best player of the entire year, but I always felt like it was a way to redeem myself or end the year on a really positive note.”
