World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler withdrew from the Texas Children's Houston Open on Tuesday, with his wife Meredith expecting their second child. He will be replaced in the field by Matt Kuchar at Memorial Park. This decision prioritizes his final preparations for The Masters, where he aims for a third Green Jacket at Augusta National.

Scheffler had made the Houston Open his traditional final pre-Masters start, finishing runner-up in each of the last two years. His recent form includes a win at The American Express to begin 2026, though an 18-tournament streak of top-10 finishes ended at the Genesis Invitational. He last competed with a tie for 22nd at The Players Championship.

Scheffler's focus now shifts entirely to Augusta, where he will face defending champion Rory McIlroy. McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam with his dramatic playoff victory last year. With the tournament starting April 9-12, Scheffler's absence from Houston underscores his singular goal of adding a third Masters title to his 2024 PGA Championship and Open Championship victories.