“Scottie Scheffler failed to create history with a loss at the 50th PLAYERS Championship” is what the headline on Monday could’ve read. Of course, that was not the case; the world No. 1 did win in an epic fashion. However, there was the potential for that headline to have become a reality if Scheffler had not received care for his sudden neck pain on the greens of TPC Sawgrass!
During his play on day two, Scheffler started experiencing discomfort in his neck. Immediately, he was under observation and receiving treatment at the 14th tee. This helped Scheffler continue playing without the threat of withdrawing. And the magical hands behind the golf pro’s pain relief were those of Marnus Marais, a veteran physiotherapist on the PGA Tour.
Marnus Marais is the go-to physiotherapist for many PGA Tour pros
“Marnus will just go take care of me,” were Scottie Scheffler’s words when asked about treatment after playing round three at THE PLAYERS Championship. And boy, he did! But who is Marnus Marais, and for how long has he been doing this? He has worked with both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour since 2011.
Marais is a veteran physical therapist and unbelievably good at that, as many, including the legend Gary Woodland, would attest to. He was among the first on the Tour to complete his TPI certification and earn himself a boastable Medical Level 3 over a decade ago.
Marais started working with the pros when Dr. Troy Van Biezen (the Tour’s previous physiotherapist) shifted to the NHL’s Dallas Stars as the director of sports performance and science. Interestingly, Van Biezen himself had recommended Marais to be his replacement and take charge of all his clients, which include Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, and Gary Woodland.
Previously, Marais also catered to Dustin Johnsonand Louis Oosthuizen. However, since the two players jumped ship to LIV, Marais replaced them with Scott and Woodland. And the later, who only recently returned to the PGA Tour after going through brain surgery, has been working with Marais for over a year now and has nothing but praise for the physio-magician.
Gary Woodland claims that Marais helps him stay healthy
The Golf Week reported Gary Woodland, who employed Marnus Marais in 2022, agrees that Marais has the most valuable hands in golf. The 39-year-old pro said, “There’s no doubt about it. He’s unbelievable.”
Woodland, who has struggled with brain lesion surgery and found himself trying to play better, explained that at least physically, he had been doing much better, and he owed it all to the physiotherapist. “Knock on wood, since I’ve been with him, I’ve been healthy—outside of my brain,” the 2019 U.S. Open winner had said humorously.
