Scottie Scheffler has not lived up to his own ridiculously high standards so far in 2025, but the world number one was at his brilliant best in the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Thursday.
Scheffler has yet to win on the PGA Tour this season. However, he made an outstanding start at TPC Craig Ranch, just an hour outside of his hometown of Dallas, Texas.
With Masters champion Rory McIlroy skipping the tournament, which is not a signature event on the Tour, Scheffler delighted the crowds with a performance that served as a reminder of why he is still seen as the world’s best.
Scheffler did not card a single bogey en route to a 10-under-par 61, which could have been even better with slightly better luck on the final two holes.
Having gone out in 29 following an eagle at the ninth and subsequently birdied the 13th, the two-time Masters champion went agonizingly close to a hole-in-one at the 17th, hitting a superb iron to two feet for a birdie.
His second shot at the par-five 18th settled on the periphery of the putting surface and, though his eagle putt was just off line, he tapped in for another birdie to put himself in an outstanding position to prevail in a tournament he has never won.
Scheffler’s previous victory was at the Tour Championship in September. There’s suddenly a very good chance that drought comes to an end this weekend.
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