World No.1 Scottie Scheffler captured the first round lead the PGA Tour’s The CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a stunning bogey free 10-under par round of 61 in his home state of Texas.
Scheffler had fans on 59 watch, or perhaps even PGA Tour record 58 watch, as he fired five birdies and an eagle in a remarkable seven-under par front nine 29.
But the 28-year-old said post-round that golf’s magic number, which he shot at The Northern Trust tournament at TPC Boston in 2020, never entered his mind throughout the round.
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“I don’t really think about that stuff,” Scheffler said.
“It was nice. I hit some good shots to start the round, gave myself some looks, and was able to capitalise with a good iron shot on three and hit another iron shot on four.
“I kept hitting fairways and greens. Hit that nice pitch into six, good pitch into five as well.
“Was able to take advantage of the holes I needed to on the front nine, like five and six are holes you got to take advantage of, and nine as well.
“Was able to steal a few shots as well.”
LEADERBOARD: First round scores
Scheffler hit 10 of 14 fairways as he gained more strokes than anyone else in the field with approach play.
He hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation, and produced several highlights including his second shot into the par 5 ninth from 245 yards out stopping a little more than four feet from the cup to set up an eagle, after sticking the pitches he mentioned on five and six to inside three feet for back-to-back birdies.
That followed his tee shot on the 205-yard par 3 fourth to a little more than four feet and an approach to inside six feet at the par 4 third as part of a streak of four straight birdies.
“I think the 3-wood I hit into 9 would be one of the better shots I hit today,” Scheffler said.
“I was kind of in between clubs and I choked up on a 3-wood and hit a really nice shot in there.”
Scheffler was also full of praise for playing partner Si Woo Kim, who delivered one of the highlights of the day with a chip-in at the last.
The Korean went viral for doing NBA superstar Steph Curry’s ‘night, night’ celebration after a stunning chip-in at the Presidents Cup last year, and has become well-known for his celebrations.
He did not disappoint at the 18th, dropping to the ground and rolling on his back to much laughter.
“He does stuff like that all the time,’ Scheffler said with a chuckle.
“People don’t realise he is probably one of the funniest guys we have on Tour.
“Just has really good comedic timing and he is the best.
“Si Woo is undefeated. That was not surprising. Reaction always gets a good laugh out of us.”
Scheffler is two shots clear of the Philippines’ Rico Hoey and Venezuela’s Jhonatthan Vegas.
Two shots back from that pair inside the top ten is Australia’s Karl Vilips.
The PGA Tour rookie shot a bogey free opening round 65 to continue his recent good form after finishing tied fourth at the Zurich Classic last week alongside former Stanford University teammate Michael Thorbjornsen, who shot a 64 to start this week’s tournament.
Aaron Baddeley is a shot back from Vilips in a solid start for the Australian veteran, while Cam Davis (-2) and Harrison Endycott (-1) will need to fight hard in the second round to make the cut.
