World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has racked up massive credentials, but his latest achievement came with special significance.
Scheffler won a tournament for the first time this year and did so in a big way, shooting 8-under-par 63 in the final round Sunday for an eight-stroke victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in McKinney, Texas.
“This story means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s my first start as a pro 11 years ago (in this event). I had my sister (as caddie for the tournament). She’s back there, too.”
Scheffler tied the PGA Tour record for lowest 72-hole score at 31-under 253. His bogey on the par-3 17th prevented him from breaking the record.
Scheffler captured his first championship in more than eight months, doing so near his native Dallas. It’s his 14th PGA Tour victory.
He didn’t enter the tournament at TPC Craig Ranch last year because he was about to become a first-time father.
“It feels like a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice for little moments like these, and they’re pretty special,” he said.
South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen was the runner-up, also shooting 63 for the final round and ending at 23 under.
Joining Scheffler with the hometown vibes for this tournament were Sam Stevens and Jordan Spieth.
“What he’s doing is inspiring,” Spieth said of Scheffler.
Stevens shot 64 for third place at 20 under. Spieth’s 62 tied his personal best on the PGA Tour and allowed him to rise to fourth place at 19 under.
Scheffler led each step of the way for his first victory since wrapping up the Tour Championship on Sept. 1.
After a weather-related interruption Friday and a late-afternoon tee time for Saturday’s third round that finished after dusk, it was smooth sailing for Scheffler on the tournament’s last day.
He began the round with an eight-stroke lead and recorded five birdies, a bogey and then an eagle on No. 9 for a front-nine score of 30. He was 29 under through the tournament’s first 63 holes.
van Rooyen also notched a front-nine 30 but made up no ground.
The hometown favorite then moved into record territory with birdies on Nos. 11, 14 and 15. He was in the rough off the tee on No. 17 and, after his chip shot rolled back off the green, settled for bogey.
But winning a tournament named after Nelson added to the importance for Scheffler.
“He was a great person, a family man, and I’m proud to be the champion at his event,” he said.
Spieth and Scheffler are longtime friends. Being near the top of the leaderboard together was special, but because of the margin they weren’t exactly jockeying for position.
“I don’t think this counts,” Spieth said. “I went off two hours ahead of him. Yeah, it would have been really cool if I were the one in that last group, and at least we were going back and forth a little. That would have been pretty fun, just being hometown players.”
Stevens soaked in the atmosphere. He had his best round of the tournament Sunday, bouncing back after Saturday’s 70.
“It was nice to kind of keep the pedal down a little bit,” Stevens said.
Spieth embraced what has been a steady recent rise. He said good fortune contributed.
“I got a bit lucky on 18. I thought I hit it in the water, and I ended up making birdie,” Spieth said. “Those are the kinds of breaks you need to sometimes shoot 62.”
Eight golfers tied for fifth place at 17 under: Sam Burns (65), Mark Hubbard (65), Will Gordon (65), Eric Cole (67), Kurt Kitayama (68), Ricky Castillo (69), Adam Schenk (69) and Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (65).
–Field Level Media
