PGA Tour superstar Scottie Scheffler is enjoying an incredible run of form that will concern LIV Golf’ s high-profile players heading into the Masters.
Heading into this week’s Houston Open, Scheffler told reporters he was ‘rusty’ only for the world No. 1 to shoot a bogey-free five-under at Memorial Park Golf Course. He trails Taylor Moore and Wilson Furr by one shot going into Friday's play, but the 27-year-old is well in the mix to win a third successive PGA Tour title ahead of the first major of the season.
Scheffler’s performance on Thursday showed anything but rust. While he missed 11 of 18 greens, Scheffler’s remarkable putting overshadowed any other aspect of his game that may have faltered.
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“Yeah, I would say some key up-and-downs,” Scheffler said. “I made a nice putt there at the first to kind of get the round going and made some really nice up and downs after that.”
With his opening-round 65 at the Houston Open, Scheffler now has 28 consecutive rounds under par - the most in PGA Tour history. He is playing at an exceptional level; the last time Scheffler made a bogey was 50 holes ago, while his last double bogey was 201 holes ago.
He is in scintillating form having clinched consecutive victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship. Scheffler’s run will undoubtedly worry LIV Golf players like Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, who are set to compete at Augusta in two weeks.
During his opening round in Houston, Scheffler held the lead for most of the back nine until Moore, who defended his title last week at the Valspar Championship, made a birdie on the par-5 16th to end on a six-under 64. But Scheffler is in prime position, adding: “I had a solid round. Kept the card clean.
Scottie Scheffler is chasing a third successive PGA Tour title after winning the Players Championship (Getty Images)“Bogey free is always nice, especially around a golf course like this. It’s nice to be able to keep the card clean, like I said.”
If Scheffler - who has shot 66 or better in 43 percent of his rounds this season - wins again this week, he would become the first player to win three straight PGA Tour starts since now-LIV Golf ace Dustin Johnson in 2017. Scheffler would be the first to capture three consecutive stroke-play events since Rory McIlroy in 2014.
But Moore leads the way through the opening round, fighting back from a bogey on the first with a chip-in eagle on the par-five third. The 30-year-old will hope to continue his form and add to the 2023 Valspar Championhip, his sole win on the tour, but rookie Furr joined the leading party late in the day.
Beau Hossler, Aaron Rai and Adam Svensson each shot four-under 66 and shared sixth behind Moore, Furr, Scheffler, Joe Highsmith and Davis Riley. Highsmith and Riley each shot 65 to tie the world No. 1’s opening score.
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