McKINNEY, Texas, May 5: Scottie Scheffler closed a superb week with a 8-under 63 and matched the PGA TOUR’s 72-hole scoring record, finishing at 31-under 253 and running away with an eight-shot victory at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in his hometown.
The World No. 1, who closed with a 63 to finish at 31-under par, tied the mark set by Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii and equalled six years later by Ludvig Åberg at The RSM Classic.
Scheffler was in position to break the record before a flubbed chip that led to bogey on the par-3 17th hole and a par from a greenside bunker on the par-5 closing hole. His 8-foot putt for birdie and the record slid by the left side of the hole.
Hideki Matsuyama has the lowest score in relation to par this season, 35 under on The Plantation Course at Kapalua, which is a par 73.
Scheffler tied THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson 54-hole record with an eight-shot lead, and nobody got closer than six during the final round.
Erik van Rooyen of South Africa matched Scheffler’s 63 to finish at 23 under, three shots ahead of Sam Stevens and four ahead of another hometown favourite, Jordan Spieth.
Scheffler and Spieth finished with the two lowest rounds of the tournament. Scheffler opened with a 10-under 61 on Thursday at the defenceless par-71 TPC Craig Ranch in a suburban community about 30 miles north of Dallas.
Spieth shot 62 in the final round, surging to finish fourth while watching his friend and fellow Texas alum become the first of the pair to win the event they both cherish.
It was the first victory this year for Scheffler after he won a total of 10 times before May in the previous three years combined, including two Masters victories. The 28-year-old Dallas resident has 14 career victories.
Scheffler’s previous best finish at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson was a tie for fifth two years ago.
He missed last year’s event for the birth of his first child. He cradled his year-old son, Bennett, after becoming the first wire-to-wire winner of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson since Tom Watson 45 years ago.
Because of heavy rain Wednesday and Friday, players were allowed to lift, clean and replace their golf balls in the fairway for the first three rounds, but not in the final round.
Scheffler extends lead to eight shots with one round to go at CJ Cup
