Scottie Scheffler equals PGA Tour scoring record, savours ‘dream’ hometown win

TEXAS – An emotional Scottie Scheffler flirted with golf history at his hometown tournament on May 4, tying the PGA Tour scoring record for his first win of the season at the Byron Nelson tournament in McKinney, Texas.

Finishing with a 31-under 253, he equalled the Tour record for the lowest 72-hole score at the event where he had his first professional start as a teenager 11 years ago, with his sister serving as his caddie.

He matched the lowest total strokes over four rounds in a PGA Tour event, a mark shared by Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg from the 2023 RSM Classic and fellow American Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama set the PGA Tour 72-hole record in relation to par with a 35-under 257 to win the 2025 Sentry tournament on the par-73 Kapalua course.

Scheffler nearly clinched the scoring record outright until he suffered a bogey on the par-three 17th hole, before finishing on eight-under 63 to defeat South African Erik van Rooyen (63) by eight strokes.

It was the most lopsided victory at the Byron Nelson event since Sam Snead won by 10 strokes in 1957.

“It feels like a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice for little moments like these, and they’re pretty special,” said Scheffler, who won nine titles worldwide in 2024, including the Paris Olympics and his second Masters.

“I feel like my game is trending in a good direction. I’m excited to start the rest of the season.”

While this was his 14th PGA title, it was arguably among the most meaningful for the 28-year-old, who became emotional after the win as he addressed the fans with his baby son in his arms.

“I grew up coming to watch it. This was my first start on the PGA Tour when I was in high school. The girl I was dating at the time is now my wife,” said Scheffler, whose previous triumph came at last December’s Hero World Challenge invitational, an unofficial event.

“My family was all able to be here, and it was just really, really special memories, and I think at times it all comes crashing down to me at once.

“We have a lot of great memories as kids coming to watch this tournament. I just dreamed to be able to play in it, and it’s more of a dream to be able to win it.”

The world No. 1, who began the day with an eight-stroke lead, made a 13-foot birdie putt on the second hole.

After a bogey at the third hole, Scheffler reeled off birdies on the next four – each putt from eight feet or less – followed by a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-five ninth.

He added three more birdies on the 11th, 14th and 15th holes before suffering a bogey at the par-three 17th. Scheffler reached the tee at the par-five 18th needing a birdie to take the 72-hole record for himself.

After blasting 303 yards off the tee into the fairway, the American found a greenside bunker and blasted out to eight feet, but missed the birdie putt for the solo record, tapping in for par to complete an impressive week.

Scheffler also became only the third wire-to-wire winner at the event, following fellow Americans Mark Hayes in 1976 and Tom Watson in 1980, prompting van Rooyen to say: “Scottie was practically flawless, which is kind of what you expect from the world No. 1.”

Jordan Spieth, a three-time Major winner recovering from left wrist surgery last August, fired a bogey-free 62 to finish fourth on 265, one stroke behind fellow American Sam Stevens (64).

It was Spieth’s lowest PGA round since 2021 and comes two weeks before he tries to complete a career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The ultimate goal is consistent play, but it’s not bogey avoidance or anything like that. I’m not changing strategy,” said the 31-year-old American.

“It’s just that my mechanics are just getting a little bit better each week. I’m able to do sufficient stuff maybe that I wasn’t able to do last year that maybe my wrist was holding me back, I’m not sure.” REUTERS, AFP