Scottie Scheffler left no doubt that he is fully recovered from the hand injury he suffered in December. He won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by eight shots and tied the PGA Tour record for the lowest 72-hole score at 31-under-par 253.
The runaway victory in McKinney, Texas, a Dallas suburb, came 11 years after Scheffler’s PGA Tour debut in the Nelson as a high school senior.
“It’s very special to have won this tournament,” the Dallas resident and World No. 1 said. “This tournament means a lot to me. I grew up coming here to watch. I just dreamed to be able to play in it, and it’s more of a dream to be able to win it.
“It was a really fun week, a really special week, and I definitely enjoyed it.”
Scheffler opened the tournament with a 10-under 61 and led wire-to-wire. He entered the final round with a tournament 54-hole record 8-shot lead and no one came within six shots of him as he shot an 8-under 63. Playing partner Erik van Rooyen also shot 63 to finish second at 23 under, three shots ahead of Sam Stevens, who shot 64.
The margin of victory was the second-largest at the Nelson behind Sam Snead’s 10-shot win in 1957, when it was known as the Dallas Open Invitational.
“Scottie was practically flawless, which is kind of what you expect from the World No. 1,” van Rooyen said. “I’m really proud with the golf I played.”
Dallas resident Jordan Spieth, who made the cut in the event as a 16-year-old, had the low round of the day, a 62 that moved him up to fourth place at 19 under. Spieth played with Scheffler the first two days and was 12 shots behind him going into the weekend.
Scheffler Threatened the 72-Hole Record
Scheffler was in position to break the tour scoring record of 253, which was held by Ludvig Aberg at the 2023 RSM Classic and Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open. He flubbed a chip at the par-3 17th hole, leading to a bogey. And on the par-5 18th hole, he was in a greenside bunker in two, but failed to get up and down for a birdie when his 8-foot putt slid by the hole.
It was the first victory of the year for Scheffler, who won seven times last year, and the 14th victory of the 28-year-old’s career, which includes two Masters titles.
“This is a golf course where you can kind of make a run, and I knew that I couldn’t just coast to the finish line today,” Scheffler said. “I knew I had to put together a good round.”
Tour Goes to Philly and Myrtle Beach
The 2025 Truist Championship is taking place this week at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course, marking the PGA Tour’s return to Philadelphia. This Signature Event features a $20 million purse, with Rory McIlroy defending his title after his recent Masters victory. The par-70, 7,119-yard course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast, presents a unique challenge with firm greens, strategic bunkering, and limited scoring opportunities. Many of the game’s top players, including Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Ludvig Åberg, and Xander Schauffele, are competing; however, Scottie Scheffler is skipping the event to prepare for next week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Fans can catch the action on Golf Channel and CBS, with streaming available on ESPN+ and Peacock
The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic returns for its second edition at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club as opposite-field event. Defending champion Chris Gotterup is back, joined by notable players like Tom Kim, Joel Dahmen, and Brandt Snedeker. The 132-player field will compete for a $4 million purse, with action kicking off on Thursday, May 8. The course, a 77-year-old venue, offers a challenging layout with tree-lined fairways and coastal winds. Fans can catch the tournament on Golf Channel, with streaming available on ESPN+ and Peacock.
