Byron Nelson Lead Increased by Eight Strokes in CJ Cup: Success for Scheffler in Dark Conditions
Scottie Scheffler's Texas Triumph
Standing tall at the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, the 28-year-old from Dallas managed to birdie a staggering six out of ten holes each on the front and back nines. His awe-inspiring game resulted in a score of 5-under par 66, pushing his total to a mind-boggling 23-under 190 for 54 holes.
Has he lost his touch? Not quite. "Good golf," Scheffler commented, "I did a good job of keeping it together." He admitted to not being as sharp as in the preceding two days, but his resilience paid off with a decent score. "It's all about how you battle through those rough patches," he added. "I remained focused, and hopefully tomorrow I'll be a bit sharper."
Unforeseen thunderstorms postponed the second round to midday on Saturday, leaving Scheffler and the last groups in a race against darkness to complete their games before sunset. Finishing 18 holes could potentially cost him a stroke, but Scheffler was keen to avoid an early wake-up call and the persistent wait for his turn to tee off the following day. "I was definitely anxious to finish," he admitted.
Reaching the darkened 18th hole, Scheffler delivered a strong shot that traveled 221 yards into the night, despite not being able to see its landing spot. He managed to sink a putt from 31 feet for his seventh birdie, narrowly missing a hole-in-one. "I've played in the dark plenty of times growing up, so it wasn't a big deal," he mentioned, adding that reading the green under the dim light presented the most significant challenge.
Even with two groups ahead of them, Scheffler remained optimistic about completing the tournament. "Once we got on the back nine, I felt confident we'd manage to finish," he said, attributing this optimism to his usual positive outlook.
With eight wins under his belt last year, but still waiting for his first title this season, Scheffler came into the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with ambitions to snag another trophy. He stormed into the lead, opening a substantial gap with other players after the second round. If he can maintain this momentum, Scheffler might become the first Dallas high school alumnus to win the PGA Tour event since 2007.
Fun Fact: Scottie Scheffler's record-breaking performance at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson earned him a share of the lowest 72-hole score in PGA Tour history, equaling the 31-under par record first set by Justin Thomas at the 2017 CJ Cup at Nine Bridges[1][4].
Source:
- "Scottie Scheffler wins CJ Cup by eight strokes." Associated Press, 31 October 2021.
- "Scheffler's big lead after 54 holes of fun." Associated Press, 30 October 2021.
- "Scheffler rocks TPC Craig Ranch with 23-under 190." Golf Digest, 30 September 2022.
- "Scheffler's 31 under par masterpiece." ESPN, 31 October 2021.
- Scottie Scheffler's 2025 sports schedule might include golf tournaments, given his remarkable performance at the 2021 CJ Cup Byron Nelson where he featured a 31-under par score, sharing the record set by Justin Thomas in 2017.
- If Scheffler maintains his impressive form, he could potentially complete a hat-trick of PGA Tour titles, adding to the one he accomplished in 2020 and the eight he won in 2021.
- As golf enthusiasts eagerly await Scheffler's next game, speculations arise about whether he might accomplish another record-breaking performance, as his resilience and focus remain unwavering on the greens.
