NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler showcased an impressive performance on Friday, carding an 8-under 64 at Albany Golf Club, where he birdied every hole except for the par 3s on the front nine. His bogey-free round earned him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge.
After taking a two-month break, the world’s No. 1 golfer showed no signs of rust, amassing eight tournament victories this year and positioning himself for another win before the year concludes. Scheffler now sits at a total of 13-under 131, leading Akshay Bhatia, who shot a 66, and Justin Thomas, who managed a 67. Both Bhatia and Thomas had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in contention heading into the weekend.
Scheffler kicked off his round with a lob wedge that set up a 2-foot birdie and maintained momentum, making the turn at 29 to take command of the holiday event, which features a field of 20 players. Although he experienced a slight dip in performance on the back nine, he felt confident. “The front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much,” Scheffler remarked. “A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in—just little things.”
When asked if he felt any disappointment in not achieving a lower score, having previously shot a 59, Scheffler appeared amused. “In this game, I think a lot of y’all are looking for perfection out of us,” he stated. “Today, I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there—clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I’m pretty pleased.”
Justin Thomas, who recorded a 67, described his round as stress-free, particularly due to his solid driving. The wind was calm, which is unusual for the Bahamas, but it’s anticipated to pick up over the weekend. Thomas expressed no concern over Scheffler’s excellent start, citing the three par 5s and a short par 4 on the front nine that make scoring opportunities abundant. “You could literally birdie every hole as soft as the greens are,” he commented. “He’s a great player, and if you’re on and really in control of everything—especially with no wind—you can just make so many birdies.”
Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley also performed well with a 67, although he finds himself four shots behind Scheffler. Despite the favorable conditions, not every player thrived. Cameron Young, who began with a strong 64, saw his score tumble to a 75, which included a double bogey on the final hole, where his ball rolled down into the rocks framing the lake.
Patrick Cantlay was unable to keep pace with Scheffler, suffering three bogeys on the back nine and finishing with a 71, now seven shots off the lead.
This tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is categorized as unofficial, but it does offer world ranking points to all participants except for the bottom three in the standings due to its limited field size. This event features its weakest lineup in 25 years; however, with Scheffler ranked No. 1, it retains significant merit.
Scheffler becomes the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish the year ranked No. 1 in the world. Even after a break that allowed him to make adjustments to his putting stroke, it seems likely that his top position will remain unchallenged for the foreseeable future.
