In McKinney, Texas, golf sensation Scottie Scheffler relished the opportunity to compete on home turf, making a statement at the Byron Nelson tournament. Scheffler, executing an impressive 10-under 61, secured a two-shot lead over competitors Rico Hoey and Jhonattan Vegas. Cameron Champ, who was brought in as an alternate less than a day before his tee-off, demonstrated his adaptability by positioning himself just a further shot back at 64, among seven players.
Defending champion Taylor Pendrith navigated the rain-soaked par-71 TPC Craig Ranch, posting a 67. Players were allowed to lift, clean, and place due to the heavy rain on Wednesday. Although top-ranked, it was Scheffler who stole the spotlight, overshadowing fellow home favorite Jordan Spieth during their pairing. Si Woo Kim, another tournament favorite residing from Dallas, shared the course with them, finishing his day with a spectacular chip-in eagle on the 18th. This saw him roll back on the ground in jubilance as he ended with a 67, while Spieth managed a 2-under.
The round proved fruitful for former Texas Longhorn Jhonattan Vegas, enjoying a flawless round alongside Scheffler and Hoey. Scheffler’s name resonated alongside other notable performances including Stephan Jaeger, Michael Thorbjornsen, Eric Cole, Andrew Putnam, Patton Kizzire, and Will Gordon, who joined Champ under the 7-under umbrella.
Taking time off last year for a family milestone, the birth of his son Bennett, Scheffler expressed his contentment. “Jordan and I always enjoy playing here. This tournament has held great significance over the years,” Scheffler remarked. Despite missing out last year, Scheffler has maintained an impressive track record, considerably bolstered by wins at prestigious events like the Masters and Players Championship.
Entering 2025 still in pursuit of his first win, his performance remained strong with a fourth-place finish at Augusta and several top-10 placements. Scheffler’s march through the course featured a sequence of birdies, crowning the day with a remarkable approach at the par-5 ninth to set an eagle.
Hoey, at 29, hunting his first PGA Tour win, showed resilience with a string of pars followed by an eagle to close his back nine. He achieved an 8-under finish over his final ten holes, marking a career-best round on the PGA Tour. Reflecting on his form, Hoey commented on an improvement over last season, citing steadier performances.
Cameron Champ, who once ruled the green with three victories from 2019-2021, faced recent struggles missing more than half his cuts in the last two years. He capitalized on his last-minute entry, bouncing back from early bogeys with an impressive nine birdies, manifesting his hard training of the past years.
The soggy conditions led to unexpected hurdles, notably for Jordan Spieth and Danny Walker. Both players had to clean mud-caked spikes after errant shots. Walker’s struggle on the 11th culminated in a bogey, and he closed his round at 68. Similarly, Spieth scrambled to scratch a par at another challenging hole, barely avoiding the water.