Let us take a moment to fully appreciate what Scottie Scheffler did in his thunder-punch victory in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last week at TPC Craig Ranch not far from his Dallas home.
Taking the macro view, Scheffler’s 14th career PGA Tour victory emphatically reinforced his standing atop the world ranking, vanquishing any conversation about why he had not yet won in 2025.
It was a narrative that had persisted while Rory McIlroy stacked up three victories including the Masters and Scheffler went about his business of stacking up five top-10 finishes in his eight starts prior to the Nelson.
Scheffler had shown moments of frustration this season, but there was none of that at TPC Craig Ranch, where he dealt with weather delays and playing in front of hometown fans in an event he first played as a 17-year-old amateur in 2014.
He didn’t just win. Scheffler dominated in going wire to wire after an opening 61, finishing eight strokes clear of Erik van Rooyen while tying the PGA Tour’s all-time 72-hole scoring record at 31-under-par 253, equaling the mark shared by Justin Thomas and Ludvig Åberg.
“He’s the best player in the world for a reason,” said Adam Schenk, who tied for fifth – 14 strokes behind Scheffler.
Perhaps the worst that could be said about Scheffler’s performance is that he bogeyed the par-3 17th hole then failed to birdie the par-5 finishing hole when he had a chance to set himself apart in the PGA Tour record book.
Still, Scheffler had plenty to smile about after moving one victory ahead of his friend and fellow Texas Longhorn, Jordan Spieth.
“This tournament means a lot to me. It’s my first start [on the PGA Tour] 11 years ago. I had my sister caddying for me,” Scheffler said of his 2014 debut.
“It feels like a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice for little moments like these, and they’re pretty special.”
Van Rooyen played his way into this week’s signature event Truist Championship and the PGA Championship a week later with his runner-up finish and got a first-hand look at Scheffler in full flight.
“Scottie was practically flawless, which is kind of what you expect from the world No. 1,” van Rooyen said.
It was a good week for Spieth, another Dallas resident. Spieth closed with 62 on Sunday to finish fourth as he points toward the PGA Championship in two weeks, where he will try again to complete the career Grand Slam.
While Spieth left TPC Craig Ranch feeling good about his game, what Scheffler did over four days had everyone searching for superlatives.
“I play a lot of golf with him in town here. I know, if I’m able to clip him when we’re playing at home, then I’m playing really well. That’s just the way it’s been the last few years. It didn’t used to be that way. I used to get him every time,” Spieth said.
“It’s inspiring what he’s doing.”
Ron Green Jr.