Scottie Scheffler Stirs Up The Golf World as He Ties Record Not Seen in Years: ‘Barely Even Broken a Sweat’

Scottie Scheffler has been on a tear since his dominant win at the 2024 Masters. His precision iron play and improved putting have made him nearly unbeatable. And now, he’s adding another chapter to his growing legacy. The World No. 1 has once again shown why he’s the most feared player in golf. Still hungry for his first win of 2025, having returned from the freak wrist injury, Scheffler seems determined to change that this week.

Scheffler carded a scorching 7-under 29 on the front nine at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson on Thursday. He matched the lowest front-nine score at TPC Craig Ranch since the tournament relocated there in 2021. His blistering start included four consecutive birdies from holes 3 through 6. But he wasn’t done yet.

The Texas native added another birdie at the 8th hole. Then came the exclamation point. Scheffler eagled the par-5 ninth, where his approach shot landed just four feet from the pin. His ball-striking was clinical through the opening holes. He didn’t miss a single green through his first ten holes.

The momentum from his historic front nine carried into the back nine at TPC Craig Ranch. By late in his opening round, Scheffler was at 8-under through 16 holes. For the last two holes, he shot two birdies and ended the play at the top of the leaderboard.

This isn’t Scheffler’s first time going this low. During the second round of the 2024 Hero World Challenge, he also fired a 7-under 29 on the front nine. That was the lowest front-nine score at that event since 2017. His ability to consistently post these low numbers showcases his elite skill level. Few players in the world can match his combination of power and precision.

Despite being the overwhelming pre-tournament favorite, Scheffler entered the week still searching for his first victory of 2025. He’s posted multiple top-10 finishes but hasn’t sealed the deal yet. As word of Scheffler’s incredible front-nine performance spread across social media, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. The golf world watched in awe as the World No. 1 made a statement with his clubs.

Fan reactions pour in as Scottie Scheffler dazzles

Golf fans immediately erupted on social media after witnessing Scheffler’s masterclass. One fan simply wrote, “Scottie Scheffler. Inevitable.” The sentiment captured what many were thinking. Scheffler’s excellence has become almost predictable. His 2024 season is a testament to him being Mr. Inevitable.

Another impressed viewer commented, “Amazing front nine. If he gets the flatstick rolling from 10-20ft he’s going to be tough to beat this week. The ballstriking seems to have improved.” This observation is backed by the stats. Scheffler needed only 44 feet of putts during his front nine. His approach shots were laser-guided to an average proximity of less than 15 feet. His greens in regulation percentage was flawless through ten holes – a perfect 100%.

One fan pointed out his quick ascent up the leaderboard, noting, “World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler not wasting a second getting to top of leaderboard at @cjbyronnelson. 7-under thru 10 in opening round, only a shot back of current leader Rico Hoey (-8).” This assessment accurately captured the leaderboard situation. Scheffler started his round with two pars before igniting his scoring run. By the time he made the turn at 7-under, he had already jumped past most of the field. Only Rico Hoey’s hot start kept Scheffler from holding the outright lead.

Perhaps most telling was a fan who observed that Scheffler had “barely even broken a sweat” during his record-tying performance. That’s the hallmark of Scheffler’s game. He makes the extraordinary look routine. His calm demeanor masks the difficulty of what he’s accomplishing.

The local support was strong throughout his round. As a Dallas resident, Scheffler was essentially playing a home game. The crowds grew larger as word spread about his historic front nine. With many big names skipping the event ahead of the upcoming PGA Championship, Scheffler faced a field lacking star power. This further cemented his status as the prohibitive favorite.

Is this finally the week Scheffler breaks through for his first win of 2025? Based on his opening round, it’s looking increasingly likely. But in golf, nothing is guaranteed. Scheffler will need three more solid rounds to secure the trophy. What do you think—will Scheffler convert this brilliant start into a victory at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson?