Do you know what it’s like to be the best golfer in the world yet be told, “You can’t hit balls here?” As a teenager, Scottie Scheffler, the current PGA Tour king, was in exactly the same situation. Scheffler began 2025 with a slower start after recovering from a hand injury and witnessing Rory McIlroy surge with a Grand Slam victory, despite having an incredible 2024 season that included a second Masters victory and seven titles altogether. 

However, Scheffler showed the world why he is the number one player at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, where he tied the PGA Tour’s 72-hole score record with a 31-under 253 and won his first tournament of the year. However, as previously noted, Scheffler was prevented from striking a ball. You may be asking how that is possible! As Scheffler analyzed the incident, let’s rewind the clock and step into young Scottie’s shoes—back when greatness was just beyond the ropes.

The greatness square: A teenage Scottie Scheffler’s dream denied

In an interview with Grant Horvat Golf, Scheffler talked candidly about his early years at the Royal Oaks Country Club, when he frequently felt like an outsider looking in. He remembered, “This section right here is like kind of Ry’s section; it’s where the pros get to hit…I remember growing up, I used to hit over there… This is like the greatness square right here,” referring to a particular area of the driving range.

Even though Scheffler’s talent was growing, he was not allowed to enter this exclusive region. He was informed that he needed to acquire a major before being allowed to smash balls at the Byron Nelson, despite having made the cut there as a high school student. “I was like, come on, Ray, I made the cut, PGA Tour… and he’s like, when you qualify for your first major, then you can get golf balls, then you can hit balls on the range,” Scheffler recalled.

His ambition was stoked by this early experience of exclusion rather than being discouraged. The very place that had before represented a barrier now became a standard for his goals. From being excluded from the “greatness square” to rising to prominence in golf, Scheffler’s story demonstrates his tenacity and willpower. Years later, the same kid who couldn’t hit range balls finally stepped onto that turf—not to practice, but to make history.

Scheffler’s record-tying victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Scheffler returned to the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, his home competition, and registered an unforgettable performance. He tied the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record with a final round score of 8-under 63, finishing at 31-under 253. In addition to demonstrating his talent, this triumph was a moving experience since, a year after missing the event because of Bennett’s birth, he held his baby boy in his arms at the prize ceremony.

Scheffler’s supremacy was clear all through the competition. His opening nine-hole score was 6-under 30, which was topped off with a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth. He lost the opportunity to break the score record on the 17th hole due to a bogey, but he remained composed and defeated Erik van Rooyen by eight strokes.

After a difficult start to the season, Scheffler’s victory—his 14th PGA Tour title—acted as a potent reminder of his skill. Scheffler’s comeback sets the stage for an exciting matchup with rivals like McIlroy as he gets ready for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. From a resolute adolescent at Royal Oaks to a record-tying champion, his journey is a good example of the unrelenting quest for excellence.