No one in history has flown lower than Scottie Scheffler (-18) in the first 36 holes of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The World Number One delivered a card of 63 strokes this Friday in the second round and leads provisionally by six strokes over the second-placed, Sam Stevens (-12). The third is eight strokes behind and directly doubles the fourth position.
We say provisionally because the second round could not be completed due to lack of light. Play was suspended for six hours and 15 minutes due to a thunderstorm. As it stands, the distance Scheffler has refers to those who have already finished their second round.
In any case, what Scottie has done is incredible. His second round has become a perfect synonym for that thunderstorm. Scheffler was the first to anticipate it with a superb eagle in the form of lightning on the 18th hole (he started on the 10th). After eight consecutive pars, without getting into big trouble beyond the 13th hole, where he made a phenomenal par with an approach and putt from 125 metres, but at the same time without leaving them very close, Scheffler started the festival with a 210-metre iron shot. He left it less than three from the flag and holed it just before the suspension horn sounded. The lightning that anticipated the storm.
Scottie had heated up and not even the more than six-hour pit stop managed to cool him down. Quite the opposite. As if it were a storm, his own, after the lightning, much later, came the thunder in the form of a Valencian firecracker. Now yes, on the return from the locker room, he started leaving them very close. He hit all the greens, made six more birdies, and the furthest putt he attempted in those last nine was nine metres on the 17th. A display. One more.
Scheffler has signed off a sequence of eight under par in the last ten holes. If we add up the first two days, his score from hole 1 to 9 is -13. An absolute madness. We already say it is an absolute record of the Byron Nelson, it is also his personal lowest score in the first two rounds of any tournament and the second lowest in PGA Tour history since 1983. His 124 strokes are only surpassed by the 123 that Justin Thomas made at the Sony Open in 2017. Thomas would win that week by seven strokes over Justin Rose.
Scheffler remains the best in the strokes gained to green statistic, he is also the best in recoveries and the fourth best from the tee. He is putting well, but is ‘only’ 17th in this area. He doesn’t need more with the recital he is offering with the irons.
Obviously, the entire afternoon shift of the second round remains to be completed. That will take place tomorrow, weather permitting. We’ll see if there’s time to play the third round, otherwise, we will be headed for a marathon Sunday and even a Monday finish. Si Woo Kim (-6) and Jordan Spieth (-6), luxury spectators of Scheffler’s display, have also made the cut.
Live results of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson
