Scheffler lurking in hat trick bid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Sunday, May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Scottie Scheffler struggled from the tee but still ground out a two-under 68 as he chases his third win in a row at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth.
The recently crowned PGA champion hit just five of 14 fairways at Colonial Country Club, but buoyed by an eagle-birdie start, he finished the day tied for 20th, just five shots behind rookie John Pak.
“It was a challenging day,” said Scheffler, who can win his third event in a row after following his win in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with his third major win at Quail Hollow on Sunday.
“I didn't hit the ball in the fairway a lot. Around this golf course you have to be in the fairway.
“I did a good job of posting a score, and hopefully I get out tomorrow in some softer conditions and take advantage of that.”
Scheffler bogeyed the third and followed a birdie at the par-five 11th with a bogey at the par-three 16th as early starter Pak carded a seven-under 63 to lead by three strokes from a nine-man chasing pack: Patrick Rodgers, Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune, Germany’s Matti Schmidt, England’s Matt Wallace, Beau Hossler, Bud Cauley, JT Poston, JJ Spaun and Ben Griffin.
The Texan took things easy after his win at Quail Hollow, but after taking Monday and Tuesday off before watching a local hockey game after playing Wednesday’s nine-hole pro-am, he's back in work mode.
“I was able to still get home and get a decent amount of rest,” Scheffler said. “Waking up at the time I'm going to be waking up tomorrow, I'm going to need a little bit of extra rest.
“Energy levels are good. Brain levels might be a little low, according to that. No, I feel like I get my legs back under my today.
“Did some things well. Did some things I've got to improve on. I'll go home, get some rest, and get ready for tomorrow.”
It was more of a struggle for Seamus Power, 103rd in the battle to make the top 100 who keep their cards, as he carded a three-over 73.
The West Waterford man hit just eight greens in regulation but had little joy with the putter and made five bogeys against two birdie twos.
He goes into the second round tied for 106th, two shots outside the projected cut line.
In the Senior PGA at Congressional Country Club, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke were tied for 24th after opening with one under 71s.
They were four strokes behind Australia’s Cameron Percy, who made an eagle and three birdies in a 67 to lead by a shot from South Africa’s Keith Horne.
Leona Maguire, meanwhile, ended up tied for 63rd after opening with a three-over 75 in high temperatures in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba.
The field average was 75 as Korea’s Jenny Shin, Japan’s Chisato Iwai, American Brianna Do, and Filipina Bianca Pagdanganan fired four under 68s to lead by a shot.
Maguire is looking for some momentum ahead of next week’s US Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin
