Scheffler’s sub 70 run ends on a mixed day for US Ryder Cup players in Napa

Scottie Scheffler opened with a “frustrating” two under 70 as his run of sub-70 rounds ended and just five of the ten US Ryder Cup players broke par in the Procore Championship in California.

Ben Griffin was the best of the bunch, firing an eight-under 64 to share second place with Matt McCarthy, one stroke behind Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes, on the North Course at Silverado Resort in Napa.

Russell Henley shot a seven under 65 and JJ Spaun a 68 in a group where world number one Scheffler had to settle for a 70 that left him tied for 38th.

“I think it was a pretty frustrating day overall,” said Scheffler, who made four birdies and two bogeys and failed to birdie any of the par fives as his run of 21 consecutive rounds in the sixties ended in California.

“I felt like I did some things well out there, I just wasn't quite getting the reward. Yeah, that's pretty much it on my end.”

The ten US Ryder Cup players were grouped in four groups within 30 minutes of each other.

Harris English and Collin Morikawa shot level par 72s alongside US assistant captain Webb Simpson, who shot 74.

Sam Burns posted a 71 and Patrick Cantlay a 72 alongside another vice captain, Gary Woodland, who also shot level par.

“Yeah, I think it was a little different today just knowing that all of us were kind of paired in the same little area of tee times,” said Scheffler, who closed with an adventurous par five after hooking his tee shot into some trees on the 16th hole.

He's looking to extend his run of 16 consecutive top-eight finishes, since he tied for 20th in the Players Championship in March but was 115th for strokes gained putting last night.

“And we obviously didn't spend a lot of time with each other this week so it definitely feels slightly different than it would have if this tournament was in March.

“You know, the Ryder Cup is right around the corner.”

Griffin went bogey-free for his 64 alongside Justin Thomas and Cameron Young, who were outside the cut line, tied for 67th with English, Morikawa and Cantlay after their level par rounds.

Scheffler made 60 feet of putts, adding: “The greens can be pretty challenging, and late in the day Poa annua can get fairly bumpy.

"Especially with the amount of pitch on these greens. So the greens were pretty difficult to putt and I kind of found myself on the wrong side of the hole a few times.

"But overall felt like I learned a good amount about the golf course today and excited to get out early tomorrow and see what I can do."

US Open champion Spaun was happy to play alongside his potential Ryder Cup playing partners and shoot 67.

“We want to get comfortable playing with each other," Spaun said. "But I played with (Scheffler) pretty recently and I played well.

“It's just good to play with him and learn from him, but also feel comfortable in your own skin."

Seamus Power, who is 130th in the FedEx Cup and is hoping to at least break into the top 125 after the Fall Series events who will have conditional status next year, shot a one-under 71.

He was two over after following a birdie at the 10th with bogeys at the 11th, 14th and 16th, but birdied the first, fifth and eighth coming home to end the day joint 51st.