Power rallies late as Scheffler ominously starts new season with nine-under 63

Scottie Scheffler on the 10th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Logan Whitton/USGA)

Scottie Scheffler looked like a man who means business again in 2026 when he opened his season with a nine-under 63 in The American Express at La Quinta in California.

On a day when Seamus Power birdied three of his last four holes for a five-under 67 on the Pete Dye Stadium Course, world number one Scheffler came roaring out of the gates at La Quinta Country Club by storming to the turn in six under 30.

The reigning Open and US PGA champion, who can join Rory McIlroy in the career Grand Slam club by winning the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in June, had to settle for just three more birdies on the back nine as he found just one fairway coming home.

But he was still pleased to hit 17 greens in regulation and shoot a 63 that left him in a nine-way tie for third, just a shot behind the leaders, Australia’s Min Woo Lee and American Pierceson Coody.

“Yeah, I got off to a good start today, I was really sharp on the front nine,” Schefffer said at what is always a low-scoring event. “Made some nice putts. Hit some good iron shots. A lot of good tee balls.

“I wasn't as sharp as I hoped to be on the back nine, but I scrambled pretty well, and I was able to post a good score.”
Coody and Lee made ten birdies apiece en route to ten-under 62s on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, but it was Scheffler who caught the eye in his first start of the year.
He started birdie-birdie, made three more in a row from the fourth and another birdie at the eighth to get to six under before adding further birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th.
“You definitely have to approach it mentally like you have to make some birdies, and I think putting yourself in position as many times as you can in order to get some looks and hole some putts I think is most important,” Scheffler said.
“I think if you start forcing things, you can still get in some trouble. It's still golf, it's still quite difficult, believe it or not, even though the scores are low.
“You just have to keep putting yourself in position and give yourself opportunities.”
He missed just one green in regulation all day, but while he found just one fairway on the back nine, he wasn’t too concerned.
“Felt I could have hit a few more fairways on the back nine, give myself some more opportunities,’ he said.
“Even the fairways I was missing, I was missing on the correct side.
“The out of bounds can sneak up on you a little bit on this golf course. And it was nice, even though I wasn't hitting it my best on the back, but to keep it in play and give myself some opportunities.”
Power, who tied for 31st in the Sony Open last week, made a slow start on the Stadium Course and was just two under through nine holes.
He was still two under with holes running out when he followed a birdie at the 12th with a bogey at the short 13th.
But after making an 11-footer at the 15th and a five-footer at the 16th, he rolled in a 22-footer at the “island” green 17th for his third birdie in a row to post a five under 67 that left him tied for 51st.
“The harder tests, I think, are almost less stressful because you're never quite out of it,’ Scheffler explained.
“I think in these -- like if I showed up today and shot even par, I may not feel that bad, but I think it can be challenging. “If you fall behind here, it's a lot harder to catch up.

ENDS

Brian Keogh
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brian.keogh@mac.com