If there was ever a moment for Scottie Scheffler to shine, it was at TPC Craig Ranch during The CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The world’s top golfer delivered an impressive performance, clinching his first victory of 2025 at his hometown event.
Scheffler entered the final round with an incredible eight-shot lead. He finished the tournament at 31 under par after shooting a 63 on Sunday, winning by the same eight-shot margin.
“This tournament means a lot to me,” he shared with CBS, holding his son and becoming emotional. “I played here as a pro for the first time 11 years ago with my sister as my caddy. It feels like a lifetime of hard work, and moments like these are very special.”
Scheffler made his PGA Tour debut at the Byron Nelson in 2014 as a 17-year-old amateur. He became the first golfer from a Dallas-area high school to win the tournament since 2007. With his victory, he recorded the largest margin of victory in tournament history and became only the third player to lead wire-to-wire since Tom Watson in 1980.
His journey started strong, with a 10-under 61 in the first round, closing with back-to-back birdies. He followed that with an 8-under 63 on Friday, setting up a record six-shot lead halfway through. He was bogey-free at that point and just one stroke shy of the Tour’s 36-hole scoring record.
Even when his momentum slowed down, he maintained a comfortable lead. A 5-under 66 on Saturday allowed him to recover after his first two bogeys with a strong finish, ending the third round with an impressive lead that had not been matched on Tour since 2011.
Sunday felt like a formality. Scheffler briefly expanded his lead to 10 shots after a straightforward eagle at the par-5 ninth. Despite a minor bogey at the par-3 17th, he finished with a 62 to secure the win and a prize of $1.782 million. He fell just short of tying the Tour’s all-time scoring record but made history as one of only three golfers to shoot a total of 253.
In second place was Erik van Rooyen at 23 under, while Sam Stevens secured third with a 7-under 64. Jordan Spieth, who shot a 9-under 62 on Sunday, moved up the leaderboard to fourth. Spieth’s performance marked his best round of the season, even as he hasn’t won since 2022.
“What he’s been doing is inspiring,” Spieth noted about Scheffler. “It wasn’t long ago that I was definitely better than him. Now I’ve got to improve.”
Scheffler had a standout season last year, winning seven times, including major championships. Despite a slow start this year following a hand procedure, he proved that he is back on track with this win. After making every cut in nine tournaments with five top-10 finishes, he finally celebrated victory again.
This triumph not only fortifies Scheffler’s legacy but also showcases his determination and growth as a player. As he continues his journey, fans and experts alike are eager to see what he will accomplish next.
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Scottie Scheffler, Byron Nelson, win