Scottie Scheffler Wins The CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Scottie Scheffler tied the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record of 253 with his 31-under performance at TPC Craig Ranch to win The CJ Cup Byron Nelson for his first victory of 2025.
Scheffler was emotional after winning his hometown event where he made his PGA Tour debut 11 years ago when the event was held at TPC Las Colinas in Irving.
“It’s pretty special. This tournament means a lot to me. I grew up coming here to watch. It’s very special to have won this tournament,” Scheffler said. “Yeah, I don’t really know how to describe the feeling other than it’s really fun to be able to play here in my hometown in front of the hometown fans. It was a really fun week, really special week, and I definitely enjoyed it.”
“When I think about this tournament, I think about a lot of different stuff. I grew up coming to watch it. This was my first start on the PGA TOUR when I was in high school. The girl I was dating at the time is now my wife. We have one son. My sister was caddieing for me at the time. She was here today,” Scheffler continued. “It really is a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice from a lot of the people that I have around me, and my family is obviously the starter for that. Yeah, I guess when my family is here, I always tend to get a bit emotional.”
The world No. 1 player tied the scoring record held by Justin Thomas (2017 Sony Open in Hawaii) and Ludvig Aberg (2023 RSM Classic).
Scheffler topped the Byron Nelson’s tournament scoring record set by Steven Bowditch of 259 in 2015 at TPC Las Colinas and completed the third wire-to-wire victory in the tournament’s history, join Mark Hayes (1976) and Tom Watson (1980) when the tournament was contested at Preston Trail Golf Club.
His eight-shot margin of victory is the second largest in tournament history, behind only Sam Snead’s 10-shot victory over Cary Middlecoff, Billy Maxwell and Bob Inman when the event was known as the Dallas Open Invitational when the event was contested at Glen Lakes Country Club in Dallas.
Scheffler’s playing partner for the first two rounds was Dallas native Jordan Spieth, who like Scheffler, made his pro debut at this event while he was in high school and also attended the University of Texas.
Spieth shot the second lowest round of the tournament with his final round 62, one shot behind Scheffler’s opening round 61.
“It wasn’t that long ago I was definitely better than him, and now I’m definitely not right now,” Speith said of Scheffler. “I hate admitting that about anybody, but I just watched it those first two rounds, and like I’ve got to get better. It’s very inspiring. It’s this event, but it could be anywhere. I’m not jealous of him winning this event over any other. I’m jealous of anyone that wins any week. I want to be the person there, and that’s my drive”
Next up in the PGA Tour is the Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, followed by the season’s second major, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
The PGA Tour returns to North Texas May 22-25 with the Charles Schwab Challenge at historic Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.
