HOUSTON — Scottie Scheffler opened with two straight birdies and was on his means within the Houston Open, tying the Memorial Park course document he set in 2021 with an 8-under 62 for a one-shot lead among the many early starters Friday.
It was probably the most full spherical of the yr for Scheffler, who missed the primary month of the season whereas recovering from a glass puncture in his proper palm that required minor surgical procedure.
The one inexperienced he missed was on No. 2 — his eleventh of the spherical — and he holed that from simply inside 30 ft for birdie.
“Yesterday I felt like I made a pair key par saves, and at this time I felt like for probably the most half I saved the golf course in entrance of me and I had lots of appears to be like for birdie,” Scheffler mentioned. “So I did not really feel like I used to be struggling for par an excessive amount of, and that was largely as a result of I used to be within the fairway.”
It was the eighth time Scheffler has shot 62 or decrease — a type of was a 59 within the FedEx Cup playoffs at TPC Boston in 2020 — and his first time doing so since he shot 62 within the closing spherical at Le Golf Nationwide to win the Olympic gold medal on the 2024 Paris Video games.
He led by one shot over Taylor Pendrith of Canada, who shot a 65. Jackson Suber, who had a 66 within the first spherical regardless of ending it with a four-putt double bogey, had one other 66 Friday and was three behind.
Rory McIlroy performed within the afternoon and began out 11 pictures behind Scheffler. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the umbrella was out for McIlroy, one thing Scheffler and the early starters prevented.
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“It was rather a lot totally different than we thought it was going to be,” Scheffler mentioned. “In the present day appeared like — checking the forecast this morning — it was going to be a type of days the place we’ll be enjoying on and off, just a few delays on the market.”
As a substitute, he was on from the beginning with a 10-foot birdie putt on the tenth gap and a 25-footer on the eleventh. Scheffler performed bogey-free for the second straight spherical.
He was at 11-under 129.
Pendrith had three birdies on his final 5 holes to tug inside one shot of Scheffler.
“Type of hung round all day and was in a position to make just a few late ones,” Pendrith mentioned.
The group at 7-under 133 included Gary Woodland, nonetheless regaining his kind after returning final yr from mind surgical procedure. He had a stretch on his second 9 of six birdies in seven holes, the exception being the par-5 third gap, the place he missed a 5-foot birdie.
“I wanted that [good stretch]. I have never had a run like that,” Woodland mentioned. “I have been knocking on the door for a short while, and it is good to see some outcomes. My coach Randy’s been telling me I’ve all of the instruments and it is coming, I’ve simply acquired to remain affected person.”
That might be Randy Smith, who is also the longtime coach for Scheffler.
Scheffler felt his iron play wasn’t fairly as sharp as he wished. He additionally knew he had a superb really feel on the greens and did not should assault pins if there was no want. It led to a stress-free spherical, simply the type he likes. Throw in eight birdies and Scheffler figures to be within the pole place going into the weekend of his closing begin earlier than the Masters.
Michael Kim did his half to make it to Augusta Nationwide. He’s No. 52 on this planet rating — the highest 50 after this week get Masters invites — and shot 65. Additionally simply exterior the highest 50 is Ben Griffin, who performed late and already was 6 beneath for his spherical via 9 holes.
