Scottie Scheffler leads at 18 under
through 36 holes after long weather delay at the Byron Nelson
[May 03, 2025]
By SCHUYLER DIXON
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth share a
strong desire to win their hometown event, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
The top-ranked player has a great chance to do it first.
Playing with his good friend who is also a fellow Dallas resident
and Texas alum, Scheffler padded his lead on Friday, shooting an
8-under 63 to reach 18 under through 36 holes as one of the early
finishers in a weather-delayed second round.
About half the field didn't get to complete the round after a
six-hour delay, the last of the players not teeing off until about
15 minutes before sunset at soggy TPC Craig Ranch in a Dallas
suburb.
They all figure to be chasing Scheffler on the weekend, with Spieth
probably too far back to be among the contenders.
Play was suspended for darkness with Scheffler leading Sam Stevens
by six shots. Stevens shot 65 on Friday.
“This tournament definitely means a lot to me,” said Scheffler, who
made his PGA Tour debut at the Byron Nelson in 2014 — four years
after Spieth made himself an instant hometown favorite by contending
on Sunday as a 16-year-old high school junior. “It’s going to be a
lot of fun to play here and have a chance to win.”
TPC Craig Ranch, which yields low scores even without pillow-soft
conditions, was no match for Scheffler. He opened with a 61 on
Thursday, and his total of 124 beat the previous 36-hole best at the
Nelson by two shots. The two-time Masters champion missed Justin
Thomas' 36-hole PGA Tour record from 2017 by one stroke.
Spieth couldn't keep up, although he figures to be safely inside the
cut line following a 67 that put him at 6 under.
Jhonattan Vegas, a Venezuelan who also played for the Longhorns,
finished his 69 and was eight shots behind Scheffler after starting
the day two back. Ricky Castillo was 10 under in the 18th fairway
when play was suspended.
Scheffler, bogey-free through two rounds, started on the back nine
and parred his first eight holes before an eagle at the par-5 18th
just before play was suspended.
Lightning started the delay, and several hours of rain followed —
for the second time in three days. When the players returned, water
sprayed from most of the shots in the fairway.
[to top of second column] |
Jordan Spieth walks on the fairway of the 16th hole during the first
round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas,
Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
None of it bothered Scheffler, who hit 12 of 14
fairways and had six birdies over his final nine holes.
“There were some fairways that were pretty wet, but other than that,
I think the golf course held up pretty well,” Scheffler said.
Defending champion Taylor Pendrith shot 71 and was 4 under, possibly
in danger of missing the cut.
The weather forecast had Scheffler believing a long delay was coming
before his round even started. Once it came, he spent most of the
time in the clubhouse, eating and chatting with players.
“The food is just sitting there,” Scheffler said. “So we enjoyed
some food, sat there, kind of hung out with some of the guys and
didn’t do too much.”
The delay didn't stop the momentum from the eagle that beat the
weather. All six of his birdie putts were inside 15 feet.
“We’re on a golf course where you’ve got to make some birdies, and
the conditions today were changing a good amount,” Scheffler said.
“Obviously with the huge rain delay, that was a challenge as well.
Getting back out and playing in some wind and some pretty wet
fairways, but overall, it’s great to be playing at home.”
Stevens birdied four his last six holes, including two par 3s, and
played the first two rounds without a bogey. The 28-year-old seeking
his first PGA Tour victory was second at the Farmers Insurance Open
in January.
“There’s so many birdies out here and there’s so much golf to be
played, I need to keep my head down,” Stevens said. “And if I get in
a situation where I’m in contention with nine holes to go, then I
have some memories to draw on.”
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