Scottie Scheffler does not usually find himself chasing in a tournament. He is typically the man setting the pace. But in the opening round of the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, the world No. 1 and defending champion opened with a 5-under 66 that required a strong late run to salvage.
The group he was placed in made things even more interesting. Brooks Koepka was firing on all cylinders, and Si Woo Kim was equally sharp. Scheffler had to dig deep just to stay relevant in a round that felt nothing like his dominant showing a year ago.
A slow start on familiar ground
Scottie Scheffler walked into TPC Craig Ranch on Thursday as the defending champion. He also carried the weight of the world No. 1 ranking and the memory of last year’s historic 253 total. The field was ready for him. But Scheffler was the one playing catch-up from the start.
Playing alongside Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim gave Thursday a very charged feel. Koepka birdied early and then eagled the 12th hole for a burst of momentum. Kim added four birdies on the front nine alone. Scheffler was sitting at just 2 under while watching his partners go low.
The quote that captured the day
After his round, Scheffler was candid about how the afternoon truly felt. “I felt like I was getting lapped out there for a little bit,” he said. Those words were surprising. The world No. 1 rarely describes himself as the one struggling to keep up in any tournament or situation.
Yet Scheffler did not let that feeling spiral into something much worse. He stayed patient and leaned on his experience. He noted that forcing shots when behind only creates bigger problems. That mindset kept his round from unraveling and showed the mental strength that separates elite players from everyone else.
Koepka’s brilliant opening round
Brooks Koepka reminded the golf world on Thursday that he is still a force. The former world No. 1 fired an 8-under 63 at TPC Craig Ranch. He eagled the 12th hole and added several birdies. It was the kind of round that puts the entire field on notice.
Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in 2026 after more than three years on LIV Golf. His comeback has not been without real challenges. He faced financial penalties and limited access to signature events. His opening round at Craig Ranch suggested that his best golf may be coming back quickly.
Scheffler’s late birdie rescue
Scheffler did not let a sluggish start define his Thursday at all. He made birdies on three of his final five holes to close strong and finish at 5 under. That kind of late run is exactly why he remains the most dangerous player in golf even on off days.
His final tally of 5-under 66 left him four shots off the first-round lead. Scheffler acknowledged that staying in the tournament was the priority once he fell behind. “It was nice to kind of stay in it,” he said. He is now positioned to make a move Friday.
Putting woes carry over from last week
Scheffler came into the Byron Nelson with putting firmly on his mind after a difficult week at the PGA Championship. He missed several short putts at Aronimink and finished tied for 14th. That left him truly eager to reset on the new bentgrass greens at TPC Craig Ranch.
Scheffler has worked closely with putting coach Phil Kenyon during tough stretches of inconsistency. He referenced a very similar moment just before the 2025 British Open when a putting reset helped him win his first Claret Jug. He believes the same approach could help him get on track this week.
Fun fact: Scottie Scheffler started with plastic golf clubs at age 3. His parents gave him toy clubs when he was very young, and by age 6, he was already working with coach Randy Smith in Dallas.
A redesigned course changes the game
TPC Craig Ranch looked different this week than any player remembered. A nearly $25 million redesign led by Lanny Wadkins transformed the course significantly. New bentgrass greens with added contours and extra bunkers in the fairways made it a tougher and more demanding test for every player in the field.
Koepka had not played this course since 2021 before joining LIV Golf. He said the greens looked almost completely unrecognizable from his previous visits. Scheffler was eager to see how his putting would hold up on the new surfaces. The renovated layout added a fresh layer of difficulty for everyone.
What the Byron Nelson means to Scheffler
This tournament carries personal meaning for Scheffler that few events on Tour can match. He grew up in the Dallas area and attended the Byron Nelson as a young fan. He also made his PGA Tour debut at this very event as a high school senior in the year 2014.
Last year, Scheffler won from start to finish and became the first Nelson champion to lead every round since Tom Watson in 1980. His 253 total tied the PGA Tour record. Those memories make this week meaningful. He said he has nothing but great things to say about this event.
The bigger picture for world No. 1
Scheffler enters this week with a streak of 31 consecutive top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour. That level of consistency is historically rare and shows why he is considered the best player in the world. One tough putting week at a major has not changed that perception at all.
His approach this season reflects a maturity that sets him apart from most other competitors. He plays a selective schedule and focuses on peaking for the most important events. Even when not at his absolute best, he still finds ways to stay in contention and give himself a real chance.
Little-known fact: Scottie Scheffler is a big Dallas sports fan. He supports the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers, and after winning the 2022 Masters, he threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Rangers game.
What comes next
Scheffler heads into Friday four shots off the lead with plenty of tournament left to play. He has shown before that he can make big moves over the weekend at this event. His familiarity with Craig Ranch and his experience as defending champion work heavily in his favor as we advance.
Koepka will be a key storyline to follow all weekend. A win would be his first since returning from LIV Golf and would mark a significant moment in his comeback story. Scheffler vs Koepka over four full rounds would be one of the most compelling matchups in golf right now.
TL;DR
- Scottie Scheffler opened with a 5-under 66 at the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- He admitted feeling “lapped” early by Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim before rallying late
- Koepka fired an 8-under 63 and sits near the top of the leaderboard
- Scheffler is four shots off the lead heading into Friday’s second round
- Putting issues carried over from a difficult week at the PGA Championship
- TPC Craig Ranch was redesigned at a cost of nearly $25 million with new bentgrass greens
- Scheffler is the defending champion with deep personal ties to this Dallas-area tournament
- His streak of 31 consecutive top-25 finishes underlines his elite level of consistency
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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