McKinney, Texas – Scotty Schaeffler is pleased to show it back to the event in his hometown.
The Cameron champions aren’t too far from familiar territory either. This is good considering he received a call saying he was at Byron Nelson about 18 hours before tee time.
Schaeffler made a turn at 29 on his way to 10-under 61 on Thursday with a two-shot lead from Rico Hoey and Jonattan Vegas.
Defending champion Taylor Pendris shot a 67 on a player allowed to lift, clean and replace shots on the fairway after the PAR-71 TPC Craig Ranch was hit by heavy rain on Wednesday.
Top Rank Schaeffler surpassed his hometown star, Jordans Piece, along with his former Texas Longhorns.
Kim shot 67 and closed the round with a noble tip-in from Eagle on the par 5 18th, rolling onto his back in celebration. Spieth is 2 under. Another Texas alumnus, Vegas had a bogeyless round along with Schaeffler and Wheelie.
The others in the champion and 7-under are Stephen Jeger, Michael Solbjornsen, Eric Cole, Andrew Putnam, Patton Kizaia and Will Gordon.
Schaeffler missed his first child, son Bennett, at an event last year in the McKinney suburbs, a northern suburb of Dallas.
“Jordan and I love playing here. This tournament has meant a lot to us over the years,” Schaeffler said. “Obviously last year I was missing for quite some good reason. I wasn’t too sad about what was going on in my life back then.”
At the time, he had 10 wins, past three years of stretching before May. Currently, Schaeffler is still hoping for his first victory in 2025.
It’s not that he played poorly before he posted the lowest round of the year. Schaeffler finished fourth as the defending champion at Augusta National, earning four other top-10 finishes this year.
“I’m not going to say anything uncertain or enthusiastic about it,” the 13-time winner said he’ll be hoping for his first victory in 2025.
Schaeffler bursed four consecutive holes in the front nine, adding another, then placed his approach within a par 5 9 feet, allowing the eagle to reach 7 under.
Birdie’s tip stopped on his lips on the par 4 11th. The second of three consecutive pars pulled along with Wheelie with birdie at 13.
Hoey, 29, from the Philippines, is hoping for a first PGA Tour victory, but started with an eight-par save on the back nine before the 18 Eagle caused an 8-under finish on the final 10 holes. His 63 tied his career low on the PGA Tour. Hoey’s best finish this year was also in Texas, finishing 11th at the Houston Open.
“It was up and down, but since comparing it from the beginning of last season, I think I’m doing a better job,” said Hoey, who won the 2017 Canada Tour and the Corn Ferry Circuit two years ago. “It feels like there are rounds I’ve been clicking on, and the other rounds don’t put it up.
The champion, who lived in Houston and played for Texas A&M, was at home when he received a call saying he had replaced Gary Woodland, who had retreated. He arrived in the Dallas area Wednesday night, facing two bogeys on the first three holes with nine birdies.
The 29-year-old from California won three times between 2019 and 2021, but missed 35 of his 55 cuts in the past two years. This is his fourth start in 2025.
“It was like 11 or 12 or something given the number of cuts I missed last year, I wasn’t playing that bad,” the champion said. “The past two years are probably the most difficult I’ve ever worked. I feel like my physical ability is there. It’s just getting back to the right mental state.”