McKinney, Texas – Scotty Schaeffler hugged his one-year-old son Bennett, the reason he missed out on his beloved hometown of CJ Cup Byron Nelson in 2024, and struggled to hold his feelings down for a TV interview a few minutes during his victory speech.
The top-ranked players had time to prepare at that point for the huge lead that took part in Sunday’s final round, adding a bit of drama in pursuit of the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record.
Schaeffler matched the 253 marks set by Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open, and six years later, comparable to LudvigÅberg in the RSM Classic, finishing 31 at 63.
The runaway victory comes 11 years after his PGA Tour debut at Nelson as a high school senior and 22 years after the photo of the then 6-year-old Scheffler, who was named for the tournament, was taken.
Schaeffler couldn’t help but think about that day in 2014. His current wife, Meredith, was his girlfriend and not the mother of his first child.
“My whole family was able to be here. It’s a really, really special memory and sometimes it’s all crashing on me,” Schaeffler said. “When kids come to watch this tournament, we have a lot of great memories. I just dreamed of being able to play with it, and being able to win it is even more dream.”
Schaeffler was in a position to break the tour scoring record before a bogey on the par 3 17th hole and a par from the greenside bunker on the par 5 closing hole. His 8-foot putt and record for birdies slid to the left of the hole.
Matsuyama Hideki has the lowest score related to par this season, 35 under on Kapalua’s par 73 plantation course.
Schaeffler tied Nelson’s 54-hole record with an eight-shot lead, with no one coming closer to six years old in the final round. South Africa’s Eric Van Louen coincided with Schaeffler’s 8-under 63, finishing in 23-under, three-shots by Sam Stevens and four shots over another home town favourite, Jordan Spieth.
“We spoke last night and I said it would be a steep mountain to climb, and that was it,” Van Luen said. “Scotty was practically perfect. This is kind of what you’re looking forward to from No. 1 in the world. I’m really proud of the golf I’ve played.”
Scheffler and Spieth finished in the lowest round of the tournament. Schaeffler opened at 10 under 61 at 61 unprotected PAR-71 TPC Craig Ranch about 30 miles north of Dallas.
Spieth shot 62 in the final round. He knew his friends and fellow Texas alumni were trying to be the first pair to win an event they cherish.
Spieth made his first tour debut at Scheffler’s Nelson four years ago. Plus, Spieth claimed he was 16 years old in 2010, leading many to believe he has now won it.
Schaeffler stole those bragging rights.
“I think I’ll make it easier for him,” Schaeffler said with a laugh.
Spieth played with Scheffler in the first two days and was 12 shots in the weekend, so he understands how things have changed. They each started the tournament by winning 13 PGA Tours. Now is the first time I’m on Spice trail.
“It wasn’t long ago that I was definitely better than him. It was definitely not now,” said three-time major champion Spieth. “I hate to admit it to anyone, but I just saw those first two rounds and I have to get better. It’s very exciting.”
Schaeffler was his first victory of the year after winning 10 times before May in the last three years, including two Masters wins.
Schaeffler’s previous Best Nelson finish was his most recent appearance two years ago, in his fifth tie. He is the winner of the Wire from Nelson, the first wire since Tom Watson 45 years ago.
“I’m not jealous of him winning this event more than any other event,” Spieth said. “I’m jealous of those who win a week. When Scotty wins, I’m happy. It doesn’t matter where it is. If he doesn’t intend to win, I like when he wins.”
Schaeffler broke the previous Nelson scorer record of 259 set by Stephen Bowditch in 2015. The tournament took place during the TPC Four Seasons. Usually, on par 70, on that course there was a par 69 layout for the last three days, when heavy rain forced a par 4 to par 3.
The margin of victory was Nelson’s second-largest after Samsnado’s 10-shot victory in 1957.
“It’s a golf course and you can run, and I knew today I couldn’t run to the finish line,” Schaeffler said. “I knew I had to put together a good round.”
Due to heavy rains on Wednesday and Friday, players were allowed to lift, clean and replace golf balls on the fairway in the first three rounds, but not in the final round. Aberg was telling what is called a favorable lie in his first round at the 2023 RSM Classic.