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HOUSTON — When Scottie Scheffler is an average putter, everyone else has a chance. When he rolls the flat stick like he did Friday at the 2025 Texas Children's Houston Open, good luck to the field.
Scheffler gained 3.6 strokes on the field with his putter during the second round at Memorial Park Golf Course, pouring in eight birdies, no bogeys and signing for an 8-under 62, tying the course record he set in 2021 during the second round. Tony Finau, who won the Houston Open in 2022, also shot 62 in the second round of that tournament and last year in his title defense, but the course-record tying performance went back to Scheffler this year, and he did it on the back of the club that has been cold to start his 2025 season.
"I felt like I was hitting so many good putts, especially at the Players, putts that were going around the edge," Scheffler said. "Today was a day where I felt like my ball-striking could have been a bit better, and I was able to hole some putts. I hit a lot of greens, but I felt like my irons were just barely off, and I felt like I could have been hitting them a little bit closer to the hole, but overall kept it on the green, kept giving myself looks.
"The way I was putting, I didn't feel I had to force 'em there by many pins if I wasn't totally comfortable with the shot, so good results."
Scheffler sits at 11 under thru 36 holes, leading Taylor Pendrith by a stroke after the morning wave. And if the forecast remains true, those playing Friday afternoon at Memorial Park will have to deal with rain and possible thunderstorms, meaning Scheffler is likely top be the 36-hole leader for the first time this season.
His day started brilliantly, pouring in a 10-footer for birdie on his first hole. Then he one-upped himself, sinking a 26-footer on the par-3 11th to set the tone. Additional birdies after good wedge shots on Nos. 16 and 17 helped him turn in 4-under 31.
On the back nine, Scheffler's strong putting continued. He holed a nearly 30-footer with the flat stick for his fifth birdie. Then he had three birdies in four holes, starting at No. 5. The length of those putts? 11 feet, 7 inches; 22 feet, 2 inches; and 13 feet, 5 inches. The result? 103 feet of putts made, first on the leaderboard and tying the course record.
"Yesterday I felt like I made a couple key par saves, and today I felt like for the most part I kept the golf course in front of me and I had a lot of looks for birdie," Scheffler said, "so I didn't feel like I was struggling for par too much, and that was mostly because I think I was in the fairway."
It's the first time since the 2023 American Express that Scheffler has gone 36 holes without a bogey. Seeking his first win of 2025 – and with his Masters title defense coming up in less than two weeks – he picked a good time to find his groove on the greens.
From the moment he rolled in the first putt Friday, Scheffler marched with confidence around Memorial Park. As gray skies loomed overhead and occasional raindrops fell, the world No. 1's momentum would be felt through the galleries. He took the solo lead on with his birdie on No. 17, his eighth hole of the day, and he never relinquished the top spot after.
Scheffler has not had a slow start to the year, but by his standards, the pressure of not winning was mounting. It's the farthest into the season he has gone without winning since 2021. That year, he wasn't the top-ranked player in the world, a 13-time PGA Tour winner or two-time major champion and Olympic gold medalist, though.
After one of the best single seasons in PGA Tour history in 2024, there's pressure on Scheffler to contend every time he tees it up. That hasn't happened this year. But for the first two rounds of the Houston Open, Scheffler looks the part of his 2024 self and has a familiar spot on the leaderboard: first.
Last year, Scheffler missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would've gotten him into a playoff with eventual winner Stephan Jaeger. He finished at 11 under for the tournament. That's where he sits with 36 holes left.
"I don't really think about it too much," Scheffler said of coming up short last year. "I did a lot of really good things in the tournament last year to give myself a chance to win. It was definitely the time of the year I was playing a lot of good golf. I try my best to win every tournament, but it can be hard at times. It's definitely frustrating when you get close and don't win, but overall I try not to think about my wins or losses too much, just try to stay in the present."
Everyone is chasing Scheffler at the halfway point at Memorial Park, and it feels like Groundhog Day. Again.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Scottie Scheffler ties course record, takes lead at 2025 Houston Open
Continue reading...
Scheffler gained 3.6 strokes on the field with his putter during the second round at Memorial Park Golf Course, pouring in eight birdies, no bogeys and signing for an 8-under 62, tying the course record he set in 2021 during the second round. Tony Finau, who won the Houston Open in 2022, also shot 62 in the second round of that tournament and last year in his title defense, but the course-record tying performance went back to Scheffler this year, and he did it on the back of the club that has been cold to start his 2025 season.
"I felt like I was hitting so many good putts, especially at the Players, putts that were going around the edge," Scheffler said. "Today was a day where I felt like my ball-striking could have been a bit better, and I was able to hole some putts. I hit a lot of greens, but I felt like my irons were just barely off, and I felt like I could have been hitting them a little bit closer to the hole, but overall kept it on the green, kept giving myself looks.
"The way I was putting, I didn't feel I had to force 'em there by many pins if I wasn't totally comfortable with the shot, so good results."
Scheffler sits at 11 under thru 36 holes, leading Taylor Pendrith by a stroke after the morning wave. And if the forecast remains true, those playing Friday afternoon at Memorial Park will have to deal with rain and possible thunderstorms, meaning Scheffler is likely top be the 36-hole leader for the first time this season.
His day started brilliantly, pouring in a 10-footer for birdie on his first hole. Then he one-upped himself, sinking a 26-footer on the par-3 11th to set the tone. Additional birdies after good wedge shots on Nos. 16 and 17 helped him turn in 4-under 31.
On the back nine, Scheffler's strong putting continued. He holed a nearly 30-footer with the flat stick for his fifth birdie. Then he had three birdies in four holes, starting at No. 5. The length of those putts? 11 feet, 7 inches; 22 feet, 2 inches; and 13 feet, 5 inches. The result? 103 feet of putts made, first on the leaderboard and tying the course record.
"Yesterday I felt like I made a couple key par saves, and today I felt like for the most part I kept the golf course in front of me and I had a lot of looks for birdie," Scheffler said, "so I didn't feel like I was struggling for par too much, and that was mostly because I think I was in the fairway."
It's the first time since the 2023 American Express that Scheffler has gone 36 holes without a bogey. Seeking his first win of 2025 – and with his Masters title defense coming up in less than two weeks – he picked a good time to find his groove on the greens.
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From the moment he rolled in the first putt Friday, Scheffler marched with confidence around Memorial Park. As gray skies loomed overhead and occasional raindrops fell, the world No. 1's momentum would be felt through the galleries. He took the solo lead on with his birdie on No. 17, his eighth hole of the day, and he never relinquished the top spot after.
Scheffler has not had a slow start to the year, but by his standards, the pressure of not winning was mounting. It's the farthest into the season he has gone without winning since 2021. That year, he wasn't the top-ranked player in the world, a 13-time PGA Tour winner or two-time major champion and Olympic gold medalist, though.
After one of the best single seasons in PGA Tour history in 2024, there's pressure on Scheffler to contend every time he tees it up. That hasn't happened this year. But for the first two rounds of the Houston Open, Scheffler looks the part of his 2024 self and has a familiar spot on the leaderboard: first.
Last year, Scheffler missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would've gotten him into a playoff with eventual winner Stephan Jaeger. He finished at 11 under for the tournament. That's where he sits with 36 holes left.
"I don't really think about it too much," Scheffler said of coming up short last year. "I did a lot of really good things in the tournament last year to give myself a chance to win. It was definitely the time of the year I was playing a lot of good golf. I try my best to win every tournament, but it can be hard at times. It's definitely frustrating when you get close and don't win, but overall I try not to think about my wins or losses too much, just try to stay in the present."
Everyone is chasing Scheffler at the halfway point at Memorial Park, and it feels like Groundhog Day. Again.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Scottie Scheffler ties course record, takes lead at 2025 Houston Open
Continue reading...
