Scottie Scheffler shoots scorching 61 to lead Byron Nelson

Scottie Scheffler shot his best round of the season, a 10-under-par 61, to set the pace on the first day of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Thursday in McKinney, Texas.

When Scheffler's final putt dropped in the late afternoon, he had a two-stroke lead over Rico Hoey of the Philippines and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela. Vegas was still playing his final hole.

The World No. 1 is still seeking his first win of the year after racking up seven PGA Tour titles in 2024. With eight birdies, an eagle and no bogeys Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch, Scheffler put himself in prime position to break through and win in his home state of Texas for just the second time in his pro career.

Scheffler ran off four birdies in a row starting at the third hole. His irons and wedges were dialed in, as he put his tee shot at the par-3 fourth to about 4 feet of the pin and his approach at the par-4 sixth to just 2 feet.

He made a 4-footer for eagle at the par-5 ninth to go out in 7-under 29.

Scheffler made just one birdie over the next seven holes before sticking his tee shot at the par-3 17th to 2 feet. He had a 26-foot eagle putt at the par-5 18th that would have given him a round of 60, and it came up just a few feet shy.

Scheffler rocketed past Hoey, who had the early lead with an 8-under 63 that featured an eagle and a run of five birdies between the second and sixth holes.

Tied at 7-under 64 were Germany's Setphan Jaeger as well as the United States' Cameron Champ, Michael Thorbjornsen, Eric Cole and Andrew Putnam.

Jordan Spieth, a Dallas native like Scheffler, turned in a 2-under 69.

--Field Level Media