NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Scottie Scheffler returned to competitors Thursday for the primary time in two months, however little has modified. Though he suffered a bogey on the ultimate gap, he shot a 6-under 66 and tied for fifth place on the high of the Hero World Problem.
Scheffler tied with U.S. Open champion JJ Spaun, Sepp Straka, Windham Clark and Akshay Bhatia on a heat, breezy afternoon at Albany Golf Membership.
The world’s No. 1 participant wasn’t the one one who took loads of time without work. Straka additionally hadn’t performed because the Ryder Cup ended the final weekend in September.
The Hero World Problem has a 20-man discipline and is a year-end occasion that high gamers usually use as a primary step in getting ready for subsequent yr. Scheffler is coming off a six-win season, together with two majors, and hasn’t completed higher than tied for eighth within the final 15 tournaments.
His solely change was a brand new driver, and it carried out as much as his requirements. The remainder of his sport regarded as strong as ever. Scheffler birdied 4 of the six scoring holes: 4 par 5s and two reachable par 4s. His solely mistake was a chip that went throughout the 18th inexperienced.
“I did some good issues,” Scheffler stated. “I felt like I may have hit it decrease. There’s all the time a bit of little bit of rust. When you get into competitors, you do not give it some thought as a lot.”
Bhatia and Straka performed bogey-free. Clark, Scheffler and Spaun reached 7 underneath at one level earlier than dropping photographs late within the spherical. Clark entered the par-5 fifteenth at 7 underneath par, however made a nasty tee shot and suffered a bogey. Spaun hit bogey from a fairway bunker on the 18th.
Clark and Battier every holed bunker photographs for eagle on the reachable par-4 seventh.
Within the opening spherical, all however 4 gamers broke par, with newcomers Chris Gottapp scoring a 74 and Robert McIntyre scoring a 73.
Jordan Spieth, who acquired a sponsor exemption, performed in his first postseason opener because the FedEx St. Jude Championship and opened with a 72. I used to be engaged on my sport to do away with dangerous habits, however there was apparent rust. Spieth had three straight birdies on the entrance 9, however was unable to birdie the ultimate 11 as he struggled with chipping and occasional putts.
And it most likely did not assist that he was lined up with Scheffler, who’s aiming for his third consecutive Hero World Problem title. Beginning final yr, Scheffler went 41 consecutive holes and not using a bogey till he missed the 18th inexperienced and chipped too onerous.
