Scottie Scheffler lurking in his hometown event as Brooks Koepka leads THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson
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Scottie Scheffler sinks a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 12 at THE CJ CUP
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler won’t be the wire-to-wire winner of his hometown THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson again this year.
For now, the world’s top-ranked player is chasing Brooks Koepka, the five-time major champion looking for his first victory since returning to the PGA TOUR.
Koepka shot 8-under 63 for a one-shot lead over five other early finishers at the revamped TPC Craig Ranch on Thursday, with Scheffler three back while playing with Koepka and Si Woo Kim.
Brooks Koepka makes eagle putt on No. 12 at THE CJ CUP
“I felt like I was getting lapped out there for a little bit,” said Scheffler, who led from the start of last year’s THE CJ CUP and won by eight shots at 31 under while tying the TOUR's 72-hole scoring record at 253. “So I was fortunate to make a couple birdies late in the round and keep myself in the tournament.”
Kim — the highest-ranked player in the field not named Scheffler at No. 24 — had the only bogey in the threesome, on his 16th hole at the par-3 seventh.
One of several countrymen in the event sponsored by South Korean conglomerate CJ Group, Kim got back within a shot of the lead with a birdie while Koepka saved par at the ninth.
Emiliano Grillo, Keith Mitchell, Stephan Jaeger and Michael Thorbjornsen were tied with Kim, one shot ahead of Doug Ghim and Mackenzie Hughes.
Koepka, who contended at last week’s PGA Championship before fading on Sunday, eagled the par-5 12th and was 4 under through five holes. He had four more birdies in a span of five holes in his back nine, capped by a 3-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 sixth.
Kim had four birdies on the front and four more on the back while Scheffler was lagging at 2 under before getting birdies on three of his final five holes.
“It was just a comfortable group,” Koepka said. “Everyone is just kind of feeding off each other, easy. Everyone’s having fun. Makes it enjoyable. I feel comfortable on the golf course as well.”
Even though he hardly recognizes parts of it.
Koepka last played at TPC Craig Ranch in 2021, missing the cut.
“The greens are totally different than when we played,” Koepka said. “That’s obviously the biggest thing. Off the tee it looks pretty good. Place hasn’t changed too much. It’s familiar. I like it.”
Koepka, 36, was a regular at THE CJ CUP a decade ago, including a runner-up finish in 2016 when he lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff. Koepka rose to No. 1 in the world with a victory when the event was in South Korea in 2018.
The title sponsorship moved to the U.S. after the COVID-19 pandemic and has been associated with THE CJ CUP since 2024.
Brooks Koepka on biggest change since rejoining PGA TOUR
“I think there’s such a huge difference right now of trying to get into Signature Events, on my way back, coming back to the TOUR,” said Koepka, who has played his way into the Aon Next 10 standings with two tournaments to go before the next Signature Event. “(Winning) would be a big confidence boost for sure because I feel like I’ve been playing well. I feel like I’m knocking on the door, and I’m very, very close.”
