Scheffler makes impressive start in bid for victory hat-trick

Scheffler makes impressive start in bid for victory hat-trick

Scottie Scheffler’s bid to become the first player to win three consecutive PGA Tour events for seven years started impressively with a bogey-free 65 during the opening round at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

The in-form world No 1 has won on his last two appearances, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship, and is aiming to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive tournaments on the tour in his final outing before The Masters, live from April 11-14 on Sky Sports.

Scheffler, who had shaved off his beard since his Sawgrass triumph, started on the 10th and missed his first three greens, but picked up shots at the 13th and 17th to reach the turn at two under.

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A birdie on the par-three second was followed by two more in the next three holes as Scheffler finished at five under, one shot behind joint leaders Wilson Furr and Taylor Moore.

“I had a solid round. Bogey-free is always nice, especially around a golf course like this,” Scheffler told reporters. “It is nice to be able to keep the card clean.”

It was the American’s 28th consecutive round under par to start the year, which the PGA Tour has confirmed is the most on record since 1983.

Scheffler had been struggling with a neck problem at Sawgrass, where a closing 64 saw him take the title by one stroke, but hopes he is now on the mend.

“(The) neck is feeling better, body feels good. The off week was good for me to get some rest, get some rehab,” he said.

“I took a couple more days off than I typically would last week, so it was some good recovery time.”

Moore had started his round with a bogey, but soon built some momentum following an eagle on the par-five third to turn in 31. A couple more birdies saw him home at six under and into the early clubhouse lead.

“After the first hole, just tried to see how many greens I could hit,” Moore said. “Got off to a little bit of a jump start there on three, chipped in for eagle and birdied four. Just got into the round.”

Starting his round later on Thursday, Furr punctuated a strong finish with a nearly 20-foot birdie putt to join Moore with a six-under 64.

Furr, a PGA Tour rookie ranked No 278 in the world entering this week, started his round on the back nine before making his move on the front. After a birdie at the third, he holed out from the fifth fairway for an eagle and finished his round birdie-birdie, including his long putt at the par-three ninth.

Davis Riley and Joe Highsmith sat alongside Scheffler in a tie for third, while England’s Aaron Rai was among a group of players from the early starters at four under.

Watch the Texas Children’s Houston Open all live on Sky Sports. Early coverage of the second round begins on Friday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 8pm. The Masters is then exclusively live from April 11-14 exclusively on Sky Sports. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.

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Scheffler hits out of the bunker on the 18th green during his opening round