Scottie Scheffler delivered an emotional and dominant performance at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, winning his hometown tournament with a record-tying score of 253, finishing 31 under par. Cradling his one-year-old son Bennett — whose birth caused Scheffler to miss the 2024 edition — the world’s top-ranked golfer reflected on a personal and professional full-circle moment. The victory, which came 11 years after his PGA Tour debut at the Nelson as a high schooler and 22 years after meeting the tournament’s namesake as a young fan, held deep significance for the Dallas native.
Scheffler was in control from start to finish, opening with a 61 and carrying an eight-shot lead into the final round. He nearly broke the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record but missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th. Even so, he matched the record held by Justin Thomas and Ludvig Åberg. His win also broke the Nelson tournament scoring record previously held by Steven Bowditch.
Scheffler’s performance capped a return to winning form after a strong stretch of seasons that included two Masters victories and ten PGA Tour wins through early 2024. This was his first victory of 2025 and made him the first wire-to-wire winner of the Nelson since Tom Watson in 1980.
South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen shot a final-round 63 to finish second, eight shots behind. Sam Stevens was third, and Dallas native Jordan Spieth — who posted a final-round 62 — came in fourth. Spieth and Scheffler, both Texas alums and friends, started the event tied at 13 PGA Tour wins apiece. Now, Scheffler leads.
Spieth admitted the performance was humbling and motivating, saying, “It wasn’t that long ago I was definitely better than him, and now I’m definitely not. It’s very inspiring.”
Scheffler’s rise was evident not just in the scorecard but in his demeanor — a young man turned champion on the very grounds that fueled his early dreams. The margin of victory was the second largest in the event’s history, just behind Sam Snead’s 10-shot win in 1957.
