Scottie Scheffler Leads by Eight at THE CJ CUP in Texas

MCKINNEY, Texas – Scottie Scheffler maintained his dominance at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson on Saturday, capturing the largest 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR since Rory McIlroy in 2011. With a strong performance, Scheffler ended the third round with a five-under 66, bringing his total to 23-under 190.

The day started with challenges as golfers faced a six-hour weather delay on Friday, pushing the completion of the second round into Saturday morning. Despite the circumstances, Scheffler began his round with two birdies but suffered his first bogey of the week on the par-3 fourth hole. He rebounded with birdies on the ninth and par-4 14th holes, where he drove the green and made an easy 13-foot putt.

“It was good golf,” Scheffler said. “I did a good job getting it around today,” he added, noting he wasn’t as sharp compared to the previous rounds. Throughout the tournament, he has demonstrated consistency with an impressive record of five top-10 finishes this season.

Entering the final round, Scheffler leads Erik van Rooyen, Adam Schenk, and Ricky Castillo, who are all tied at 15-under. “He’s the best player in the world for a reason,” Schenk stated, acknowledging the challenge of catching up to Scheffler. Scheffler has not won an official event since last September’s TOUR Championship.

The event has a significant meaning for Scheffler, who got his first TOUR start at TPC Craig Ranch while still in high school. “This tournament means a lot to me,” he said. “Tomorrow should be a fun day.”

As the final round approaches, Scheffler is in prime position to secure his first win of 2025.