Scottie Scheffler leaves LIV Golf stars quaking in their boots after flawless round at Houston Open

PGA Tour standout Scottie Scheffler is currently showcasing a remarkable streak of form that is bound to unsettle LIV Golf’s top contenders as they gear up for the Masters.

Ahead of the Houston Open, Scheffler, despite claiming to be ‘rusty’, delivered a flawless five-under performance, trailing Taylor Moore and Wilson Furr by just one shot as the tournament progressed. With the first major of the season looming, the 27-year-old is positioned to potentially secure his third consecutive PGA Tour title.

Despite Scheffler’s self-described rustiness, his stellar putting prowess overshadowed any minor hiccups in his game during Thursday’s play. Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler credited some crucial up-and-downs, highlighting a particularly crucial putt at the start of the round to ignite his momentum.

His opening-round 65 at the Houston Open marks an impressive milestone, extending his streak to 28 consecutive rounds under par, a record in PGA Tour history. Scheffler’s exceptional run is underscored by his impeccable consistency, having avoided a bogey in his last 50 holes and a double bogey in his last 201 holes.

Following back-to-back victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, Scheffler’s formidable form is undoubtedly a cause for concern among his competitors, notably Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, as they prepare for Augusta.

During the opening round in Houston, Scheffler dominated the leaderboard for much of the back nine, only to be narrowly edged out by Moore’s late surge, culminating in a six-under 64. Nonetheless, Scheffler remains in prime contention, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean scorecard, particularly on a challenging course like Memorial Park.

With a remarkable 43 percent of rounds this season at 66 or better, Scheffler stands on the brink of making history by potentially becoming the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to secure three consecutive PGA Tour victories. Notably, he would also be the first to achieve three consecutive stroke-play event victories since Rory McIlroy in 2014.

As Moore leads the pack after the opening round, buoyed by a spectacular chip-in eagle, other contenders like rookie Furr are poised to challenge for the title. With the likes of Beau Hossler, Aaron Rai, and Adam Svensson hot on their heels, the competition promises to intensify as the tournament progresses.

In summary, Scheffler’s exceptional performance sets the stage for an exciting showdown at the Houston Open, with the prospect of rewriting PGA Tour history looming large on the horizon.