Scottie Scheffler’s impressive streak of under-par rounds met its end as he concluded with a double-bogey at the Houston Open.
The top-ranked player globally had been showcasing exceptional form, boasting a streak of 28 under-par rounds on the PGA Tour until encountering some putting woes on the 18th green.
Scheffler’s final hole at the Memorial Park Golf Course saw him card a double-bogey on the par four, resulting in an even-par round of 70. His second shot found a bunker, and despite chipping onto the green, his first putt grazed the lip of the hole, with the second missing from just under two feet.
This uncharacteristic stumble on the last green marked the end of his record-setting run, although he remains a contender for his third PGA Tour title in as many starts – a feat not achieved since 2017.
Currently tied for fourth at five under-par, Scheffler trails leader Tony Finau by four shots, who delivered a stellar performance with a course-record 62 on Friday.
Scheffler’s run of 28 consecutive under-par rounds on PGA Tour came to an end
Despite the setback, Scheffler has etched a new PGA Tour record of 28 consecutive rounds under par, surpassing Akshay Bhatia’s previous mark of 27
The World No1 remains in contention for a third PGA Tour title
He also pursues another remarkable milestone, aiming to match Tiger Woods’ feat of 52 rounds at par or better during the 2000 and 2001 seasons
With two rounds remaining, Scheffler aims to narrow the gap, displaying resilience despite acknowledging feeling ‘rusty’ heading into the Houston Open.
Speaking after the round, Scheffled admitted: ‘No, I do that all the time,’ he said when asked if it was due to a mental lapse. ‘That happens a lot to me. No, yeah, frustrating lapse in judgement there.
‘You never really know what’s going to be up there around the cup on 18. Yeah, just hit something and knocked the second one offline. Felt like I hit a good putt on the first one, maybe went just barely through the break, so obviously it was a bit frustrating hitting a good putt and it not going in. Second one I guess just hit a little fast and didn’t see a spike mark there.’
Despite the setback, Scheffler has etched a new PGA Tour record of 28 consecutive rounds under par, surpassing Akshay Bhatia’s previous mark of 27.
He also pursues another remarkable milestone, aiming to match Tiger Woods’ feat of 52 rounds at par or better during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
Reflecting on his performance in challenging Texas conditions, Scheffler acknowledged the mental and physical toll: ‘If you took an average wind speed, it probably wouldn’t have been that crazy, but when it’s gusting from 10 to 30 (mph) all day, it makes everything you’re doing out there pretty challenging.
‘I think that’s why sometimes you see stuff like that happen on 18, that’s mental fatigue, that’s really all that is, just a lapse in judgement. I did my best to get some rest last week. I feel rested right now. I’m obviously a touch frustrated with how I finished, but overall I’m still in the middle of the tournament.’
