Few have ever hit it better tee-to-green than Scottie Scheffler in 2023, and when he’s positive in Strokes-Gained with the flatstick, there aren’t many that can stop him.
Starting the day tied with Jordan Spieth at -9, the world number one looked back to his imperious best as he made two eagles, four birdies and only dropped a shot at the last as he shot one of the most in-control 65s imaginable at Albany Golf Course.
The first eagle came on the third hole when, having opened with pars at one and two, he hit a 232-yard approach to 15 feet at the par-5 and rolled in the putt. Playing partner Spieth, who also parred the opening two, bogeyed the third and with clear daylight now between them, Scheffler never looked back.
The lone bogey came at the last and was a tad unfortunate. His tee shot looked destined for the fairway only to kick hard right and come to rest on a hanging lie in the right-side rough. His approach was fractionally off right and careened off the slope to a very difficult position and left him a virtually impossible up-and-down.
Nevertheless, having been dogged by a cold putter since his win at the Players Championship in March, these are ominous signs of the rest of the PGA Tour stars, even if we’re in silly season.
“Yeah. It’s very similar to some stuff that I used in the past,” Scheffler said afterwards when quizzed about the new putter he’s using this week. “It has a little thing on the top that helps me line the ball up more consistently in the middle of the face and then obviously the grip is different than what I’ve used in the past, but that’s something that Phil [Kenyon] and I have worked on together.
“Anytime you can get under the gun in competition I think that’s good practice. This I would say is a great tournament to kind of end the year. It’s a fun way to end the year coming down here to the Bahamas. Usually it’s kind of a year ender, but to me it feels like the beginning of a new season with the long break and kind of a warmup for Kapalua. Just good to be down here, enjoy some nice weather. Pretty sure it’s cold in Dallas, so it’s good.”
Matt Fitzpatrick has come through to be Scheffler’s closest challenger after a 65 of his own to get to withing three at -13, with Justin Thomas also continuing to show signs of revival lying tied for third at -11.
Spieth, who drove the ball impeccably on day two, was back to his Jekyll and Hyde self on day three, losing almost two strokes to the field off the tee, is part of a four-way tied for fourth at -10, alongside Jason Day, Tony Finau and Collin Morikawa.
Tiger Woods comeback continued in a positive vein as the 15-time Major Champion shot another round in red figures and, as yet, there are no signs of the fatigue and latter round deterioration that have dogged him in the three cuts he’s made since returning to action after the near-fatal car crash back in early 2021.
Woods will be paired with Sam Burns in the final round, while Thomas and Day form the penultimate group, teeing off just ahead of the final twosome of Fitzpatrick and Scheffler.
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