Scottie Scheffler leads Byron Nelson with opening 61

World number one Scottie Scheffler surged to a two-stroke lead at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament in Texas with a bogey-free, 10-under-par 61, marking his lowest round of the year. Scheffler's strong performance included four consecutive birdies on the front nine, an eagle at the ninth, and additional birdies on the closing holes. He leads ahead of Rico Hoey and Jhonattan Vegas, while Cameron Champ, a late entrant, is among a group tied at seven-under-par. Scheffler, who missed the start of the season due to hand surgery and is pursuing his first win of 2025 after a dominant previous year, emphasized his focus on consistency and preparation for the remaining tournament days. Notably, the event featured other local stars and was played with lift, clean, and place rules due to recent rainfall. Ireland’s Seamus Power finished seven shots off the lead after an opening 68.