Scheffler began the opening round at Colonial Country Club in eagle-birdie on his way to a 2-under 68.
—
FORTWORTH,Texas—ScottieSchefflerandJohnPakenjoyedthesamestarttotheCharlesSchwabChallengeatColonialwitheaglesontheirrespectivefirstholes.
TheworldNo.1couldn’tkeepupwiththePGATourrookiefromthere.
FourdaysafterwinninghisthirdmajoratthePGAChampionship,Scheffleropenedhisattemptatthreeconsecutivevictorieswitha2-under68Thursday.Pakshot63forathree-shotleadovernineplayers,J.J.Spaunthehighest-rankedamongthemat27th.
TommyFleetwoodand2023OpenchampionBrianHarmanwereamongagroupofnineplayersfourbackofPak,andSchefflerheadlinedthe15playerswhowerefivestrokesbehind.
DefendingchampionDavisRiley,whoisplayingthefirsttworoundswithScheffler,hadtwodoublebogeysonthefrontnineandshot3-over73onthecozycoursemadefamousbyBenHogan,theonlyplayertowinColonialinconsecutiveyears(1946-47and1952-53).Rileyiscomingoffarunner-upfinishtoScheffleratthePGA.
Theothersat4underwithSpaunwerePatrickRodgers,RyoHisatsune,MattiSchmid,BeauHossl
