Scheffler lurking in title defence as Thomas fires 60 to lead RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry of Ireland lines up a putt on the No. 10 green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 13, 2025.
Scottie Scheffler couldn't retain his Masters title last week but he made an immaculate start to his defence of the RBC Heritage when he opened with a "stress-free" 64 at Harbor Town.
The world number one birdied four of his last five holes on Hilton Head Island to end his day tied for second with Russell Henley on seven under, just three shots behind early pacesetter Justin Thomas.
"Well, definitely a step up from last week," said Scheffler, who finished fourth behind Rory McIlroy at Augusta National.
The Texan hit 15 greens in regulation but struggled for par just once in the $20 million signature event.
"I felt like if you compared my four rounds last week to today, today would be a much less stressful round of golf in terms of scrambling for a par," Scheffler said.
"A lot of the stuff I had to do last week I felt like I didn't have to do today to shoot a good score.
"The golf course is obviously a bit different, but I was in position most of the day today. I hit a lot of really iron shots.
"I got off to a good start. Overall, yeah, fairly I would say stress-free day."
Thomas is seeking his first win since capturing the PGA Championship for the second time nearly three years ago, and while he missed a five-footer at the 18th for a course record 60, he was happy with his 61.
After going to the turn in six-under 30, Thomas bogeyed the 10th before finishing with five birdies in his last seven holes.
"I just didn't play well last week," said Thomas, who made 165 feet of putts in a course record-equalling effort. to banish the memories of his 36th-place finish in the Masters.
"Put some really good work in. I felt like the couple of days leading into the start today, and I felt prepared."
Shane Lowry made three birdies and a bogey in his first six holes before picking up a shot at the par-five 15th en route to a 68 that left him seven shots behind Thomas on three-under.
Seamus Power was among the later starters in the opposite field at the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic, where Matt Wallace and Keith Mitchell fired eight under 64s to lead by a shot from Dylan Wu and the German duo of Jeremy Paul and Thomas Rosenmueller at Puntacana. Resort.
In the DP World Tour's Volvo China Open, Portmarnock's Conor Purcell was just inside the cut mark after opening with a one-over 72 in Shanghai.
He was ten strokes behind Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen, who carded his lowest round of the season at Enhance Anting Golf Club.
The Finn carded a nine under par 62 to lead by three shots from Spain's Eugenio Chacarra, who won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open two weeks ago.
At the Abu Dhabi Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour, Ballymena's Dermot McElroy was the best of the Irish after opening with a three-under 67 at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
He was four shots behind Spain's Sebastian Garcia, with Liam Nolan and Max Kennedy, the next best of the Irish continent, tied for 43rd after 69s.
Jonny Caldwell and Mark Power were just outside the projected cut line after 70s with Daniel Mulligan facing a massive task to make the weekend after a 76.
In amateur golf, Carton House's Keith Egan (32) will be bidding to become the first player since Rory McIlroy in 2006 to claim back-to-back wins when he begins his defence of the Connolly Motor Group-sponsored West of Ireland Championship at Co Sligo today.
"I have some great memories from last year, but I've just tried to keep myself in a good routine and a similar routine that I had last year and then just focusing on the mental side of things," said Egan, who begins his defence alongside Norway's Fridtjof Farhang and Baltray's Stuart Grehan, who returns to the amateur fold after seven years in the pro ranks.
