Scotty Scheffler said his ball deflected due to a spike. Photo: Getty Images/Logan Riely
Scotty Scheffler's record streak came to an ignominious end at the Houston Open when he missed by just 1 foot 10 inches.
The world number one looked set to continue his remarkable streak of 28 consecutive under-par rounds on the PGA Tour as he bogeyed a six-footer for four on the 18th, which would have given him a 68 for the second round.
But not only did he botch that effort, but incredibly, the bogey tiddler also broke free and the resulting six saw him given a level 70 card.
With typical calm, the low-key Texan shrugged off the error, saying the spike mark had knocked his ball off course. “No, I do it all the time,” Scheffler joked when asked if it was due to a mental disorder. “You never know what will happen around the cup on the 18th. I thought I hit a good shot on the first one, but the second one I think I just hit it a little faster and didn't see any spike there. “.
Scottie Scheffler three-putted from 6 feet and made a double on 18, ending his record streak of consecutive under-par rounds on the PGA Tour. After he jokingly said that he misses shots like this “all the time”.
He's just giving everyone else a chance 😅
pic.twitter.com/9cPI5AKkCN
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf), March 30, 2024
Akshay Bhatia held the previous sub-par record with 27, but Scheffler surpassed him with a 65 on Thursday at Memorial Park. Tiger Woods holds the record for most consecutive rounds of par or better (52), set in 2000 and 2001. Scheffler's current streak in this category is 29 and remains unchanged.
And after a third-round 66, Scheffler enters the fourth round leading the field of nine under and looking poised to win his third title on the bounce, a feat not achieved in the US since Dustin Johnson seven years ago.
In a crowded leaderboard, England's David Skinns also sets the pace with 65 points, as do Belgium's Thomas Detry, Germany's Stefan Jaeghe and Argentina's Alejandro Tosti. However, there can be no doubt who the overwhelming favorite is.
Scheffler has been in ominous form, but with the first round of the Masters just 12 days away, his rivals will no doubt take heart from Friday's error with three strikes. The 27-year-old is just 7-2 and bookmakers will put him on his second green jacket in three years, with Rory McIlroy a wide second favorite at 12-1.
Scheffler endured his travails on the greens, before prevailing in Bay Hill earlier Saturday morning. His performance in Orlando and this win the following week at The Players demonstrated a vastly improved putter game, and his peerless ball play has seemingly established Scheffler as a complete player.
Recent Comments