Scheffler shines, posts 8-shot lead

HOUSTON (AFP) — Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler made a closing birdie in near-darkness to seize an eight-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament.

The 28-year-old from nearby Dallas birdied three of the first five holes and three of the last five holes to fire a five-under par 66 and stand on 23-under 190 after 54 holes at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

“It was good golf. I did a good job of getting it around,” Scheffler said.

“I definitely wasn’t as sharp as I was the last two days but overall I posted a pretty good score and over a 72-hole tournament you’re going to have at least one day where your swing is not firing on all cylinders.”

“It’s all about how you battle through that. Today I did a good job. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll swing a little better.”

Thunderstorms Friday pushed the end of the second round to midday Saturday and left Scheffler and others in the last groups racing into darkness to finish in the twilight gloom to avoid an early wake-up call Sunday.

“We were going to come back pretty early in the morning,” Scheffler said.

“Even if finishing 18 would have cost me a shot I think it would have saved me a shot tomorrow based on energy and not having to come out here early and wait five hours or so to tee off.”

“Once they gave us the go-ahead to finish I was definitely very anxious to finish.”

On the par-five 18th hole, Scheffler blasted his second shot 221 yards into darkness, unable to track it, landing 31 feet from the hole. He putted t within inches of the hole and tapped in for his seventh birdie.

“I couldn’t see very well but I finished in the dark many times growing up so that wasn’t that big of a deal,” Scheffler said.

“The most challenging part I would say was reading a green in the dark.”

Scheffler said he wondered how they would finish when they reached the third tee and two groups were waiting ahead of them.

“Once we were on the back nine, I felt we were going to finish,” Scheffler said.