Scottie Scheffler has made a poor start to the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club this week.
Slow starts have become a bit of a trend for Scheffler early in the PGA Tour season, and his opening round at Riviera did not buck that pattern.
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After winning the American Express in January, he followed up with opening rounds of 73 and 72 at both the WM Phoenix Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
His ball striking, especially with his irons, has been below his usual standards so far this season.
Scottie Scheffler breaks unwanted record at Genesis, dating back to amateur days
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Scheffler has always spoken highly of Riviera as a course, but Thursday’s round left him frustrated with his game.
He wrapped up the rain-delayed first round of the Genesis Invitational at five-over-par after 10 holes, recording three bogeys, a double bogey, and six pars.
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It was a performance that reflected how poorly he played and it also led to an unwanted personal record.
Before this week, Scheffler’s previous worst score through the opening 10 holes of a PGA Tour event came back in 2014 when he was just 17 years old, playing the Byron Nelson as an amateur.
He was four-over-par through 10 holes in that event, but his start at Riviera surpassed even that mark.
If he posts one-over or higher when he finishes his first round on Friday, it’ll be the first time in his career that he has opened three straight PGA Tour events with rounds of 72 or worse.
Given where he stands now – needing to play the final eight holes in five-under just to shoot 71 – that scenario seems likely.
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Scottie Scheffler struggles to find form during Genesis Invitational opening round
There is no hiding it – something just is not clicking for Scheffler at the moment.
His iron play has been well off the mark, and he looks visibly frustrated on the course.
The numbers reflect just how much Scheffler found it tough going early in Pacific Palisades.
So can he turn things around with a strong back nine when play continues on Friday and then put together three solid rounds to get himself back into contention?
It is not out of the question, especially given what we have already seen from him this season in Phoenix and at Pebble Beach.
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