Scottie Scheffler in field for CJ Cup Byron Nelson, looks to repeat

A year removed from a hometown coronation, Scottie Scheffler is expected to return to the CJ Cup Byron Nelson next week.

Last spring, the world No. 1 didn’t just win at TPC Craig Ranch — he overwhelmed it. With a blistering, final-round 8-under 63, Scheffler separated himself from the field and finished eight shots clear of Erik van Rooyen, turning a familiar stage into a personal showcase. In the process, he carved his name deep into the tournament’s record book, posting a staggering 31-under 253 for 72 holes — a number that not only set a Byron Nelson benchmark but matched the lowest 72-hole total in PGA Tour history.

Now, the Dallas-area native is expected back in McKinney, Texas, chasing something rarer: a successful defense on the course where his roots run deepest.

“When I think about this tournament, I think about a lot of different stuff,” Scheffler said in the glow of that victory. “Sometimes it all comes crashing down at once.”

The memories go well beyond winning — they stretch back to childhood, when a young Scheffler walked these fairways as a fan, soaking it all in.

Scottie Scheffler with wife Meredith and son Bennett walk through the fans after winning the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. Raymond Carlin III/Imagn Images

“We have a lot of great memories as kids coming to watch this tournament,” he said. “I just dreamed to be able to play in it, and it’s more of a dream to be able to win it.”

One image, in particular, bridges past and present. At six years old, Scheffler posed for a photo beside Byron Nelson himself, the tournament’s namesake and one of golf’s most revered figures. Shown that picture again after his win, Scheffler reflected with reverence. “He was great for the game of golf,” he said. “He was a great person, a family man, and I’m proud to be the champion at his event.”

The journey from that childhood snapshot to Tour champion was paved in moments just as personal. Eleven years later, Scheffler made the cut here as an amateur, his sister carrying the bag. His high school sweetheart — now his wife — walked every hole in support. The ties, both to the tournament and the people around him, have only deepened since.