World No. 1 Reveals Surprising Choice After Stellar Round at Byron Nelson

McKINNEY, Texas — After firing a blistering 10-under 61 to take the first-round lead at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was in good spirits and ready to shine a light on one of the PGA Tour’s hidden personalities.

When asked about playing partner Si Woo Kim’s animated celebration after chipping in for eagle on the 18th hole, Scheffler didn’t hesitate: “He does stuff like that all the time. People don’t realize he is probably one of the funniest guys we have on Tour.”

Kim, who rolled onto his back in celebration after the hole-out to cap a 4-under 67, may keep a stoic demeanor during competition, but Scheffler insists there’s much more beneath the surface.

“[He] just has really good comedic timing and he is the best,” Scheffler added with a smile. “Si Woo is undefeated. That was not surprising. [His] reaction always gets a good laugh out of us.”

Flawless Round for World No. 1

While the revelation about Kim’s personality provided an interesting glimpse into tour life, Scheffler’s play was the main story of the day. The Dallas native carded a spectacular front-nine 29 that included four consecutive birdies and an eagle at the par-5 ninth hole.

He added three more birdies on the back nine to post his lowest round of the year, taking a two-shot lead over Rico Hoey and Jhonattan Vegas, who both recorded 8-under 63s.

The performance came in front of a hometown crowd at TPC Craig Ranch, where Scheffler is competing for the first time since 2023 after missing last year’s event for the birth of his son Bennett.

Still Seeking First Win of 2025

Despite his dominant position atop the world rankings, Scheffler is still searching for his first victory of 2025 after a hand injury delayed his season start until late January. He’s had close calls, including a fourth-place finish at the Masters, but the 13-time PGA Tour winner insists he’s not pressing.

“I got off to a good start today, and there are three more days of the tournament,” he said. “I’m just focused on going home, getting some rest, and getting ready for tomorrow.”

Eight players sit at 7-under, including Cameron Champ, Stephan Jaeger, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Will Gordon, while Kim is tied for 19th after his memorable finish. The tournament continues through Sunday with players enjoying favorable scoring conditions after Wednesday’s rainfall.