Scottie Scheffler's electrifying return to the PGA Tour in 2026 has set the golf world abuzz, with a blistering opening round at The American Express in California! The world's top-ranked golfer wasted no time making his mark, firing a remarkable 63 thanks to an early birdie spree that perfectly complemented a day of exceptionally low scoring on the tour.
This exciting event, the second on the PGA Tour's 2026 calendar, features a substantial 156-player field navigating three distinct courses in La Quinta. The competition will narrow down after Saturday's play, with the ultimate showdown taking place on the renowned Pete Dye Stadium Course.
Scheffler, making his first appearance since a respectable tied-fourth finish at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas back in early December, showcased his dominant form from the outset. Last year was a triumph for Scheffler, marked by six victories, including prestigious major championships like the PGA Championship and The Open. He wasted no time proving his mettle, birdying an astonishing five of his first six holes.
Playing on the La Quinta Country Club course, Scheffler continued his impressive streak, adding another birdie at the par-four eighth hole, reaching the turn in a stellar 30 strokes. But here's where it gets really interesting: he wasn't done yet! More birdies followed at the 12th, 13th, and 17th holes. On the 17th, he executed a brilliant chip shot from the primary rough around the green, a truly spectacular play that underscored his skill.
This phenomenal performance resulted in an opening-round 63, placing him just one shot behind the co-leaders, Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody, who both posted impressive rounds of 62 to reach 10 under par.
And this is the part most people miss: like the leading duo, Scheffler managed to keep a bogey off his scorecard throughout the entire round. His nine-under total not only highlights his exceptional play but also marks his best performance in 19 career rounds at this tournament.
Across town, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre was also making waves on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, matching Scheffler's 63. Fresh off a strong tied-fourth finish at the season-opening event in Hawaii, MacIntyre mirrored Scheffler's hot start, birdying his first five holes after beginning his round on the 10th tee.
While a bogey on the par-five 15th did momentarily stall his momentum, MacIntyre rallied impressively, finishing his back nine in 31 strokes and capping off his fine round with a birdie on his final hole, the ninth.
The Nicklaus course proved to be a veritable playground for low scores on Thursday, with a staggering 70 players finishing at least five under par, and an incredible 130 players under par overall. However, only two managed to break through for 62s: Australia's Min Woo Lee and America's Pierceson Coody.
Lee, starting from the 10th, showcased a consistent performance with five birdies on either side of the turn. Coody's round, however, truly ignited from the 11th hole, where he embarked on an incredible streak of seven consecutive birdies, ultimately shooting a remarkable 29 on his back nine to match Lee's benchmark.
Scheffler and MacIntyre were joined in their nine-under pursuit by seven other notable players, including Jason Day, Patrick Cantlay, and Ben Griffin. But the player who might have felt the most satisfaction from his 63 was Jason Day, as his came on the Stadium Course, widely considered the most challenging of the three courses in play this week.
England's Jordan Smith also positioned himself well for Friday's play, carding an eight-under 64 on the Nicklaus course, while Matt Wallace was at six under.
However, the widespread scoring frenzy didn't extend to everyone. Justin Rose found himself at level par in a tie for 131st place after a round at La Quinta Country Club that included a costly double-bogey on the par-three seventh. And in a moment of unfortunate mishap, American Brian Harman incurred a two-shot penalty after mistakenly hitting the ball of a Pro-Am amateur in his playing group from the fairway into the 10th hole. This led to a double-bogey on the 10th and then, compounding the issue, he found the water with his second shot on the 11th, resulting in another double-bogey and finishing his round at one over par.
Now, here's a thought-provoking question for you: With such an abundance of low scores, does it diminish the achievement of those at the very top, or does it simply showcase the incredible talent and evolving skill level in professional golf today? What are your thoughts on the impact of course conditions and player skill on such widespread low scoring? Let us know in the comments below!
