Scottie Scheffler kicked off the 2026 PGA Tour season in style, carding a nine-under-par 63 in the opening round of the American Express.
After missing out on victory at last year’s event by just one shot to Patrick Cantlay, Scheffler will be eager to make amends this time around.
The 29-year-old has made a strong start towards that goal, putting himself in an excellent position after the first round at La Quinta.
Scheffler had already looked sharp during practice rounds, so his smooth 63 was not entirely unexpected.
The world number one has been the game’s dominant force over the past four years.
And based on his opening round in La Quinta, it does not look like he will be giving up that top spot any time soon.
Scottie Scheffler reflects on day one of the American Express
Scheffler has everything needed to stay at the top of the PGA Tour for years to come.
His first round at the American Express was a reminder of just how consistent he has become.
Carding nine birdies and nine pars, he put together a flawless bogey-free 63 to open his campaign.
The Dallas native should be satisfied with where he stands heading into the next 54 holes as he looks to add another win to his growing list.
Following his opening round in California, Scheffler offered a straightforward assessment of how he feels about his game at the moment.
“Yeah, I mean, I got off to a good start today,“ the world number one said.
“I was really sharp on the front nine, holed some nice putts, hit some good iron shots, a lot of good tee balls.
“I wasn’t as sharp as I would have hoped to be on the back but I scrambled pretty well, and I was able to post a good score.”
Scheffler also spoke about adjusting his approach mentally when playing in events where scores often go very low.
He replied: “Oh, I mean, you definitely have to approach it mentally like you got to make some birdies.
“And I think putting yourself in position as many times as you can in order to, you know, get some looks and hole some putts, I think is most important. I think if you start forcing things, you can still get in some trouble.
“It’s still quite difficult, believe it or not, even though the scores are low and you just have to keep yourself in position and give yourself opportunities.
“Off to a good start, like you said, maybe I’d like to be a little bit sharper at the ball striking tomorrow, but I was pretty sharp on the front nine today, so maybe just go ahead, hit a few balls and you know get a good feel and get ready for tomorrow.”
Looking at the numbers behind Scottie Scheffler’s opening round
Scheffler’s first round at the American Express showed a few areas that needed work, particularly off the tee. He hit just five of 14 fairways, a stat he will want to address heading into the next round.
Despite struggling with his driver, the 29-year-old still managed an impressive nine-under-par 63. It speaks to how well he handled other parts of his game.
Scheffler’s approach play was excellent as usual, hitting 17 greens in regulation. Around the greens, he ranked tied first in both scrambling and sand saves and finished tied for 21st in putting.
Even without his best stuff, the world number one made a nine-under look routine.
That should concern the rest of the field this early in the 2026 PGA Tour season. If this is what he looks like when things are not clicking perfectly, there is little reason to doubt him heading into Friday’s round two action.
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