Scottie Scheffler opened the 2026 PGA Tour season with a strong start at The American Express. Playing at La Quinta Country Club Scheffler got off to a fast start with birdies on his first two holes.
He stayed aggressive through the front nine, adding four more birdies to reach the turn at 6 under par. Scheffler then picked up three more birdies on the back nine to post a bogey-free 63 finishing the round at 9 under.
The PGA Tour shared Scheffler’s early surge on X and fans were quick to react. One fan wrote,
“He’s back!!!”
Another commented,
“Scottie gonna make everyone quit before the season is even started.”
A third added,
“It’s gonna be another year of just wondering who’s going to come in 2nd isn’t it?!”
Not everyone was impressed. One user wrote,
“You know golf is back when the PGA Tour blows Scottie after six holes of one of the easiest courses on tour.”
Another fan simply posted,
“Let’s goooo.”
Scheffler entered the new season after a standout 2025 in which he won six times including major victories at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship. With 19 PGA Tour wins already since early 2022 his next victory would mark his 20th on Tour and secure lifetime membership.
Scottie Scheffler opens up on mindset and motivation
“When I’m getting ready to come back out and play when I look at the offseason when I’m practicing, I’m thinking about coming out here and competing and preparing for that,” he said. “I don’t think about really much other than that. I’m just trying to get ready to come out here and play and compete and do my best.”
“I have the understanding that I’m never going to get there,” Scheffler said. “This is a game that can’t be perfected. But I think that’s what always keeps you coming back.”
“There’s nothing better than hitting the ball exactly the way you want to.That’s one of the best feelings ever. I think as golfers we’re all kind of chasing that,” Scheffler said.