Scotty Scheffler produced a Tee-to-Green Masterclass to jump the leaderboard in the semifinals of the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
The world No. 1 carded eight birdies in a brilliant 64 at Albany Golf Resort, including six in the opening seven holes, to move into 13th and the lead for his ninth world victory of the year.
Scheffler enters the weekend two strokes clear of Akshay Bhatia and Justin Thomas, who shot rounds of 66 and 67 respectively, while Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is four strokes back in fourth place.
A successful title defense would cap off a special 2024 for Scheffler, who has already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, The Masters, RBC Heritage, Memorial Tournament, Travelers Championship, Olympic Gold and Tour Championship. in this campaign.
Scheffler once again a star man
Scheffler parred his approach at the par four and added a 10-foot birdie at the third, and the Masters champion took advantage of the first five pars and birdied the fourth from 15 feet to continue his streak.
The run temporarily ended at two-stroke par at the fifth, but he straightened with back-to-back birdies at the sixth and Scheffler made another one from eight feet at the five-over ninth to reach the turn in 29.
Scheffler missed two par-fives on the back nine, but he left himself with a birdie at the 14th, although he missed a five-footer to extend his lead to the par four.
“I did a lot of good things,” Scheffler said. “The first nine was really nice, and the back nine, I felt like I did some good things, but I didn’t get to the same level on the back end was on, so overall it was a very good day.”
Scotty Scheffler won by three shots in 2023, finishing runner-up Victor Hovland the previous two years.
Bhatia made four birdies in six holes at the seventh and bogeyed the third eight to make back-to-back bogeys at the 11th, while the American added another birdie at the 15th and holed out from 10 feet to finally save the par to stay at 11 under.
He was joined by Bhatia, who mixed a solitary bogey with six birdies on Friday, while Bradley reeled off three consecutive birdies for a 67 to move to nine under.
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Zep Straka shares fifth place with Sunja Im and Ludwig Aberg, while Scotland’s Robert McIntyre is tied for tenth in the group and eight shots back after a second-round 71.
Overnight leader Cameron Young is also five under, having carded the six-bogey and double-bogey events with a three-over 75 – 11 shots worse than he signed on the opening day.
Who will win the Hero World Challenge?Watch live on Sky Sports from 5pm on Saturday. Get Sky Sports or stream via NOW.
