While not an officially sanctioned PGA Tour competition, Scottie Scheffler’s presence is prominently displayed atop a collection of accomplished players following the initial round of the 2025 Hero World Challenge. The world’s top-ranked golfer lived up to expectations on Thursday at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas, recording a 6-under 66, sharing the lead with Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, Sepp Straka, and Akshay Bhatia.
Scheffler extended his score to 7 under before incurring a bogey on the par-4 18th, marking his first dropped shot at Albany GC in 41 holes, a streak that extended back to the previous year’s event.
“I was feeling quite positive. I anticipate some degree of adjustment,” Scheffler remarked. “However, I tend not to dwell on that while actively playing; my focus remains on achieving a competitive score.”
Equipped with a newly introduced driver, Scheffler resumed his customary style of play. He consistently found both fairways and greens, hitting 11 of 13 and 15 of 18, respectively, strategically embracing risk when deemed necessary. For a player as calculated as the two-time defending champion, such instances were relatively infrequent.
“The sensation off the clubface aligned with the feeling in my hands, which is generally a positive indicator for me with the driver,” Scheffler stated. “I seek consistency between feel and outcome; if they match, it’s a favorable position to be in. Today, I observed nothing unusual.”
Scheffler impressively sunk a birdie putt from approximately 30 feet on his second hole, capitalized on a pair of par 5s, and positioned his tee shot just short of the green on the challenging par-4 7th. Despite failing to secure a birdie on the par-5 9th, he concluded the front nine at 4 under, seemingly without exerting excessive effort.
Cruise control remained engaged, despite some errant shots to the left creeping into his swing—a flaw that occasionally hindered him earlier in the year—and some atypical chip shots that squandered scoring opportunities.
“The texture of the grass plays a significant role,” Scheffler explained. “The ball tends to settle into the turf, often surrounded by rough, particularly below the green. This can present considerable challenges.”
Scheffler proceeded with composure, adding three consecutive birdies to his scorecard on holes 13-15: the first from 11 feet, the second via a two-putt after driving the green, and the third on the final par 5, reaching the green in two strokes.
His lone dropped shot on the final hole may have cost Scheffler the outright lead, but it has not diminished his presence in the minds of the other 19 competitors, who understand they must overcome him to claim victory.
A new caddie on the bag
At this point in the year, it’s customary to see golfers debuting new clubs and experimenting with new swing techniques. However, for Bhatia, this period marks the beginning of a collaboration with his new caddie. Joe Greiner, previously with Max Homa for several years, had a brief tenure with Collin Morikawa this past season.
Following his previous partnerships with California-based players, Greiner adds another California native in Bhatia to his list of clients. Unlike Homa and Morikawa, Bhatia plays on the opposite side of the ball—the same side Greiner occupies when he plays—which he believes will be advantageous in visualizing and discussing shots with his new caddie.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding. We share the same hometown in California,” Bhatia commented. “Having a left-handed caddie is a unique advantage… I’ve been eager to work with him, and the timing finally aligned. This week has been about understanding each other, and it’s been an enjoyable process.
“I believe he possesses a strong understanding of certain courses, shots, and the cues we use. From my experience with left-handed players like Phil and Bubba, I’ve observed a high degree of creativity, which I attribute to their handedness… It’s exciting to have someone who perceives shots in a similar manner to myself.”
Clark consults a coach
Following two exceptional seasons, Clark experienced a relative decline in 2025. With only seven top 20 finishes and two top five finishes in 25 starts, the former U.S. Open champion is aiming to regain the form he displayed during his major-winning campaign a few years prior.
This effort begins with adjustments to his swing and his characteristic left-to-right ball flight. Clark acknowledged that he struggled with left misses this past season, and he is working with a new swing coach to mitigate that tendency by emphasizing fade shots.
“I’m coming off a subpar year, and I’ve been diligently working to improve,” Clark said. “Fortunately, I’ve observed progress over the past few weeks, which is encouraging.
“I had gone approximately three years without consulting a swing coach. I briefly worked with Butch [Harmon] last year. Currently, I’ve hired and begun working with Pat Coyner. I spent some time during the offseason in Colorado at Cherry Hills, where he recently became the new teaching professional. We exchanged ideas, and I was impressed with his insights. My ball striking improved, and I decided to enlist his assistance.”
Jordan Spieth returns to competition
The three-time major champion mentioned that he considered participating in the FedEx Cup Fall but ultimately decided to focus on improving his game. His last official start was at the St. Jude Championship in August. Spieth’s game was effective early in the round, as he reached 3 under through seven holes, before experiencing a gradual decline.
Spieth played his final 11 holes at 3 over, offsetting his early gains and settling into a tie for 17th place. Statistically, he ranked second-to-last in putting and outside the top half in ball-striking categories. Some degree of rust is expected at this time of year, and while his swing is still a work in progress, his putting will be crucial over the next 54 holes. The putter often dictates the trajectory of his game, acting as either a source of momentum or a hindrance, and in Round 1, it unfortunately stifled his progress.
