The China Mail - No.1 Scheffler ties Houston Open record with 62 to grab lead

The 28-year-old American made eight birdies in his second bogey-free round to seize the clubhouse lead at 11-under 129 for 36 holes at Memorial Park.

"It felt pretty good," Scheffler said. "Hit a lot of fairways out there, gave myself a lot of looks. I holed a good amount of putts, holed a few long ones, which is always nice."

Canada's Taylor Pendrith was second on 10-under 130 after a second 65 with American Jackson Suber third on 132 after completing his second 66 before lightning halted play with afternoon players on the course.

Scheffler and countryman Tony Finau have each fired the course-record 62 at Memorial Park, Scheffler also in the 2021 second round and Finau in second rounds in 2022 and 2024.

Americans Ron Streck and Fred Funk both recorded 62s when the tournament was held at The Woodlands.

Scheffler, whose nine wins last year included a second Masters green jacket and an Olympic gold medal, had not been bogey-free through 36 holes since the 2023 American Express tournament.

"It was a quick turnaround," said Scheffler. "It's always like that when you go late-early and yeah, it was nice to keep a clean card again today. That's always good to keep momentum in the round."

The 62 was Scheffler's lowest PGA Tour round since a closing 62 at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship.

- 'Good momentum' -

In his final tuneup for next month's Masters, Scheffler began off the 10th tee and sank a 10-foot birdie putt then birdied the par-3 11th from just beyond 26 feet.

"It was nice to get off to a good start and hold the momentum and keep a clean card," Scheffler said.

"The first hole I hit a good drive up the fairway and had a nice look for birdie. It was kind of a tricky read and got that read right.

"On the next hole, hit a good iron shot, had about a 25-footer and it's nice anytime you see one of those go in. It was good momentum to start the day."

Scheffler sank birdie putts from just inside six feet at the par-5 16th and just inside five feet at the par-4 17th and later birdied the par-3 second from just inside 30 feet.

He closed strong with birdie putts from just inside 12 feet at the fifth, 22 feet at the par-3 seventh and just over 13 feet at the par-5 eighth.

"Today was a day where I felt like my ball-striking could have been a bit better and I was able to hole some putts," Scheffler said.

"I hit a lot of greens but I felt like my irons were just barely off, and I felt like I could have been hitting them a little bit closer to the hole, but overall kept it on the green, kept giving myself looks.

"The way I was putting, I didn't feel I had to force 'em there by many pins if I wasn't totally comfortable with the shot, so good results."

R.Lin--ThChM