Scheffler Takes Spotlight in Nelson Debut
Scottie Scheffler has conquered just about every obstacle a youth golfer can face, so the professional circuit is an obvious next step.
The Highland Park High School senior will make his PGA Tour debut as an amateur this week at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Irving. He will tee off in the final pairing at 2 p.m. Thursday from the 10th tee, and at 9 a.m. Friday at No. 1.
Scheffler, 17, was granted an exemption to play in the tournament. He also is slated to compete at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis in three weeks, with graduation from HPHS in between.
Two weeks ago, Scheffler won his third straight Class 4A individual state championship, two days after taking the Junior Invitational in South Carolina. He won the U.S. Junior Amateur last summer, and hopes to accomplish the same feat this year at the U.S. Amateur — a tournament in which he reached match play a year ago. Then he will head to the University of Texas in the fall.
Scheffler’s older sister, Callie — a former HPHS standout and current Texas A&M golfer — will be his caddie this week. Many more family members and friends will follow him as part of the gallery for a pairing that includes Kevin Kisner and Hudson Swafford.
Those spectators will include his father, Scott, who has been there from the beginning of Scheffler’s golf career.
“My dad kind of got me started. He doesn’t really play much, but he used to go hit balls and I would tag along,” Scheffler said. “He stopped, and I kept going.”
Other Park Cities residents in the field this week include Justin Leonard, Colt Knost, and former HPHS champion Harrison Frazar.
