World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 Season
The CJ Cup Byron Nelson competition, held in May 2025 at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas, U.S., was more than just a PGA Tour event. With world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler aiming to win his first championship of the season, the competition focused more on Scheffler’s golf strategy than the competition itself.
His competitors are top rankers such as Jordan Spieth, Kim Joo-hyung and Sam Burns, and the tournament, which will give $9.9 million in total prize money, $1.74 million and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner, is the biggest event on the PGA Tour this year.
Scheffler’s strategy: unglamorous but heavy
ScScottie Scheffler’s golf is not power-heater style. Rather than bombing 350-yard drives, he thrives on consistency, precision, and quiet dominance. At the CJ Cup, his play showcased the following tactical principles:
- With high accuracy, we created birdie chances in most holes. Green hit ratio (GIR) comes first.
- Course management was implemented to minimize mistakes by targeting the center, which is safer than targeting pins.
- Even after the par putt failed, he managed thoroughly so that he did not lose his mind and maintained his rhythm.
Scheffler’s Strength
To be honest, Schaeffler’s golf can be a bit boring. But if you look at the whole 18 holes, you can see how calculated and meticulous the play is. His real weapon is the ability to make even unstable moments stable.
Iron shots are always adjusted to leave a mid-range putt, and even bunker shots and roughs show a clear goal of “protecting the wave.” When his competitors make mistakes, he doesn’t use a single ride in vain.
Until the second round of the CJ Cup, he maintained his lead in the leaderboard (-18), and felt that the ‘world’s No. 1’ was different.
2R match results
1st place Scottie Scheffler -18
2nd place Sam Stevens – 12
The winner of the CJ Cup is Scheffler after all?
Scheffler analyzed the entire course like a puzzle in this competition and followed this routine thoroughly:
Targeting Par 5 Hole: Get stable birdie with 3-on 1-putt strategy, rather than trying too much eagle on tee shot
Par 3 hole response: Stick to basic principles that aim only at the center of the green even in short holes
18th hole closing strategy: After a safe fairway settlement in the final round, successful green on long iron → Calm two-putt finish
Scheffler is considered the best player to apply the word “risk management” to golf, and this CJ Cup was a stage where his strategic thinking peaked.
It’s not as star-studded as Tiger Woods, but it’s stable
Scottie Scheffler’s CJ Cup strategy is more than a playbook—it’s a philosophy. One that’s shaping modern golf. Where routine trumps recklessness. Where saving par can be more thrilling than chasing eagles.
He doesn’t just win—he redefines what winning looks like. And honestly? That kind of golf is quietly fascinating.