Farmers Insurance Open: How Scottie Scheffler Shot 79 with 2 Birdies

Scottie Scheffler is the defending PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and one of the brightest young stars in golf. But on Friday at the Farmers Insurance Open, Scheffler pulled off a golfing feat that’s pretty difficult to do, even for the most skilled players.

Scheffler’s week at Torrey Pines got off to an outstanding start. Playing the North Course on Thursday, the former Texas Longhorn was able to shoot a 7-under par 65. He was just one shot back of the lead after 18 holes of play.

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Then came Friday, which was a completely different day for Scheffler.

Playing the South Course, and opening on the back nine, Scheffler parred the 10th hole to open his round. He then parred the 11th hole to remain at even on the day.

But the downward spiral for Scheffler started on the 12th hole, where he recorded his first bogey of the day. He followed that with a bogey on the par-5 13th hole. A third consecutive bogey came on the 14th hole and Scheffler was suddenly 3-over par on his Friday round.

He seemed to steady the ship a bit on the 15th hole, where he recorded a par. But on the par-3 16th hole, his round went completely off the rails.

Scheffler hit his tee shot into a bunker next to the green. His pitch from the bunker went over the green and into the intermediate rough. From there, he pitched to about 12 feet from the cup. He missed his putt for bogey and settled for a double bogey. That dropped him to 5-over through seven holes.

After a par on 17, Scheffler bounced back with a birdie on the 18th hole. He ended with a 4-over par 40 on his first nine.

Scheffler’s back nine started with pars on the first and second holes, keeping him at 4-over par. But then things went in the wrong direction again.

He would bogey the par-3 third hole. He then bogeyed the par-4 fourth hole and he was 6-over par.

Scheffler parred the fifth hole before another birdie, this one on the par-5 sixth hole, got him back to 5-over par.

But Scheffler couldn’t keep the positive vibes going. He would par the seventh, but he bogeyed the eighth and ninth holes to shoot 39 on his back nine.

Amazingly, Scheffler shot a 7-over 79. With two birdies. That’s tough to do, especially for a PGA Tour professional.