Relentless Masters champion Scottie Scheffler has fired an eight-under 63 to claim a one-shot lead in the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage as he eyes a rare feat.
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Not since Bernhard Langer in 1985 has a Masters champion won the following week on the PGA Tour at Harbour Town. The only other Masters champion to win the next week was Gary Player in 1978 at the Tournament of Champions.
"I think when I'm playing my best, sometimes it feels like I'm competing against myself a little bit out there, trying to keep pushing and stay as focused as I can," said world No.1 Scheffler.
"At the end of the day, we're out here competing against the best players in the world. I love competing against these guys, and I'm looking forward to the challenge of coming out and competing tomorrow."
Scheffler was at 16-under 197. Austria's Sepp Straka made a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 65 to get within one shot.
Two-time major Collin Morikawa had a 68 and was two shots behind. Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg was three shots back with Sahith Theegala (67) and Patrick Rodgers (68).
Australia's Jason Day slipped, posting a 72 to be tied 45th at four under, while countryman Cam Davis was five shots further back after a 70.
Scheffler is in the midst of a dominant stretch of golf not seen since Tiger Woods in his prime.
He has three wins and a runner-up finish in his last four tournaments.
The only player to beat him was Stephan Jaeger by one shot in the Houston Open -- Scheffler missed a 5-foot putt that would have forced a playoff.
He has gone 51 consecutive holes at par or better at Harbour Town. He posted his 39th consecutive round at par or better dating to the Tour Championship last August.
"I think we all expect him to play well, and there's nothing I can do about it," Aberg said. "All I try to do is focus on myself and make sure that I hit the shots the way I want to and then see where that takes me."
Scheffler started three shots behind and already was tied for the lead with a tee shot to a pin at the back right corner of the 221-yard seventh hole, converting a 10-foot birdie.
Even the bad breaks led to birdies. On the reachable par-4 ninth, his drive stopped short of the bunker on a down slope of grass, leaving him a flop shot to a short pin with the green running away from him.
All he could manage was a pitch to 35 feet. He rammed home the birdie putt, and never really stopped until finishing with a 7-foot birdie on the 18th.
Australian Associated Press
