Scottie Scheffler keeps it rolling at 2024 Hero World Challenge as Akshay Bhatia crashes veteran-laden leaderboard

Deploying a new putting strategy at the 2024 Hero, Scheffler led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting in the second round. Using the saw grip (or is it the claw?), he was perfect in the 3 to 7 feet range until his final hole Friday, missing right on a testy four-footer. Still, he tapped in for par to close out a 64, low round of the day and tied for low round of the week so far.

“I think in this game I think a lot of all y’all are looking for perfection out of us and I think today I shot 8 under on the golf course is not something I hang my head about,” he said Friday. “A lot of good things out there, clean card, bogey free, eight birdies. Overall I think I’m pretty pleased.”

Back to defend his Hero title, Scheffler is the lone past champion in the 20-man field. He’s now recorded 14 consecutive rounds of par or better at Albany.

“I think a lot of it’s keeping the ball in play. Around the greens it can get really challenging. I think I’m a pretty good pitcher of the ball, especially the tough lies that you get around this place. I think over the years here I’ve done a good job of kind of staying patient, waiting to get hot,” he said. “There’s some opportunities out here on this golf course, but there’s also some severe punishment. For instance, the front nine today was a time where I got hot and was able to take advantage of it.”