Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim are tied at the top, and Scottie Scheffler is lurking; all three are playing in the same group. The most-watched group at TPC Craig Ranch just became the most interesting leaderboard story of the day.

The PGA Tour confirmed via X on May 21 that Koepka and Kim share the T1 spot in the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, while Scheffler sits at T12. The trio is competing together at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and the leaderboard already looks exactly like most would have predicted.

Scheffler had flagged what was coming before the round even started. At his Wednesday press conference, the world No. 1 was asked about sharing a group with Kim. "Si Woo is a great competitor," Scheffler said. "He's one of the most talented players we have out here on Tour, and he's a lot of fun to be around as well."

That endorsement landed with weight. Kim comes in with five top-6 finishes this season. He ranks sixth in strokes gained approach on Tour; his iron play has been sharp all year. The one crack that has hampered his game is putting. Kim sits 121st in strokes gained putting this season. So far this week, it hasn't cost him.

Koepka framed the pairing differently. Back on Tour after his LIV stint, the five-time major champion called Thursday a chance to measure himself.

"It will be fun. It will be exciting, and I guess a good measuring stick to figure out where I'm at," Koepka said. "Obviously, Si Woo is playing pretty good and very talented. I'm excited about it."

He also came in with a new putter. This week, Koepka changed to a Scotty Cameron Fastback 1.5 after spending many hours in his home putting studio working on his alignment, grip, and putting feel before making the switch.

The change is already helping him perform well near the top of the leaderboard.

Koepka's Putter Overhaul and Kim's Iron Play Put Scottie Scheffler's Title Defense Under Early Pressure

Scheffler won this event last year and returned as the defending champion. He sits at T12; Koepka and Kim are ahead of him, both at T1.

Kim's iron stats tell the story. Ranked sixth in strokes gained approach on Tour this season, he has the tools to go deep in a tournament like this. The putter has been the one liability, 121st on Tour. Kim's putting has held through round one, and that is the number worth watching as the week progresses.

Koepka said the Fastback 1.5 feels like it “releases on its own,” which was the feeling he had been trying to find after weeks of practice at home.

Each morning, he took his son to school and then practiced on the putting green for hours before going back to pick him up.

Scheffler is the defending champion and is still fighting near the top of the leaderboard. Koepka is leading, and his new putter is already working well. Kim has reached tied first place mainly because of his strong iron shots, even though he ranks 121st on Tour in putting statistics.

Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion, but at the moment, he sits at T12. So, do you think he will eventually chase down Koepka and Kim to repeat his feat this year? Or does someone else take the title?

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Souvik Roy