Matti Schmid had a strong start at The American Express on the PGA Tour but a late setback dropped him down the leaderboard.
Matti Schmid started strongly at the kickoff of The American Express tournament on the PGA Tour, shooting a 5-under-par 67. However, a double bogey on the 18th hole slightly hurt his position, leaving him tied for 51st, just two shots off the top 20. Stephan Jäger shot a 71, one under par, tied 118th, while Sepp Straka carded a 72, tied 131st. Both will need significant improvements on Friday to make the cut. Leaders Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody sit at 10 under par, followed by a chasing group including Scottie Scheffler and Robert MacIntyre at 9 under par.
PGA Tour: Matti Schmid’s Outstanding Round Until The Final Hole
At The American Express on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, Schmid took full advantage of excellent conditions. He eagled off the first hole with a strong drive near the green and converted his birdie putt. He added two more birdies on the front nine, both on par-5 holes 4 and 7, reaching 3 under par. Schmid’s back nine was even better with birdies on holes 10 and 11, and after a par on 12, he sank two more birdies to move to 7 under par. However, a misplayed second shot on 15 forced a drop and his first bogey. He bounced back quickly with his eighth birdie on 16, seemingly securing a top 20 finish, but a costly double bogey on 18 ended his round at 5 under par and tied for 51st.
Stephan Jäger and Sepp Straka Fall Behind
Jäger began his round on the back nine struggling, recording a bogey and a double bogey in his first four holes to reach 3 over par. He then improved significantly with birdies on 16 and 18 to finish the front nine at 1 over par. Birdies on holes 5, 8, and the final 9th helped him conclude the round at 1 under par, tied 118th, needing a strong Friday performance to make the cut. Last year’s champion Sepp Straka started clean on the front nine but couldn’t convert conditions into birdies, posting an even-par 36. He birdied holes 10 and 13 but suffered a bogey on 15 and a double bogey on 16. Finishing with a birdie on 18 gave him an even-par round, tied 131st, with work to do to play the weekend.