World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made a statement return to action, shooting a nine-under 63 in his first PGA Tour start of 2026 at The American Express. He finished one stroke behind clubhouse leaders Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody, who both shot 62s. The round featured a birdie blitz from Scheffler, who birdied five of his first six holes on the La Quinta Country Club course.

The tournament, the second on the 2026 PGA Tour schedule, features a 156-player field competing across three courses in La Quinta, California. Robert MacIntyre also shot a 63 on the Nicklaus Course, while Jason Day’s 63 on the tougher Stadium Course was particularly impressive. The low scoring indicates the courses are yielding to players’ skills early in the round.

Scheffler’s performance signals he has lost none of the form that delivered six wins, including two majors, in 2025. His last start was a tie for fourth at the Hero World Challenge in December. The leaderboard is crowded, with seven players at nine under, setting up a tight battle for the weekend cut and the final round on the Pete Dye Stadium Course.