Scottie Scheffler breaks unwanted record at the Genesis since his youth.

Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one, is experiencing a nightmare at the Genesis Invitational, taking place at the iconic Riviera Country Club. Since the start of the tournament, the golfer has shown alarming performance, setting an unwanted personal record that dates back to his amateur days.

Scheffler’s struggles in the early rounds have become a concerning trend this season on the PGA Tour. Following his victory at the American Express in January, the player had already recorded opening rounds of 73 and 72 at the WM Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournaments. However, his situation at the Genesis is by far the most critical.

His iron play has been ineffective and below expectations throughout 2026. During the first ten holes of the opening round, the golfer accumulated a dismal five over par, with three bogeys, one double bogey, and only six pars. This performance, which took place under the pressure of rain that delayed the tournament’s start, reflected Scheffler’s evident frustration, as he is already known to be a great admirer of the Riviera course.

Before the start of the tournament, Scheffler’s worst performance in the first 10 holes of a PGA Tour event had been four over par, during the Byron Nelson in 2014, when he was only 17 years old. However, what occurred at Riviera surpassed that negative record, leading him to a new unwanted milestone.

If the four-time major champion finishes his first round with an even par or worse, it will be the first time in his career that he records three consecutive openings on the PGA Tour with a score of 72 or higher. The odds are alarming: to avoid this outcome, Scheffler would need to play the last eight holes at five under par, a feat that seems challenging given his current performance.

The numbers do not lie. Scheffler’s statistics on the first 10 shots at the Genesis are a clear reflection of his current state. With a ranking of 201.806 in “strokes gained off the tee,” and an average of -1.581 in “strokes gained approach,” his frustration on the course is palpable. His performance in “strokes gained around the green” and “putting” has also been lacking, with rankings of 51 and 70, respectively.

The big question now is whether Scheffler can turn things around and make a comeback on the final holes on Friday to then follow up with competitive rounds in the 60s. Fans and critics should not dismiss this possibility, especially in light of what he has already achieved in previous tournaments in Phoenix and Pebble Beach. What is clear is that the pressure is high and time is running out for Scheffler.