Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, ranked No.1 and No.2 in the world, respectively, both expressed doubts that the 31-year-old record for most consecutive birdies will be surpassed at the Travelers Championship, held this week at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut. The tournament features a star-studded field, including several top PGA Tour professionals, as players transition from the grueling U.S. Open at Oakmont to a course known for easier scoring.
The focus on Scottie Scheffler on 31-year golf record resurfaces amid widespread interest in whether anyone can exceed Omar Uresti’s miraculous nine consecutive birdies set in 1994, a record that remains unmatched despite the modern competitive environment.
Players Shift Focus to Easier Conditions After Tough U.S. Open
This year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont was marked by brutal playing conditions, with thick five-inch rough and slick greens turning the challenge into a test of patience and precision. Only J.J. Spaun finished under par, delivering a rare achievement as all other competitors struggled to remain at par or better.
Now, competitors face a dramatically different challenge at TPC River Highlands, a par-70 layout favored for its low scoring potential. The contrast between the two venues highlights the challenges of maintaining focus and form throughout diverse conditions on the PGA Tour schedule.
History of Scoring Leniency at TPC River Highlands
TPC River Highlands has developed a reputation for yielding low scores, underlined by recent tournament results. Scottie Scheffler claimed victory here last year by shooting 22-under-par, which was only enough to force a playoff. The course’s third hole, recently modified due to how frequently birdies were made, had more than three times as many birdies as bogeys during the event.
In 2023, Keegan Bradley’s winning score of 23-under further underscored the scoring ease, supported by other recent winners posting scores from 13-under to 23-under par, indicating a trend toward aggressive scoring opportunities at this venue.
Why the Nine Consecutive Birdies Record Remains Intact
Omar Uresti’s mark of nine consecutive birdies, set in 1994, is still regarded as one of golf’s most unbreakable records. Despite low scores being common at TPC River Highlands, neither Scheffler nor McIlroy believes the record will fall anytime soon.
Scheffler commented on Wednesday, remarking on the near-impossibility of such a streak. He stated,
“I don’t think that will be beat anytime soon.”
Reflecting on his experience, Scheffler said,
“Omar made nine birdies in a row? Wow, I’ve never made close to nine birdies in a row. Why is that record so… has lasted so long? I think that’s really difficult, and the courses out here, they’re only trying to make them more difficult for whatever reason. Nine birdies in a row, that’s pretty ridiculous golf. That’s about as close to perfection as you’ll probably get in the game of golf.”
McIlroy echoed this sentiment by highlighting the psychological challenge of maintaining such a streak. He said,
“I mean, I make two birdies in a row, and I’m thinking, ooh. So I think it’s more of a mental thing where you start to make a few birdies in a row and you start to think about it. I think that’s the worst thing you can do. You just got to try to get out of your own way when you’re on a run like that.”
He added,
“I think it will be a long time when you see someone with ten birdies in a row out here, especially with how difficult the setups are getting and how tough the courses are.”
Current PGA Tour Birdie Streaks Compared
The skepticism is supported by recent statistics: neither Scheffler nor McIlroy has recorded more than four consecutive birdies so far this year. In comparison, the longest streak recorded by any PGA Tour player in 2025 is seven birdies in a row, achieved by Adam Hadwin, Jake Knapp, and Sepp Straka. This further reinforces both players’ views that nine or more consecutive birdies remain an extraordinary feat unlikely to be eclipsed soon.
Discussion on Course Difficulty and Scoring Standards
Given the low scores at TPC River Highlands, Scheffler was asked whether the course is too easy, especially as it hosts one of the PGA Tour’s final signature events each season. He responded by emphasizing that winning scores do not always reflect the true difficulty or quality of a course.
Scheffler explained,
“I think sometimes, especially in this day and age, people get way too caught up in the winning score being what is a proper test.”
He stressed the importance of rewarding good shots and punishing bad ones, saying,
“I think a proper test is good shots being rewarded and bad shots being punished. I think this is one of the best golf courses for that.”
He elaborated,
“The winning score, I think people get way too caught up in. I’m not saying necessarily that even par is a bad winning score.”
He also referenced the U.S. Open, illustrating how a score of par or better can still challenge players:
“Some weeks like the U.S. Open, you hit two great shots and you’re going to get rewarded with a par. That’s fine. That’s good too.”
Scheffler concluded that professional golf is tested in many different ways across courses and conditions, remarking,
“We play different types of golf courses, different types of grass, we play different types of winning scores. We just see different tests, and I think not one is better than the other.”
He also addressed his personal frustration with tournaments where good shots go unrewarded and poor shots go unpunished, stressing what golfers want from course setups:
“The most frustrating thing for me when I play a golf tournament is when you see good shots not getting rewarded and bad shots not being punished properly. That’s all we look for. Do we care that 22-under wins this week? No….I think having birdies at the end sometimes is a pretty exciting finish. That’s really all there is to it.”
Recent Winners and Scores at Travelers Championship
- 2024 – Scottie Scheffler: -22
- 2023 – Keegan Bradley: -23
- 2022 – Xander Schauffele: -19
- 2021 – Harris English: -13
- 2020 – Dustin Johnson: -19
- 2019 – Chez Reavie: -17
- 2018 – Bubba Watson: -17
Looking Ahead: 2025 Travelers Championship Preview
The Travelers Championship started on Thursday, June 19, and will conclude on Sunday, June 22, with live coverage available on talkSPORT 2. The event offers a unique opportunity for top players like Scheffler and McIlroy to test their skills on a demanding but fair course, while the golfing world will watch closely to see if any records fall.
Despite the course’s scoring-friendly nature, the intense focus on Scottie Scheffler on 31-year golf record is likely to remain a fascinating subplot throughout the tournament, sparking debate on what constitutes perfection in golf and whether any player can match the historic streak set by Omar Uresti.