Davis Riley up for Scottie Scheffler’s challenge ahead of final round showdown at Charles Schwab Challenge
Davis Riley and Scottie Scheffler are playing in the final round of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in the final group. Competing directly for the title with the best player in the world provides extra motivation for Riley, who leads Scheffler by four strokes.
Riley finished the third round with a score of 14 under, while Scheffler finished solo second at 10 under. Davis Riley touched on the subject during his conversation with the media after the third round, saying he is looking forward to Sunday's round.
"When you got Scottie [Scheffler] breathing down your neck you can't really let up any," Davis Riley said, "so I know it's going to be tough and it's going to be a fun day. Just going to come out and try to hit the first tee shot the best I can and go from there," Riley said (via Golf.com).
He added:
"I've known Scottie for a long time and played a lot of junior golf with him, college golf, and obviously he's playing some really good golf right now, so sure's going to come out swinging but I'm looking forward to the challenge and it'll be a fun day competing out there."
Davis Riley and Scottie Scheffler overlapped for most of their respective careers in junior and collegiate golf. In fact, Scheffler defeated Riley in the 2013 US Junior Amateur after Riley claimed a penalty stroke for himself for a rules violation on the 16th hole of the final round.
After winning the 2013 US Junior Amateur, Scottie Scheffler praised Davis Riley's work ethic. He said the following (via Golf Channel's Hailey Hunter):
"It takes a lot of heart to do that."
Scottie Scheffler and Davis Riley's performance at the Charles Schwab Challenge at a glance
Davis Riley has been among the leaders in the Charles Schwab Challenge since the first round thanks to an exceptional performance. Riley carded 17 birdies and only three bogeys through the first 54 holes.
Riley played the first round for a score of 66, with five birdies and one bogey. He went even lower in score during the second day, carding six birdies with no bogeys (64). In the third round, he repeated his score of 66, with six birdies and two bogeys.
Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, had to recover from a first round of 72, with three birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey. It was one of the Scheffler's worst rounds of the PGA Tour season.
However, the World No. 1 bounced back in style, with a second round of 65, thanks to five birdies with no bogeys. The third round was even better, 63, with seven birdies and no bogeys.
During the fourth round, Scottie Scheffler struggled again, with two bogeys with no birdies through the 6th. Riley also has two bogeys, but with a birdie, extending his lead to five strokes.