Scottie Scheffler looks for putting rebound on revamped greens at his hometown Byron Nelson

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is eager to test the difficulty of the revamped greens at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson a year after tying the PGA Tour's 72-hole scoring record while winning his hometown event by eight shots.

The world's top-ranked player doesn't exactly have momentum on his side going into Thursday's start at TPC Craig Ranch in suburban Dallas, given how putting kept him from making a run as the defending champion at the PGA Championship last week.

“Overall, I feel like I’m in a good spot,” Scheffler said. “I’ve actually putted the best that I have in my career so far this year and just kind of get a reset, get on some new greens, work on my reads, make sure I’m checking all my fundamentals.”

The Lanny Wadkins-led redesign of the par-71 layout, at a cost of nearly $25 million, focused mostly on new bentgrass greens with more contours. Additional bunkers helped transform the fairways as well.

Undulating greens were a big part of the PGA story at Aronimink, where Scheffler couldn't make a run to contention Sunday after missing a 4-foot birdie putt early and two par putts that were even shorter on the back nine. He ended up tied for 14th.

Scheffler said he has been reminded of last summer, when a rough time on the greens left him tied for eighth at the Scottish Open before he huddled with putting coach Phil Kenyon and won his first British Open the next week.

“Our discussion was basically like, I just want to make sure I’m starting the ball on line, and I want to make sure I’m lined up where I think I’m lined up,” Scheffler said. “That’s what I did, and I went on to have a great putting week and a great tournament.”

Scheffler certainly had that at the Nelson a year ago, finishing at 31 under with a 253 total that tied Justin Thomas (2017) and Ludvig Aberg (2023) for the lowest in PGA Tour history.

Since Scheffler missed the 2024 Nelson for the birth of his first child, it's been three years since he finished a day anywhere but atop the leaderboard in the event he attended as a child, and where he made his PGA Tour debut as a high school senior in 2014.

The four-time major champion was the first wire-to-wire Nelson winner since Tom Watson in 1980.

“Definitely good memories from last year,” Scheffler said.

Scheffler raised the trophy first at an event that is cherished at least as much by Jordan Spieth, his friend and fellow Dallas resident and former Texas Longhorn.

Both are playing amid questions about the future of a tournament that doesn't carry $20 million signature status, and is being played without almost all the top players a week after a major. The PGA Tour is considering an overhaul of the schedule that would put more emphasis on higher-paying events.

This is the sixth tournament at TPC Craig Ranch, which is the Nelson's third venue since 2017. Next year, the PGA Championship will be at nearby PGA Frisco. Both Dallas-area tour events — the other is at venerable Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth — have been played in May for decades.

The Nelson has largely struggled to draw golf's biggest stars since its namesake died 20 years ago.

“A lot of that stuff’s out of my control,” Scheffler said. “This tournament means a lot to me. Mr. Nelson means a lot to a lot of us from the Dallas area, but especially myself. We’ve gone through some changes with this tournament over the years. If the tour wants my opinion, I have nothing but great things to say about this event.”

The Nelson has an agreement through 2030 with TPC Craig Ranch, and South Korean conglomerate CJ Group is in the third year of a 10-year sponsorship deal. The highest-ranked of several South Koreans in the field is Si Woo Kim at No. 24.

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Jordan Spieth hits from the fourth tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Scottie Scheffler hits from the second tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Scottie Scheffler lines up his shot on the first green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. (AP) — Three people are dead and more than a dozen first responders had to be quarantined and assessed Wednesday for possible exposure to an unidentified substance after being called to a suspected drug overdose at a rural New Mexico home, authorities said.

New Mexico State Police said three of the four people who were found unresponsive inside the home east of Albuquerque died. The fourth was being treated at a hospital in Albuquerque.

During the response, authorities said, first responders were exposed to the substance and began experiencing symptoms including nausea and dizziness.

Officials at University of New Mexico Hospital confirmed that 23 patients who were exposed to an unknown substance were assessed and decontaminated after being transported to the hospital. Most of those were first responders who were showing no symptoms and were later discharged.

Medical teams continued to monitor three symptomatic patients Wednesday evening, according to the hospital.

Two first responders were listed in serious condition, said Officer Wilson Silver with New Mexico State Police.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue Hazmat teams were assisting at the scene in Mountainair, a rural community east of Albuquerque, in efforts to identify the substance involved.

“At this time, investigators believe the substance may be transmitted through contact and do not believe it to be airborne,” Silver said.

A police vehicle and yellow tape blocked a dirt road leading to the home.

While the investigation was ongoing, Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto said in a social media post that indications were pointing toward drugs as a possible factor in the deaths at the home. He added that there was no threat to the public.

Residents, however, took to social media to voice their frustrations about drug use in the community and elsewhere.

The mayor said the town's law enforcement officers and first responders work every day to protect the community and respond to difficult situations.

“But the reality is that addiction and substance abuse are issues affecting communities all across our state and nation,” Nieto said. “There is no simple or immediate solution. Lasting change requires family support, accountability, education, and most importantly, individuals who are willing to accept help.”

Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

New Mexico State Police respond to home in Mountainair, N.M., where authorities say several people died Wednesday, May 20, 2026, and more than a dozen first responders were exposed to an unknown substance and later treated at a hospital. (AP Photo/Savannah Peters)

The University of New Mexico Hospital is seen on July 25, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

A New Mexico State Police vehicle blocks off a neighborhood in Mountainair, N.M., where authorities say several people died Wednesday, May 20, 2026, and more than a dozen first responders were exposed to an unknown substance and later treated at a hospital. (AP Photo/Savannah Peters)

FILE - A New Mexico State Police emblem is displayed on podium during a news conference, March 16, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M. (Jon Austria/The Albuquerque Journal via AP, File)