Scottie Scheffler favored to win third straight PGA Tour event after hot start in Houston

Scottie Scheffler is the king of the golf world right now, and he doesn't plan on giving up the crown anytime soon. The World No. 1 kept his hot streak going at the Texas Children's Houston Open with a 5-under 65 in the opening round at Memorial Park Golf Course. He's just one stroke back of leader Taylor Moore after the morning wave. 

What's even more impressive is how he did it.

Scheffler didn't pepper every fairway and green like he normally does. He hit nine fairways and only 11 greens in the first round, and he didn't gain a full stroke off the tee or on approach. Instead, most of his scoring came from his short game. Scheffler gained 1.235 strokes around the green, going seven-for-seven in scrambling opportunities, but his best performance came on the greens. The notoriously poor putter gained a whopping 2.462 strokes on the green and finished his round ranked fourth in the field in strokes gained from putting.  

That's a dangerous reality for the rest of the field at Memorial Park. Scheffler hit his irons poorly (by his standards, at least) in the first round, but the weakest part of his game powered him to a bogey-free 65. His approach play is only going to improve as the week goes on. 

Scheffler was a +260 betting favorite (DraftKings) before the tournament began, which is a prime Tiger Woods price, and he moved to minus odds Thursday before the afternoon wave even teed off.