World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler played his third round at The American Express on Saturday with an unusual companion: Darth Vader. A spectator dressed in the full Star Wars villain costume followed Scheffler through the small crowd in La Quinta, California.
The Star Wars character quickly grabbed more attention than the actual golf. While Scheffler stayed focused on his shots, fans watching the coverage got completely distracted. The image of the dark figure following the four-time major winner quickly spread across social media. Golf fans went wild over the unexpected costume online. Some even claimed the villain’s presence cursed Scheffler during his round.
According to The Daily Mail, one fan called the spectacle “weird and scary” online. Another wrote, “Definitely got a hex on him today.” A fourth user suggested Scheffler’s struggles came from the pressure, writing, “A lot of pressure to play golf in front of Vader, probably where those bogies came from.”
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The dark side couldn’t affect Scheffler’s performance
Despite the menacing Sith Lord looming over his every move, Scheffler kept his composure and delivered a steady four-under-par 68 in the third round. He briefly showed signs of vulnerability with two bogeys on Saturday, moments that were quickly seized upon by fans online, who half-jokingly spun fresh theories about a lingering “curse.”
Still, any superstition was drowned out by the quality of his play. Scheffler responded with timely birdies, stayed patient under pressure, and never let the narrative distract him. By the end of the day, his resilience was rewarded with a spot in second place, leaving him just one shot off the lead and firmly in the title hunt heading into the final round.
Si Woo Kim took the solo lead at La Quinta Country Club. Kim, who was 17 when he made it through Q-school in 2012, shot a six-under 66 to grab a one-shot lead. In other sports news, sports stars spoke about Minneapolis protests after recent events.
Sharing second place with Scheffler is 18-year-old Blades Brown, who finished high school just two weeks ago. Brown finished his round with three straight birdies, including one from 25 feet on the island-green 17th hole and a 45-footer on the final hole, completing his own 68.
Scheffler will need to overcome the one-shot deficit in the final round. If he keeps his focus as sharp as Saturday, the tournament should have an exciting finish. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s surprising coaching decision shocked the NFL world this week.
Published: Jan 26, 2026 04:00 pm