PGA TOUR
Scottie Scheffler Enjoys Golden Win at THE PLAYERS Championship
Scottie Scheffler won the 50th Anniversary of THE PLAYERS Championship. It was a historic win for the world No. 1 who became the first player ever to successfully defend the coveted title. Scheffler won last year’s event at TPC Sawgrass by five shots.
Scheffler fired a sizzling 8-under 64 on Sunday to tie the lowest score in the final round by a champion with Fred Couples (1984) and Davis Love III (2003). The 27-year-old American, who started the final round five shots back, tied the largest final round comeback with Justin Leonard (1998) and Henrik Stenson (2009).
Scheffler’s flawless final round was highlighted by a hole-out eagle at the par 4, 4th hole. Birdies at the 5th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th and 16th holes got him to a total of 20-under. It was his 8th PGA TOUR title. Scheffler has won at his last two PGA TOUR starts after claiming last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Americans Brian Harman (68), Xander Schauffele (70) and Wyndham Clark (69) finished one shot back at 19-under. All three players had a birdie putt on the final green to force a playoff. Clark came the closest. The reigning US Open champion’s birdie attempt from 16 feet took a cruel lip out.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick finished in solo fifth place at 16-under. The 2022 US Open champion finished his event with four consecutive birdies to sign for a 3-under 69 final round.
Jason Day was the best-placed Australian. The 36-year-old, who won this event in 2016, finished in a tie for 35th place at 6-under. Day picked up four shots through his opening 12 holes on Sunday to push for a top 10 result. However, the former world No. 1 closed his event with a triple bogey at the 72nd hole to sign for an even par final round.
The PGA Tour remains in Florida for next week’s Valspar Championship to be staged at Innisbrook Resort. America’s Taylor Moore is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Scottie Scheffler -20
T2. Xander Schauffele -19
T2. Brian Harman -19
T2. Wyndham Clark -19
5. Matt Fitzpatrick -16
T6. Si Woo Kim -15
T6. Hideki Matsuyama -15
8. Ludvig Aberg -14
T9. Sahith Theegala -13
T9. Maverick McNealy -13
Australians
T35. Jason Day -6
T45. Adam Scott -4
T54. Min Woo Lee -2
MC. Aaron Baddeley
MC. Cam Davis
Image Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
