Scheffler chuffed with backtoback victories
PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Scottie Scheffler fired a finalround, 8under 64 yesterday to become the first player in the 50year history of The Players Championship to win at TPC Sawgrass in consecutive years.
Scheffler finished 20under 268 to claim his second straight Players victory in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
‘‘It’s pretty special,’’ Scheffler, the first golfer to win the Players twice since Tiger Woods (2001, 2013), said.
‘‘That’s something you never really get the opportunity to do very often. It’s tough enough to win one Players, so to have it backtoback is extremely special.’’
The World No 1, who fought through neck pain earlier in the tournament, started the day five shots off the pace of 54hole leader Xander Schauffele.
After racking up an eagle and six birdies to get to 20under, he watched as Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark and Schauffele were unable to pull out one more birdie to force a playoff.
Clark’s bid to tie, on nearly the exact putt Harman missed moments before, traced the left rim of the cup around the back and out.
Harman (68 yesterday), Clark (69) and Schauffele (70) tied for second at 19under. Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (69) finished fifth at 16under.
Scheffler was in the mix to start the week after opening with a 5under 67. His neck troubles came on Saturday, when he felt a pinch during a swing and needed midround treatment.
‘‘All of a sudden I get that pinch in my neck, and I gutted it out around there, getting it around in a few under par, keeping myself in the tournament . . . I said before when you get an acute injury like that, if you can wake up the next day feeling a little bit better or the exact same, it’s a win.’’
Scheffler also won on tour for the second straight week, having captured his second career Arnold Palmer Invitational title last week in Orlando. He has six top10 finishes in seven starts this season.
‘‘I think mentally it can be very taxing,’’ Scheffler said.
‘‘Physically it’s fairly taxing, as well, but mentally it’s a lot of fun being in the final groups, but it also takes a toll on your body and your mind.
‘‘So, yeah, there’s definitely a big mental aspect to that. But that’s the most fun. It’s the most fun you can have on a golf course, I think, is being in contention.’’
Scheffler kickstarted his low round by holing out for an eagle 2 at the fourth. His wedge shot into the green bounced three times, picked up some side spin and dropped in the hole.
After an 18footer and a 16footer for birdies, he made four more birdies from Nos 812 to catapult up the board while Schauffele and company tried to keep pace.
Clark, looking for another big trophy to add to his growing collection, birdied Nos. 16 and 17 to get close. He stuck his tee shot at the famed 17th to 41⁄2 feet.
But his birdie try from 17 feet out at the 18th refused to fall.
‘‘I don’t know how that putt doesn’t go in,’’ Clark said.
‘‘I’m pretty gutted it didn’t go in.’’ — Field Level Media