Scheffler rallies to defend his title
Already ranked No. 1 in the world, Scottie Scheffler became the first golfer to win back-to-back in 50 years of The Players Championship — by matching the biggest comeback and lowest closing round by a winner.
Scheffler holed out for eagle from the fourth fairway and had four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn, sending him to an 8-under 64 and a one-shot victory that wasn’t decided until the final putt.
Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark all had a chance to force a playoff with a birdie on the daunting 18th hole at the TPC Sawgrass. Clark had the last shot, a putt just inside 18 feet that dipped into the cup on the left side and came out on the right, leaving him stunned as he placed his hand over his mouth.
“I don’t know how that putt doesn’t go in,” Clark said. “Even when it kind of lipped, I thought it would lip in. I’m pretty gutted it didn’t go in.”
Scheffler, who started the final round five shots behind, was on the practice range preparing for a three-hole playoff when he got the word and showed more emotion than usual for someone used to winning. “It’s tough enough to win one Players,” Scheffler said. “So to have it back-to-back is extremely special.”
This was no ordinary week. He struggled to take the club back early in his second round because of a neck injury and battled to a 69. And he looked to be out of it Saturday afternoon until finishing with three straight birdies.
Then he delivered a masterpiece on the Players Stadium Course. His 64 matched the lowest final round by a Players champion, last done by Davis Love III in 2003, and tied Justin Leonard (1998) with his fiveshot comeback.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. was the top Canadian, tied for 13th at 11 under. Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. tied for 26th at 8 under.
“I’m a pretty competitive guy, and I didn’t want to give up in the tournament,” Scheffler said. “I did what I could to hang around until my neck got better. Today it felt really good.”
Scheffler won $4.5 million (U.S.), pushing the 27-year-old from Dallas over the $50 million mark in his career.