Solid Scheffler regains the green jacket in style
Topranked Scottie Scheffler dominated a backnine shootout to capture his second Masters title on Sunday, taking a fourstroke victory at Augusta National.
Scheffler, who also took the green jacket in 2022, won a record $3.6 million top prize after a dramafilled battle with fellow Americans Collin Morikawa and Max Homa and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who made an impressive Major debut. “I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament again,” Scheffler said. “I did my best to stay calm out there. I tried to stay patient on the course. Was able to make some key shots and key putts to keep my round going.”
Scheffler birdied three of the last six holes to fire a fourunder par 68 and finish 72 holes over the iconic 7,555yard layout on 11under 277 with Aberg shooting 69 to finish second on 281. Twotime Major winner Morikawa had a closing 74 to share third on 284 with Homa and England’s
Scheffler justified his credentials as the world’s best player with a superb show.
Tommy Fleetwood.
Scheffler, who matched Tiger Woods as the only players to win the Masters twice while atop the world rankings, also became the fourthyoungest multiple Masters winner at age 27 behind Woods, Jack Nicklaus and the late Seve Ballesteros.
Woods shot 77 to finish 60th on 16over 304 and said he plans to play the year’s other three majors.
Scheffler, who hasn’t played a round over par since last August, has the secondfewest Masters starts for any twotime winner with five. Only Horton Smith needed fewer, taking two of the first three Augusta titles in the 1930s.
Aberg pressured Scheffler down the stretch but
could not catch him.
“Ludvig played great,” Scheffler said. “He made a good move at me there on the back nine and I was fortunate to hold him off.”
Secondranked Rory McIlroy, who needs only a Masters victory to complete a career grand slam, fired a 73 to finish on 292.
Thirdranked Jon Rahm, the 2023 winner, fired a 76 to finish on 297.
The scores (top five, USA unless mentioned):
277: Scottie Scheffler 66727168; 281: Ludvig Aberg (Swe) 73697069; 284: Max Homa 67717373, Collin Morikawa 71706974, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 72717269. 286: Bryson DeChambeau 65737573, Cameron Smith (Aus) 71727271; 287: Xander Schauffele 72727073.