Scheffler wins second Masters with a commanding display
An emotional Scottie Scheffler underlined his dominance of world golf with a second Masters triumph in three years.
The world No.1 fended off all challengers in closing with a four-under-par 68 to secure a commanding four-stroke victory over young Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg (69) at Augusta National yesterday. He finished with an 11-under 277 total. Americans Max Homa (73) and Collin Morikawa (74) shared third with fast-finishing Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (69).
Former British Open champion Cameron Smith was the leading Australian, and equal-top LIV Golf star, in a tie for sixth at two under with Bryson DeChambeau after closing with a final-round 71.
But the spoils, again, belong to the supreme Scheffler.
Much more than shed his tag as a one-major wonder, Scheffler's third victory of the year has placed him in Tiger Woodslike company.
The American is the first player since Woods 23 years ago to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship and the Masters in the same season.
Scheffler also joins Woods as the only player to win the US junior amateur championship and multiple Masters titles.
And at 27, he is the fourth youngest man - behind only Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros - to snare at least two green jackets.
He had promised to walk off the course during the final round if he got the call that his heavily pregnant wife Meredith had gone into labour.
“I'’ coming home. I'll be coming home as quick as I can. I’m about to cry here in Butler Cabin. It’s a very special time for both of us,” Scheffler said.
Starting the day with a one-stroke buffer, Scheffler briefly lost his lead on the front nine as Morikawa, Homa and Aberg - on his major championship debut - all hit the top of the leaderboard. But every time he opened the door, his pursuers failed to walk through it.
Aberg found a watery grave on the par4 11th. Homa endured a double bogey on Amen Corner after needing to take a penalty drop for an unplayable lie on the picturesque but treacherous par-3 12th.
Morikawa cruelled his chances with a double on the ninth after needing two shots to get out of a greenside bunker.
As is his wont, Scheffler found a response every time he was threatened.
There was no looking back after the world No.1 birdied the eighth, almost holed out for eagle on nine and picked up a third shot in three holes on No.10.
Once through Amen Corner, the last five holes were little more than a procession for Scheffler as he joined golf's greats with a second career major.
Ryan Fox may not have improved on his best Masters finish, an achievement that was in sight when he went into the weekend in a tie for eighth at one-under.
But the Kiwi will not leave Augusta National Golf Club empty-handed, despite finishing with a three-over final round to sit seven-over overall, in a tie for 38th.
Everyone who makes an eagle – two shots under par – at the Masters earns a pair of crystal highball glasses.
That was where the good news stopped for Fox, however.
Back-to-back bogeys on the ninth and 10th, a pair of par fours, had him back to even-par in his round and things got worse when his tee shot bounced into the water on the 16th.
A double bogey on the par-three meant he wasn’t going to be able to match the tie for 26th he managed at his first Masters a year ago, while a bogey on the 17th took him to where he finished.
Fox finished by making par on the parfour 18th and would have left the course pleased to have been in action on the weekend for just the fourth time in his last nine starts.