Scheffler repeats at Phoenix
Regains No. 1 ranking in world from Mcilroy after posting two-shot victory
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his WM Phoenix Open title Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to regain the No. 1 spot in the world.
Scheffler closed with a 6-under 65 to beat Nick Taylor by two on the Stadium Course. The 26-year-old Texan took the No. 1 ranking from Rory Mcilroy with his fifth PGA win.
Scheffler made a 22-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th to break a tie with Taylor, then took a two-shot lead on the par-3 16th when he rolled in a 15-footer for par after hitting his tee shot far left on the stadium hole.
Scheffler birdied the par-4 17th with a 5-foot putt and closed with a par to finish at 19-under 265. He earned $3.6 million from the $20 million purse in the second of the PGA Tour’s new designated events, created to bring the top players together more often.
Scheffler became the seventh player to successfully defend a title in the tournament, following Ben Hogan (1946-47), Jimmy Demaret (1949-50), Lloyd Mangrum (1952-53), Arnold Palmer (three straight from 1961-63), Johnny Miller (1974-75) and Hideki Matsuyama (2016-17).
Taylor also had a 65. The Canadian bogeyed the 16th, missing a 7-footer after Scheffler holed his par putt.
Jon Rahm, the former Arizona State star who opened the year with consecutive victories in Hawaii and the California desert, was third at 14 under after a 68. He also was in position to take the No. 1 spot with a win.
Justin Thomas was fourth at 13 under after a 65. Jason Day (68) followed at 12 under, and Jordan Speith (70) was another stroke back with Sam Burns (68), Sungjae Im (69) and Tyrrell Hatton (69).
Rickie Fowler was in the group at 10 under. The 2019 winner had a hole-inone on the par-3 seventh, using a 6-iron in the 216-yard hole.
Mcilroy closed with a 70 to tie for 32nd at 4 under.
DP World: Ockie Strydom shot a 9-under 63 to power up the leaderboard and clinch the Singapore Classic by one stroke from Sami Valimaki. Strydom carded a final round of 63 — the best score of the final day — to finish at 19-under 269 overall for his second win on the European Tour. Valimaki shot a 6-under 66 to finish second. Wang Jeung-hun, Alejandro del Rey and Marcel Schneider tied for third.