We probably shouldn't have been surprised. After all, Scottie Scheffler hadn't shot higher than 68 in the final round of any tournament not to mention, he came to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on the heels of victory at Bay Hill the previous week.
Even so, he trailed Xander Schauffele by five strokes entering the final 18 holes of THE PLAYERS Championship. And a comeback of that magnitude on the diabolical Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is no small order.
The world No. 1 was more than equal to the task, though, making six birdies and an eagle on the way to a 64 that tied Davis Love III (2003) and Fred Couples (1996) for the lowest final round by a winner at THE PLAYERS. The comeback matched Henrik Stenson (2009) and Justin Leonard (1998) for the largest at the Stadium Course, as well.
Also eye-catching, the victory was the first successful title defence at the PGA TOUR'S flagship event. The previous year, Scheffler led by two when he teed it up on Sunday, closed with a 69 and won by five. He is the only player to have shot all four rounds in the 60s on the Pete Dye masterpiece in two separate years.
SCHEFFLER ENDED UP LEADING THE FIELD IN STROKES GAINED: PUTTING ON SUNDAY AT +3.892 AS HE CLOSED WITH A 66 TO WIN THE ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL.
Scheffler relied on his bread-and-butter in both wins hitting fairways and greens and converting once he got there. His Strokes Gained: Tee to Green total of +15.88 in his title defence was the third best by a winner there in the ShotLink era while his +17.17 total in 2023 topped the list. He finished +6.47 in that category on Sunday, also the best.
Scheffler is king of Bay Hill
Bu hikaye Golfplus Monthly dergisinin May 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Golfplus Monthly dergisinin May 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
VIDHATRI WINS IN PLAY-OFF FOR SECOND WIN IN FOUR STARTS ON HERO WPGT
Vidhatri Urs picked up her second title in just her fourth start as a professional as she grabbed the 10th Leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour at Prestige Golfshire, Bengaluru.
AYAKA FURUE SINKS EAGLE PUTT TO WIN AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Japan's Ayaka Furue won her first major championship by a single shot when she holed an impressive eagle putt from 15 feet on the final green in the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in France.
HOST HUSTED CLINCHES FIRST PROFESSIONAL WIN IN SWEDEN
After a week plagued with difficult playing conditions, Denmark's Natacha Host Husted fired rounds of 70, 72 and 69 to secure her first professional win at the PGA Championship Gothenburg.
MOSCATEL SECURES SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON
Joel Moscatel secured his second Challenge Tour title of the season in a dramatic play-off victory over Benjamin Hébert at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge.
MACINTYRE CLAIMS HOME GLORY
Robert MacIntyre birdied the last to claim an emotional home victory and win his first Rolex Series title at the Genesis Scottish Open.
ABDULLAH AL NABOODAH APPOINTED NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The European Tour Group - which administers the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, Legends Tour, G4D Tour and the Ryder Cup in Europe - is delighted to announce the appointment of Abdullah AI Naboodah as a Non-Executive Director.
BJØRN, JIMÉNEZ AND MCGINLEY PRESENTED WITH HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF THE DP WORLD TOUR
Thomas Bjørn, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Paul McGinley have each been presented with Honorary Life Membership of the DP World Tour ahead of The Senior Open Presented by Rolex.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES DOUBLES UP WITH BACK-TO-BACK EVENTS
In an exciting first for The International Series it was announced that two of Thailand's most prestigious golf clubs will host back-to-back events in October, meaning the schedule for 2024 is now complete.
HIRATA CLAIMS THREE-SHOT WIN IN HOKKAIDO
Kensei Hirata clinched his third JGTO victory, winning the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup by a three-shot margin.
SHUBHANKAR SHARMA FINISHES TIED 40TH AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS WHILE GAGANJEET BHULLAR ENDS TIED 45TH
Shubhankar Sharma ended in tied 40th position for India's best-ever finish in men's golf at the Olympics while compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar signed off in tied 45th place here on Sunday.