FLORIDA – Scottie Scheffler fired a final-round eight-under 64 on March 17 to become the first player in the 50-year history of the Players Championship to win in consecutive years.
Scheffler finished the week 20-under 268 to claim his second straight victory at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
“It’s pretty special,” said Scheffler, also the first golfer to win the Players twice since Tiger Woods (2001, 2013).
“That’s something you never really get the opportunity to do very often. It’s tough enough to win one Players, so to have it back-to-back is extremely special.”
The world No. 1 – who fought through neck pain earlier in the tournament – started the final day five shots off the pace of leader Xander Schauffele.
After racking up an eagle and six birdies to get to 20 under, he watched as Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark and Schauffele were unable to pull out one more birdie to force a play-off.
Clark’s bid to tie, on nearly the exact putt Harman missed moments before, traced the left rim of the cup around the back and out.
“I don’t know how that putt doesn’t go in,” he said. “It was kind of right centre with like a foot to go, and I knew it was going to keep breaking, but it had speed and I thought it was going to go inside left, and even when it kind of lipped, I thought it would lip in.
“I’m pretty gutted it didn’t go in. You finish second, you get a bunch of points and money and all that stuff, but it just sucks.”
Harman (68), Clark (69) and Schauffele (70) tied for second at 19 under. Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (69) finished fifth at 16 under.
Scheffler was in the mix to start the week after opening with a 67. His neck troubles came on next day, when he felt a pinch during a swing and needed mid-round treatment.
“I played really good golf on Thursday,” Scheffler said. “I made an early birdie, I think I was two under through four on Friday, so I was right in the thick of the tournament.
“All of a sudden I get that pinch in my neck, and I gutted it out around there, getting it around in a few under par, keeping myself in the tournament.
“Same thing Saturday. I said before, when you get an acute injury like that, if you can wake up the next day feeling a little bit better or the exact same, it’s a win.”
The 27-year-old also won on Tour for the second straight week, having captured his second career Arnold Palmer Invitational title in Orlando on March 10. He has six top-10 finishes in seven starts this season.
“I think mentally it can be very taxing,” he said. “Physically it’s fairly taxing, as well, but mentally it’s a lot of fun being in the final groups, but it also takes a toll on your body and your mind.
“So, yeah, there’s definitely a big mental aspect to that. But that’s the most fun. It’s the most fun you can have on a golf course, I think, is being in contention.”
He started his low round by holing out for an eagle at the fourth. His wedge shot into the green bounced three times, picked up some side spin and dropped in the hole.
After an 18-footer for birdie at the next hole, he made five more birdies from Nos. 8-16 to catapult up the board while Schauffele and company tried to keep pace.
Clark, looking for another big trophy to add to his growing collection that includes the US Open title, birdied Nos. 16 and 17 to get close. But his birdie try from 17 feet at the 18th refused to fall.
REUTERS, AFP
