World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler wins Hero World Challenge for ninth title in 2024
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Tiger Woods congratulates Scottie Scheffler of the United States after the final round of the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course.
PHOTO: AFP
NASSAU – Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler completed a stunning golf season by retaining his title at the Hero World Challenge on Dec 8 to capture his ninth victory in 2024.
He fired a bogey-free, nine-under 63 to finish on 25-under 263 after 72 holes in the 20-man unofficial invitational event at Albany Golf Club in Nassau in the Bahamas.
That was good enough for a six-stroke victory over South Korean Tom Kim (68), with two-time Major winner Justin Thomas (71) third on 270.
“Very satisfying,” Scheffler said. “I did a lot of good stuff today on the course, played a really solid round of golf. I got off to a good start.”
The 28-year-old American, who birdied three of the first four holes, joined host Tiger Woods from 2006-07 and Norway’s Viktor Hovland from 2021-22 as the only back-to-back winners of the event.
Scheffler, who had not competed in a strokeplay event since winning the PGA Tour Championship in August, added to a 2024 trophy haul that includes a second Masters green jacket and Paris Olympic gold.
“It’s been a great year, it’s been a fun year,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to get some wins and have some really good golf. Feels nice to take a little break and come back and continue to play some pretty solid golf. Very pleased with the results this week.”
That includes his work on a new putting grip, which delighted him as he prepares for more rest ahead of January’s start to a new campaign.
“Overall, just head home tonight and try and get some rest and continue to work on the stuff I’ve been working on this off-season to get ready for next season,” he said of his plans.
Thomas, who led compatriot Scheffler by a stroke when the day began, failed to snap a title drought that has lingered since capturing the 2022 PGA Championship.
The 31-year-old followed birdies at the first and fourth holes with bogeys at the par-three second and fifth.
His stumbling start allowed Scheffler to seize the lead with an eight-foot birdie at the opening hole, a tap-in birdie at the par-five third and a stunning birdie putt from just inside 50 feet at the fourth.
Kim birdied all three par-fives on the front nine – the third, sixth and ninth holes – and sank a four-foot birdie putt at the 10th to reach 19 under.
However, Scheffler pitched inside four feet and birdied the ninth, then rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the 10th to reach 21 under and his lead stretched to three strokes when Kim lipped out a two-foot putt to bogey the par-five 11th.
Scheffler pulled away from there by sinking birdie putts on four of the final six holes, three from inside four feet and a 10-footer at the par-four 16th.
“It’s just disappointing,” said Thomas. “I would have liked to put a little more heat obviously on Scottie going in the back nine.” AFP, REUTERS
