In a thrilling finale to the Players Championship, Scottie Scheffler claimed his first PGA Tour title with a one-shot victory over the field. The Texan produced a stunning final round of 68 to finish on 18-under-par, edging out Ian Poulter and Jon Rahm, who both finished on 17-under.
Scheffler started the day three shots off the lead but made a fast start with birdies at the first and fourth holes. Despite a bogey at the seventh, he birdied the ninth, 11th and 14th to open up a two-shot lead, which he held onto with a steady finish.
The 24-year-old’s victory is a huge boost to his career and sees him regain the world number one spot after Rory McIlroy’s brief return to the top last week. Scheffler has had a breakthrough season on the PGA Tour, with four top-10 finishes and a runner-up finish at the WGC-Workday Championship earlier this year.
The Players Championship represents one of the biggest events on the calendar and is often referred to as the ‘fifth major’. Winning it is a huge accomplishment, and Scheffler joins a prestigious list of champions that includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas.
The tournament is held at TPC Sawgrass, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest courses on the tour. The iconic 17th hole, known as the ‘Island Green’, is a 137-yard par-three surrounded by water and is often the scene of dramatic moments in the tournament.
Scheffler’s victory was all the more impressive given the quality of the field he was up against. Only seven players finished over par for the week, and the leaderboard was packed with the biggest names in golf.
However, Scheffler’s consistency throughout the tournament set him apart. He hit 53 of 72 greens in regulation, ranking him second in the field, while also ranking second in strokes gained putting.
After his win, Scheffler spoke of his delight at securing his first PGA Tour victory. “It’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve been playing well all year, and it hasn’t quite happened for me, but it came together this week.”
The win also sees Scheffler become the first player since Jay Haas in 1980 to win his first PGA Tour title at the Players Championship. As he looks to build on this success, he will undoubtedly have his sights set on more victories and further success in the game.
