Scottie Scheffler held off the challenge of Cameron Smith and the rest of the field, including a late-charging incredible round by Rory McIlroy, to win his first major at the famed 86th edition of The Masters, at Augusta National Golf Club, on Sunday.
Scheffler ignored two early birdies by Smith, getting within one stroke before eventually cruising to a five-shot lead late in the round, as he approached the 18th hole in regulation.
He would end up four-putting the 18th hole after “breaking his concentration to enjoy the moment.”
With a convincing fourth victory of the year, Scheffler finished with a final round of 71 for –10 total for the tournament, and a three-stroke victory over McIlroy, while Smith faded as a result from the chase to finish tied for third at –5 total.
At the press conference, the 25-year-old Scheffler admitted since his youth, “I never really thought I was that good at golf. So I just kept practicing and kept working hard, and that’s just what I’m going to keep doing.”
Scheffler is married to his high school sweetheart, Meredith Scudder, who was in tears as Scheffler approached the 18th green with a five stroke lead at –12.
On the course, Scheffler is rock solid, but earlier that morning he confided in his wife before the final round, telling her that “he didn’t think he was ready” for the moment and felt “overwhelmed.”
“She told me who are you to say that you’re not ready,” added Scheffler. “We (discussed) that God is in control, and the Lord is leading me. If today is my time, then it’s my time.”
“I just always wanted to be out here (on tour) and I never expected to be sitting where I am now,” continued Scheffler. “You don’t expect things to come to you in this life. You just do the best that you can with the hand you’re dealt, and just go from there.”
At the awards presentation, Scheffler thanked “first and foremost his wife Meredith,” the crowd for their “energy,” as well as his caddie and life-long coach, Randy Smith, who taught him everything he “knew about golf.”
Scheffler became emotional when he thanked his family, which included his parents and three sisters, but tears overcame him when he mentioned his entire “support system” with his wife, and her parents also being present.
Scheffler had previously credited his boost in confidence to his performance at the 2021 Ryder Cup where the United States had its largest margin of victory, as he defeated the former world ranked No. 1, Jon Rahm, on the final day of singles matches.
On Feb. 13, 2022, Scheffler won his maiden PGA tournament at the WM Phoenix Open in a playoff against Patrick Cantlay. Three weeks later, he would win his second title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and three weeks after that, he won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, moving him to No. 1 in the official World Golf Ranking.
Scheffler reached No. 1 the fastest, just 42 days, after his first win on the PGA Tour; he is also the 6th youngest to reach the No. 1 spot since the rankings began in the 1980’s.
Scheffler’s biggest influence on the course was attributed to his new caddie, Ted Scott, who retired “working the bag” for Bubba Watson last fall before Scheffler convinced him to come out of retirement; Scott was the caddie for both of Watson’s Masters victories.
“Man, he checks all the boxes. The skill level that he has in every area of his game is amazing,” said Scott. “He really doesn’t have a weakness. He’s tough mentally. Seeing him as a rookie in the Ryder Cup, going out in singles and playing great against the number one player in the world at the time.”
Scott added: “He has all the experience of being the U.S. Junior Champion, great college player, Korn Ferry tour player of the year, (and) rookie of the year on the PGA Tour. He just has the pedigree of a winner.”
Growing up near Dallas, Texas, Scheffler graduated from Highland Park High School, where Clayton Kershaw of the L.A. Dodgers, and Matthew Stafford of the L.A. Rams also attended; Stafford won his Super Bowl on the same day that Scheffler won his first event at the Pheonix Open.
After Scheffler reached the World No. 1 rank winning The WGC Match Play two weeks ago, his father told him that “he was a better person than a golfer.” Since his first victory, he has won four out of six starts.
Previous best finishes at majors for Scheffler were a tied-fourth finish in the 2020 PGA, tied-seventh in the 2021 U.S. Open, and tied-eighth at the 2021 Open and 2021 PGA Championship. His best finish at the Masters was a tie for 18th last year.
Giving chase was Smith who was in second just three strokes behind at the beginning of the day.
Smith also had multiple victories early in the year propelling him to No. 6 in the World Rankings, winning the first tournament of the year at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, at Kapalua in Maui.
Smith took home the largest purse in PGA history of $3.6 million at The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on March 14. He currently resides five miles away from the iconic Pete Dye course.
The Australian native, who sports a distinctive mullet, put pressure on the leader with two birdies on the first two holes, but retreated with bogeys on holes 3 and 4.
On the 3 hole, both ended six inches apart after their approach short of the green, but Scheffler remarkably chipped in for birdie, while Smith bogeyed. Smith bogeyed hole 4 after hitting his approach shot into the bunker.
On hole 7, Scheffler landed his approach two feet past the hole, spinning it back a few feet below the hole. Both would make their birdie putts.
On the par-five hole 8, Smith followed Scheffler’s ideal drive going in the right fairway bunker. Smith pulled a wayward approach shot left next to the patron sitting stands and would save par after a great chip, while Scheffler missed his birdie putt.
Smith hooked his tee shot into the trees on hole 10, and would bogey after punching out, and hitting another close approach, but missed the hard-breaking par-putt. Scheffler also bogeyed the hole after missing his approach shot left.
Having started the day 1-over par, Rory McIlroy made an incredible charge with a round of 64 for –7 total to finish solo second. Both he and his playing partner, Collin Morikawa, would make eagle on hole 13.
The two would also match one another on the 18th hole, after both approached in the green-side bunker. McIlroy would first drain his bunker shot from about 25 yards away, then Morikawa followed as the crowd exploded in appreciation.
The Masters continue to elude McIlroy as the sole major missing from his career grand slam.
The Major champion at last year’s Open Championship, Morikawa would finish solo fifth at –4 total after his final round 67.
On hole 11, Smith birdied with an excellent approach shot, making about an 11-foot put. Scheffler missed his approach to the right, but saved par to maintain a three-stroke lead.
However, Smith would follow with the next tee-shot short into Ray’s creek in front of the 160-yard par-three; and would end up with a triple-bogey, dropping to –4, ending any hope of a comeback victory.
Meanwhile, Scheffler made another par-save, having missed the green left, to maintain a four stroke lead on McIlroy who was on the 17th hole.
Scheffler maintained his composure with all of the excitement from McIlroy and Morikawa ahead, and birdied hole 14 to get to –11, while Smith pulled another tee shot left and made a bogey to drop to –3.
Both approached the par-five 15th hole over the water hazard in two strokes. Scheffler was 8-under on the par fives for the week after both made birdies; Scheffler extended the lead to –12.
Smith would birdie the 16th hole to get to –5 for a temporary solo third position, surpassing Morikawa and Shane Lowry at –4.
Lowry would also birdie the final hole to finish at –5 eventually tying Smith for third.
On hole 17, Scheffler pushed his drive far right, while Smith again pulled his tee-shot left. Scheffler could only lay-up, while Smith was able to get through the trees from 140 yards out to reach the green.
Scheffler would get up-and-down from 127 yards to save par, and Smith would two-putt for par.
On the final hole, Scheffler missed a five-foot par putt, then a three-foot bogey putt, eventually winning with ease, his first major at –10; the crowd cheered in support during the missed putts.
“The coolest part about this whole deal, this is such a fun golf course,” said Scheffler about now becoming a life-long member at Augusta. “I mean, it’s Augusta National. It’s about as cool as it gets, so fun to play.”
