Scottie Scheffler secures second title after Arnold Palmer victory
Win moves PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2020 into top spot of the FedExCup standings
07 March 2022 - 14:57
by Agency Staff
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Scottie Scheffler and his wife, Meredith. Picture: REINHOLD MATAY/USA TODAY SPORTS
Scottie Scheffler is starting to get the hang of what it takes to win on the PGA Tour, earning a one-stroke victory on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his second title in less than a month.
The PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2020 finally broke through in February to win the first tournament of his career, the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
After a seventh-place finish at Los Angeles a week later, Scheffler pushed to the top again on Sunday with an even-par 72 closing round to finish at 5-under-par 283 at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.
Scheffler surged into contention on Saturday, using a 4-under 68 to move 16 places up the leader board into fourth place.
He fought his way through windy conditions on Sunday and was on the driving range preparing for a potential play-off when Billy Horschel missed a birdie putt that would have given him a tie for the lead.
“I mean I did not swing the club well today off the tee,” Scheffler said. “I was hitting into a lot of bad spots, but I just kept grinding. I made some key putts there towards the end and then two great lag putts to finish off the round.”
Horschel (75), who started the day tied for the lead with Talor Gooch, finished in a three-way tie for second place at 4 under with Tyrrell Hatton (69) of England and Viktor Hovland (74) of Norway.
Hovland played his final two rounds at 5 over to miss out on the victory.
“Obviously, I’m playing some great golf, but this one stings,” Hovland said. “My last couple of wins, I felt like it kind of came out of nowhere. This one was more like I felt like I should have won. Those sting a little bit.”
Scheffler’s up-and-down front nine began with an ominous bogey 5 at the first hole.
He followed that with a birdie at the par-3 second hole before another bogey 5 at No 3. He also had a birdie at No 5 with a bogey at No 9.
Scheffler’s last birdie came on the par-5 12th hole when he put his second shot to within 19 feet of the pin and finished off a two-putt. He closed out the round with six-consecutive pars then waited to learn his fate.
Hovland had a chance but was unable to make a 17-footer from the fringe at the 18th green to forge a tie.
Horschel’s potential tying putt was from 29 feet but slipped past the cup.
“I just did a really good job of trying to execute the golf shots and stay patient,” Horschel said. “I felt like I did a good enough job. Unfortunately, I just came up a shot short today.”
The victory moved Scheffler into the top spot of the FedExCup standings.
“It means a lot,” Scheffler said. “I’ve been playing some good golf the past few years and it’s nice to get a few wins under my belt. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Scottie Scheffler secures second title after Arnold Palmer victory
Win moves PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2020 into top spot of the FedExCup standings
Scottie Scheffler is starting to get the hang of what it takes to win on the PGA Tour, earning a one-stroke victory on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his second title in less than a month.
The PGA Tour rookie of the year in 2020 finally broke through in February to win the first tournament of his career, the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
After a seventh-place finish at Los Angeles a week later, Scheffler pushed to the top again on Sunday with an even-par 72 closing round to finish at 5-under-par 283 at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.
Scheffler surged into contention on Saturday, using a 4-under 68 to move 16 places up the leader board into fourth place.
He fought his way through windy conditions on Sunday and was on the driving range preparing for a potential play-off when Billy Horschel missed a birdie putt that would have given him a tie for the lead.
“I mean I did not swing the club well today off the tee,” Scheffler said. “I was hitting into a lot of bad spots, but I just kept grinding. I made some key putts there towards the end and then two great lag putts to finish off the round.”
Horschel (75), who started the day tied for the lead with Talor Gooch, finished in a three-way tie for second place at 4 under with Tyrrell Hatton (69) of England and Viktor Hovland (74) of Norway.
Hovland played his final two rounds at 5 over to miss out on the victory.
“Obviously, I’m playing some great golf, but this one stings,” Hovland said. “My last couple of wins, I felt like it kind of came out of nowhere. This one was more like I felt like I should have won. Those sting a little bit.”
Scheffler’s up-and-down front nine began with an ominous bogey 5 at the first hole.
He followed that with a birdie at the par-3 second hole before another bogey 5 at No 3. He also had a birdie at No 5 with a bogey at No 9.
Scheffler’s last birdie came on the par-5 12th hole when he put his second shot to within 19 feet of the pin and finished off a two-putt. He closed out the round with six-consecutive pars then waited to learn his fate.
Hovland had a chance but was unable to make a 17-footer from the fringe at the 18th green to forge a tie.
Horschel’s potential tying putt was from 29 feet but slipped past the cup.
“I just did a really good job of trying to execute the golf shots and stay patient,” Horschel said. “I felt like I did a good enough job. Unfortunately, I just came up a shot short today.”
The victory moved Scheffler into the top spot of the FedExCup standings.
“It means a lot,” Scheffler said. “I’ve been playing some good golf the past few years and it’s nice to get a few wins under my belt. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
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