Scottie Scheffler began the final round 5 shots back and overcame a nagging neck injury to become the first to defend the Players Championship in its 50 year history.
The World No. 1, and winner of last weeks Arnold Palmer Invitational, fired an 8-under-par 64 Sunday at TPC Sawgrass in racking up his 8th career PGA Tour victory.
“It’s good to be sitting back here again. Today was another battle, hard-fought week, Scheffler said. A lot of guys played some really good golf this week. A few of them finished at 19 (under par); I finished at 20. That’s some really good golf around this course.”
Scheffler’s completed his final round and hit the driving range as Brian Harman, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark tied for second place a shot back.
All three missed putts that would have forced a playoff.
Harman, the reigning Open Champion, was first to the 18th hole and went a bit wide on a 17 foot for birdie to finish with a 68. Schauffele, who started the day with a one shot lead, would miss a 60-footer. Clark’s 20-foot putt grazed around the hole in a heartbreaker for the defending U.S. Open Champion.
“Yeah, it was coming with some speed, too. I don’t know how that putt doesn’t go in, Clark said. “It was kind of right center 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 good inside left, and even when it kind of lipped, I thought it would lip in. I’m pretty gutted it didn’t go in.”
Scheffler went 11-under-par over his final 21 holes and found himself in need of a rest.
“I just think playing the back-to-back weeks is challenging. Being at the top of the leaderboard last week and this week, it’s a real test mentally and physically, added Scheffler. “This week was a physical test, as well, just with how my neck was Friday and Saturday. So I put a lot into trying to win this golf tournament, it’s very it’s very satisfying to be walking out of here with the trophy.”
Scheffler, who collects a first place prize of $4.5 Million, became the 8th multiple winner of the Players Championship, and first since Tiger Woods did so 11 years ago. With two each, only three time winner Jack Nicklaus has more.
The PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing shifts to the Tampa Bay Area for the Valspar Championship in the coming week.