PONTE VEDRA BEACH (Fla.) Scottie SchefflerHe was confident on the TPC Sawgrass course, which can be nerve-wracking on every hole. The wind was increasing, and the targets seemed smaller. He just wanted to make sure his lead was bigger in The Players Championship.
He stated, You cannot limp in on this green. You have to hit the shots.
He delivered a flawless performance Sunday that only affirmed his reputation as a player who is at his best when he plays the best players in the world.
Scheffler shot five consecutive birdies in his middle round. He built a 6-shot lead and let everyone else have all the drama on his way to a 3-under 69, which was enough to win the PGA Tours richest prize by 5 shots.
Scheffler, a half-dozen players trying to make it a game, took on the Players Stadium Course like he was playing alone.
He made it look like that.
Just seems calm, just doing his own business, not really worrying about what others are doing and churning off birdies. Cam Davis said.
Scheffler returned to No. 1 in the world with this victory worth $4.5 million. Scheffler was ranked No. 1 in the world for the second year in a row. He now has six wins in his 27 PGA Tour starts, including the four wins he won last year which culminated with his Masters title.
Schefflers 20-foot par putt on hole 13 was the biggest margin of victory in the Players. Stephen AmesIn 2006, 6 people won.
Scheffler stated that Scheffler got hot in the middle and tried to get things out as quickly as possible.
He was leading by 5 and was standing on the 16th Green when he glanced across the lake to see Davis hit his tee over the island green at par-3 17th. Tommy FleetwoodYou will come up short.
That was our goal. It was important to build a strong lead so that even though he might be joined by the dozen other players who fell into the water on Sunday it wouldnt cost his life. It was like everything else for Scheffler that day. He made par, hit an ideal shot at 10 feet, and the rest was easy.
The celebration continued with his wife, parents and sister, as well as his 87-year old grandmother, who kept up with him for much of the day.
This is something that the strongest field of the year could not do.
Tyrrell HattonScheffler was about to turn when Scheffler birdied his last five holes, giving him a 65. Viktor Hovland(68) Tom Hoge(77) were 7 shots behind in a tie-for-third, each earning nearly $1.5 million from the $25,000,000 purse.
Scheffler, who was 17-under 271, was the third player to win TPC Sawgrass. He won all four rounds in the 60s.
Min Woo LeeAustralias Players Championship debutant, was briefly tied for the lead, but finished with an impressive 76.
Lee made a few mistakes, but it wouldnt have affected Schefflers performance at TPC Sawgrass. Lee was tied for first on the par-4 fourth. He chipped out of rough but his third shot spun back into water, leading to a three-bogey.
Scheffler was racing away by the time he was fully recovered.
Scheffler chipped in on the par-3 8th from the bunker collar, and he finished the front nine with a strong play on the par-5 9th that led to a chip-and a putt birdie.
Scheffler was two hours ahead of Hatton, and Hatton ended his closing run with five consecutive birdies. Scheffler then headed for the back nine. Hatton was the first player on Sunday to shoot 29 on Sawgrass back nine. His score was 12 under 276.
The wind was blowing at 30 mph and adding to the difficulties on this course. Scheffler was determined, however, and he made an 18-foot birdie at the 10th. He also two-putted from 70 feet on par-5 11th. Scheffler then took on the par-4 12th with a 3-wood that he pinned high just right of green. This gave Scheffler a 6-shot lead and his fifth straight birdie.
It was a money grab by everyone else for the final two hours — and some lost cash for those who fell for the wind and water or the cruel Players Stadium Course
Hatton, who started 9 shots behind, won the final round with five birdies. He used a 4-iron to get out of the pine straw, and around the trees up to 20 feet.
He won $2,725,000 — just under $1 million more than his Bay Hill victory in 2020.
Hideki YamayamaScheffler was within 1 shot of Schefflers birdie run, but he took a double bogey on 14th, failed to birdie 16th, and bogeyed 18th. He was 7 under through 13 holes, and had to settle with a 68.
The PGA Tour rookie caused the biggest meltdown Taylor Montgomery, who was tied fourth until a birdie on the 15th and a double bogey at No. 16 (without hitting the water) and two balls into the water on No. 17 — a full shot, a chip — for a quintuple bogey 7.
He dropped 40 places on the leaderboard, and was now at No. He was 55 in the world. This kept him from reaching the top 50 and most likely securing a spot at the Masters.
This was, however, a one-man show.
Scheffler won his sixth consecutive victory in 13 months against some of golfs strongest fields. Commissioner Jay Monahan presented him as the PGA Tour player-of-the-year in 2022 and the Players champion now in 2023.
Hes in a good place to be able continue doing this for a while. Jordan Spieth said.