Scottie Scheffler, a no 1 who never failed: second Green Jacket with almost no opposition

Scottie Scheffleralias ‘hammer hammer’, and just two weeks away from becoming a father, may not have an aesthetically spectacular swing, may be sheepish in his game and may not have any hooks for TV, but the one from Texas has it all. due from this Sunday two Green jackets as the winner of August Masters.

He won by crushing his rivals, who stumbled to a greater or lesser extent at Amen Corner. Returned 68 (-4) for 277 (-11) and four ahead of the second. He is the fifth No. 1 in the world to win the Masters, which came with such a condition afterwards Ian Woosnam, Fred Couples, Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson.

He only needs three holes number 1 in the world and champion before arriving at Augusta at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando and The Players at Ponte Vedra Beach – notice to sailors – eliminating his rivals one by one right in the middle of the final lap.

Txema Olazábal always says that the Masters is decided on the second nine holes of National Augusta. Scheffler wanted to make it clear, appealing to his status as the top favorite for the title, that he would not wait to decide between holes 10 and 18 (he also passed it with a birdie on 16 in case there was any doubt).

With three birdies in a row on 8, 9 (fantastic second shot on the green that didn’t end up hitting the ball straight on the hole for a miracle eagle) and 10 (good birdie putt after another great second shot on the green) opened up he a gap and left the one-shot battle Collin Morikawa and Max Homa Being the young swedish ludvig aberg (double bogey on 11), the only one to continue in chase mode, in vain, of course.

Scottie’s bogey on the 11th hole was a small respite for rivals, a mirage. Aberg, in his first Masters, wanted to add spice and emotion, and made victory dear to Scheffler, but the American’s birdies on the 13th and 14th gave him back a three-stroke lead. In full control of the situation, only the 2022 champion can lose in this Masters. On the 16th, as mentioned, the lead he had was 4 strokes. From there to the end, successful walk.

Aberg paid for his inexperience in the 11th that he would remember that impetus when he should have been more conservative. He went for the flag and the ball went into the water. But she recovers well with that innocent smile and a strong game in all its aspects. He was the only one who wasn’t horrified by the experience of a player who already had a Green Jacket in his closet. The Scandinavian aims high, a true revelation of European golf and a jewel for the DP World Tour even as he makes a name for himself on the American circuit.

Scheffler played the Masters for the fifth time. He won in 2022 by three strokes ahead Rory McIlroy and, like his countryman Jordan Spieth in 2015, he turned a five-stroke lead into victory after 36 holes. Scottie has finished in the top 20 in each of his four starts at Augusta National: 18th in 2020, 19th in 2021, 1st in 2022 and 10th in 2023.

This year he has finished in the top 10 six times in the tournaments he has played on the PGA Tour, including victories at Bay Hill and Sawgrass. He finished in the top 12 in 18 consecutive PGA Tour events last season, won the Phoenix Open and The Players, and finished second at the PGA Championship and third at the US Open.

PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, before turning professional he won on the Korn Ferry Tour, was a rookie in his first year on the PGA Tour and strangely had Morikawa as a partner in the US victory in the Walker Cup (the amateur Ryder ) of 2017. His wife Meredith, who has not been with him this week, is expecting their first child at the end of April.

Jon Rahm awarded him the Green Jacket, his second in three years, as did his compatriot Bubba Watson in 2012 and 2014. “It’s something that the photo will go down in history… It’s cool because he put it on me and now I put it on him, like Tiger and Phil (Mickelson) or Nicklaus and Palmer back in the day… . not that I’m comparing them, but it’s a good thing that will last a lifetime,” said the Basque while waiting for the trophy ceremony.

Final classification:

277 Scottie Scheffler (USA)

281 Ludvig Aberg (USA)

284 Collin Morikawa (USA)

Tommy Fleetwood (GBR)

Max Homa (USA)

286 Bryson DeChambeau (USA)

Cameron Smith (Aus)

287 Xander Schauffele (USA)

…

292 Rory McIlroy (GBR/22nd)

297 Jon Rahm (Esp/45º)

Txema Olazabal (Esp)

304 Tiger Woods (USA/60º)