NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler returned from a two-month break and nothing modified. He gained the Hero World Problem on Sunday with a 9-under 63 to tie the match document at Albany Golf Membership and win by six photographs.
Scheffler, the primary participant since Tiger Woods in 2009 to spend a whole calendar 12 months at No. 1 on the planet, gained for the ninth time in 21 begins, a tally that included a second Masters title, an Olympic gold medal and the FedEx Cup.
He began the ultimate spherical one shot behind Justin Thomas, took the lead on the par-5 third gap, stayed in entrance with a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 4 and by no means appeared again.
Tom Kim tried to remain shut till he missed a 19-inch par putt on the par-5 eleventh. He birdied the ultimate gap for a 68 and was runner-up when Thomas, whose faint hopes ended with a bogey on the 18th, drove into the water on the 18th for one more bogey. He shot 71 and completed third.
Scheffler completed at 25-under 263 to tie the match document at Albany first set by Bubba Watson in 2015, and his six-shot victory was the biggest within the 9 years Tiger Woods’ vacation match has been held within the Bahamas.
Jordan Spieth holds the match information for 72-hole rating (262) and margin (10 photographs) the one 12 months it was held at Isleworth in 2014.
“Very satisfying,” Scheffler stated. “I did plenty of great things at present on the course. It feels good to take a break and are available again and proceed to play some actually stable golf.”
Already the very best in golf, Scheffler introduced a brand new “claw” placing grip to the Hero World Problem in a bid to get even higher. He used the grip on putts from about 15 toes and in, and he completed the week third in the important thing placing statistic in opposition to a 20-man area.
“He actually does not do something improper,” match host Tiger Woods stated within the NBC sales space throughout the closing spherical.
What reminded Woods of his personal nice run — and there was plenty of them for Woods — was how few errors Scheffler makes throughout a spherical or a match. Albany was one other instance. He made solely two bogeys over 72 holes.
Thomas, whose final victory was the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, began properly sufficient. He additionally dropped two early photographs on the par 3s and twice had duffed chips, one among them on the par-5 ninth that saved him from making birdie in a bid to maintain up with Scheffler.
Scheffler had a three-shot lead with three holes to play when he made a uncommon mistake off the tee, discovering a sandy space proper of the green. He made clear contact out of the sand to 12 toes for birdie, whereas Thomas went simply lengthy and over the inexperienced, resulting in bogey.
Nonetheless to come back for Scheffler is teaming up with Rory McIlroy in a made-for-TV match at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on Dec. 17 to face LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
Scheffler earned $1 million for successful the unofficial match. That was his smallest paycheck of the 12 months for successful aside from the Olympics — the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee paid gold medalists $37,500.
He joined Viktor Hovland as the one back-to-back winners at Albany. Woods gained back-to-back, and a complete of 5 occasions, when the match was held at Sherwood Nation Membership.
Kim lives in Dallas and used to play with Scheffler on a regular basis earlier than Scheffler’s spouse gave start to their first little one. Kim is aware of what to anticipate.
“It isn’t the place we dwelling and shoots even par, 1 over, and he comes out right here and wins,” Kim stated. “He does it on a regular basis. I believe the most important factor that I see is that he is at all times attempting to get higher. Regardless of successful 9 occasions this 12 months, he is at all times discovering little methods and I believe it is actually, actually cool to see and you may take loads from that.”
Within the final 40 years, Scheffler’s successful fee of 43% worldwide is third behind Woods in 2006 (9 wins in 19 begins) and Woods in 2002 (10 wins in 22 begins).
What subsequent?
“Proceed to work on the stuff within the offseason and prepare for subsequent season,” Scheffler stated.
