Scheffler has already won one green jacket, and his 10th hole was a significant step towards his second.
Follow Us
From his very first steps at the 88th Masters, Scottie Scheffler appeared to be on a path to claim his second Green Jacket. With his pregnant wife Meredith close to giving birth to their first child, it never seemed like he doubted his ability to emerge victorious at Augusta National, even if it meant potentially leaving if she went into labor. As he made his way to clinching his second Masters title in three years, his confidence was unwavering—it seemed as certain as the coming of a new day.
Scottie Scheffler ended the tournament with a commanding lead, scoring an impressive 11-under par, while Ludvig Aberg, who had a strong performance of his own, finished second, trailing by four strokes at 7-under. Tied for third place at 4-under were Tommy Fleetwood, Max Homa, and Collin Morikawa, each trying to navigate the challenging course. During an emotional moment, Scheffler reflected on how special the victory was and the anticipation of becoming a father.
He expressed an inability to fully articulate the magnitude of both becoming a two-time Masters champion and a parent for the first time. Despite looking forward to the joy of fatherhood, Scheffler confirmed his love for the competition remained strong, though he acknowledged his priorities were about to shift, with his family taking precedence and golf becoming a secondary focus.
Scheffler’s triumph at Augusta was a result of stellar performances and relentless determination. His winning streak, which got its start at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge event, boasts four wins in his last ten starts and an impressive track record of top-ten finishes—with a T27 as his lowest placement during the streak.
With this second Green Jacket, Scheffler became the first golfer since Bubba Watson in 2012 and 2014 to win the accolade more than once. Additionally, Scheffler and Watson share a common thread—a caddie named Ted Scott, who has been part of four Masters victories. The tale of the tournament played out like a narrative, with Meredith patiently waiting as her husband methodically moved up the leaderboard.
His progression was steady and inexorable: from second place on day one to tied for the lead after two rounds, and finally to a solitary lead following round three. Scheffler set the standard for the week with a 6-under 66, bogey-free opening round. Then, despite challenging conditions, he posted scores of 72 and 71 in the subsequent rounds, securing a one-shot advantage as he approached the final nine holes on Sunday. That Sunday, Scheffler’s lead was slim but seemed insurmountable.
Although he encountered slight setbacks with bogeys on the fourth and seventh holes, he maintained his lead while others faltered, particularly around the famed Amen Corner. Aberg, at one point vying for the top spot, succumbed to a double bogey on the 11th, dampening his prospects of a Masters win shortly after turning professional. Similarly, Morikawa and Homa suffered costly mistakes that saw them slide down the leaderboard. Scheffler, however, remained unfazed and steady.
Even with a bogey on the 11th, he refocused and sailed through the remainder of the round. His drives were precise, his iron shots accurate, and his putting was on point. By the time he reached the 15th hole, his lead had extended to four strokes, a margin he maintained until the final birdie putt sealed his title on the 18th. With back-to-back birdies on the eighth, ninth, and tenth, followed by additional birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 16th, Scheffler’s victory was confirmed, resonating as one of the most dominant in Masters history.
With his head bowed and his eyes shielded by the brim of his cap, Scheffler was immersed in his zone, a realm increasingly reminiscent of the one Tiger Woods once dominated. Throughout the competition, Scheffler remained focused, marching forward and turning the event into a one-man show similar to Woods in his prime.
Meanwhile, on this occasion, Woods found himself at the bottom end of the scoreboard. Competing in his 100th round at Augusta, he concluded the weekend in last place among the 60 qualifiers, even though he secured his 24th consecutive cut—a record. Despite finishing 16-over with scores of 72, 73, 82, and 77, he expressed satisfaction with enduring four grueling days.
Bhatia, coming off an eventful couple of weeks featuring a victory and a last-minute entry into the Masters, shared his disbelief at the whirlwind, marveling at his first experience at the Masters and the chance to complete the lineup. He reflected on an incredible week enriched by the presence of family and the significance it held for everyone involved.
Read More-
