Scheffler takes Green Jacket after Amen Corner bares teeth
On Sunday, unflappable American Scottie Scheffler won his second Masters title in three years, holding steady as his biggest challengers self-destructed in the infamous Amen Corner.
Scheffler, the Green Jacket winner in 2022, started the day with a one-stroke lead over two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and closed with a four-under 68 to finish 11-under for the week, four shots ahead of Swedish young gun Ludvig Aberg.
"I did my best to stay calm out there," Scheffler said after becoming the 18th player to win the Masters on multiple occasions. "I tried to stay patient on the course and was able to make some key shots and key putts today to keep my round going."
"Ludvig played great today. He made a good move at me there on the back nine and I was fortunate to hold him off towards the end."
Aberg closed with a 69 to finish solo second and cap an outstanding majors debut.
Morikawa fell down the leaderboard with double-bogeys at nine and 11, but recovered with birdies at 13 and 15 to share third place with American Max Homa and Britain's Tommy Fleetwood on four-under.
Scheffler, the hot favourite heading into the year's first major, leaves Augusta National as the world's undisputed best, having won three titles and finished second in his last four starts.
The 27-year-old's performance was even more impressive given the added distraction of knowing he might have to return home at any time to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.
"It's a very special time for both of us," Scheffler said as last year's winner, Spaniard Jon Rahm, slipped the Green Jacket on him. "I can't put into words what it means to win this tournament again.
"I really can't put into words what it's going to be like to be a father for the first time."
"I'm looking forward to getting home and celebrating with Meredith."
It is said that the Masters does not begin until the back nine on Sunday, with many Green Jackets won or lost on a trip through Amen Corner, the treacherous three-hole stretch that begins at the par four 11th.
The drama began a little earlier this year at the ninth hole, where Scheffler had a tap-in birdie that he nearly holed out for an eagle, giving him a one-shot lead entering the turn.
Challengers to Scheffler were unravelling all around him. Morikawa fell three shots behind the leaders after making a double-bogey on the ninth hole.
As Scheffler increased the pressure with birdies at eight, nine, and ten, Amen Corner bared its teeth, sinking the hopes of three Green Jacket contenders: Aberg, Morikawa, and Homa.
Aberg and Morikawa made double-bogeys on the 11th hole, while Homa made a double-bogey on the 12th after losing his ball in the bush.
Even Scheffler couldn't escape Amen Corner unscathed, as his run of three birdies ended with a bogey at 11.
But a birdie at 13 allowed Scheffler to leave Amen Corner at nine-under, three shots ahead of Aberg with five holes remaining.
Aberg, on the other hand, was not waving the white flag, undoing the damage done at the 11th with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 to remain two shots behind the leader.
But Scheffler didn't let up, hitting a tap-in birdie at 14 and another at 16 to seal the victory.
Tiger Woods stole the show hours before the leaders took the stage, with massive crowds lining every hole from tee to green, perhaps fearing that this would be one of the last times they saw the golfing icon in action.
On Friday, Woods made a record 24th consecutive cut at Augusta National and boldly predicted that a sixth Green Jacket was within reach.
But the American great, who has had a long list of magical Masters moments, was unable to produce another, enduring perhaps the worst weekend of his career.
The 48-year-old's injury-ravaged body appeared to give up on him Saturday, when he shot a 10-over 82, his worst major round as a professional, followed by a five-over 77 on Sunday.
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