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The 25-year-old American thus confirms his current supremacy on the North American PGA Tour where the five-time winner of the event Tiger Woods, despite a total of +13 (the worst in 24 participations), managed a fascinating return to competition, going to the end of the four laps, thirteen months after his car accident which almost cost him his right leg.
Scheffler’s rise has been meteoric, as he only won his first North American PGA Tour event two months ago at the Phoenix Open. Then he continued in Florida, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 6, then the WGC World Match-Play Championship in Austin (Texas) on the 28th, erasing his bitter defeat in the final last year, then beaten by Billy Horschel.
The icing on the cake of this victory, the 25-year-old Texan stole world number one from Spaniard Jon Rahm, jumping 15 ranks since February 6.
So the pressure was on his shoulders at Augusta, where he was a favorite at the moment, although Woods’ fascinating comeback focused most of the attention and left him somewhat alone.
But it was only worth the time of 48 hours, because on Friday, he was already flying over the debates and had a five-point lead after 36 holes. Saturday was his trickiest day, with Cameron Smith closing within three units.
Duel to the finish with Mcllroy
And even only one, after the first two holes of this 4th round started on the piano by Scheffler, who among his manifest qualities possesses that of unfailing composure. Witness this extraordinary birdie at N.3 thanks to a perfect chip over the hill, which somehow knocked out the Australian on his heels.
Because Smith conceded at the same time a bogey on this hole, therefore returning to three strokes behind. It was the beginning of the end, because followed three other bogeys and even a double bogey at N.12 of the Amen Corner, where indeed the Masters are lost and won.
These difficulties, Scheffler passed them without incident, after a new birdie at N.7. But in his rearview mirror appeared like a bullet Rory McIlroy, author of an exceptional last lap.
Not content with having returned a faultless card, the Northern Irishman in search of the only Grand Slam missing from his list, managed a sumptuous eagle on the N.13 and his sixth birdie of the day at the cost of an exit from the bunker on the N.18 which melted the public gathered around.
His card of 64 (-8) is the lowest achieved on a Sunday in Augusta. And the second lowest in tournament history behind Nick Price and Greg Norman, who had done even better years earlier (63, -9).
On this N.18 where he had already won the tournament, after two birdies in a row at N.14 and N.15, counting five strokes ahead of McIlroy, Scheffler for the first time pitched in four days, betrayed by a legitimate emotion.
He committed a double bogey after two curled putts on the rim that came out. He put his right hand on his mouth, but it did not tremble to finally get it over with, to the cheers of the public.
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