Scottie Scheffler removed all the excitement from the Masters, a common occurrence at Augusta National.
Despite the tradition of saying the real action starts on the back nine on Sunday, it’s rare for the tournament to be decided in those final holes. Scheffler, the top-ranked golfer in the world, continued that trend emphatically.
Entering the first major of 2024 as the heavy favorite, he met the high expectations by easily winning his second green jacket in three years, finishing four strokes ahead of Masters newcomer Ludvig Aberg.
It’s clear now that the golfing world belongs to Scheffler. Everyone else is playing catch-up. “Scottie is an incredible golfer,” remarked Max Homa, one of those trailing behind. “His performance is truly impressive.”
Although Scheffler briefly shared the lead on the final day, his competitors faltered with mistakes in Amen Corner.
But Scheffler remained steady, which wasn’t surprising given his success earlier in the year. The Masters marked his third win in the last four tournaments, following victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship.
Even with impending fatherhood, Scheffler shows no signs of slowing down. “I’m not going to lose focus anytime soon,” he warned challengers.
The Masters hasn’t seen many thrilling finishes in recent years, and Scheffler ensured this one wasn’t any different with his dominant display.
It’s the seventh time in the past 11 years that the Masters winner has won by at least three strokes.
Among the remaining four, three were decided by a single stroke in regulation, although that statistic can be misleading. Both Hideki Matsuyama in 2021 and Tiger Woods in 2019 secured their one-shot wins with bogeys on the final hole.
