Scheffler wins second Masters title

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High-ranked Scottie Scheffler dominated a back-nine shootout to seize his second Masters title on Sunday, taking a four-stroke victory at Augusta Nationwide.

Scheffler, who additionally took the Inexperienced Jacket in 2022, gained a document $3.6-million prime prize after a drama-filled battle with fellow Individuals Collin Morikawa and Max Homa and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who made a formidable Main debut.

“I can’t put into phrases what it means to win this event once more,” Scheffler stated.

Scheffler birdied three of the final six holes to fireplace a four-under par 68 and end 72 holes over the enduring 7,555-yard format on 11-under 277 with Aberg capturing 69 to complete second on seven-under 281.

Two-time Main winner Morikawa had a closing 74 to share third on four-under 284 with Homa and England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

“I did my finest to remain calm on the market. I attempted to remain affected person on the course,” Scheffler stated. “Was capable of make some key pictures and key putts to maintain my spherical going.”

Scheffler matched Tiger Woods as the one gamers to win The Masters twice whereas atop the world rankings.

He additionally turned the fourth-youngest a number of Masters winner at age 27 behind Woods, Jack Nicklaus and the late Seve Ballesteros.

“Scottie is an incredible golfer,” Homa stated. “It’s actually spectacular.”

Scheffler, who hasn’t performed a spherical over par since final August, has the second-fewest Masters begins for any two-time winner with 5. Solely Horton Smith wanted fewer, taking two of the primary three Augusta titles within the Thirties.

Aberg pressured Scheffler down the stretch however couldn’t catch him.

“Ludvig performed nice,” Scheffler stated. “He made transfer at me there on the again 9 and I used to be lucky to carry him off.”

Scheffler had seized a four-stroke edge however made a bogey at 11 whereas Aberg moved inside two with a tap-in birdie on the par-five thirteenth.

After Scheffler sank a three-footer for birdie at 13, Aberg answered with a five-foot birdie putt at 14 to remain inside two.

“It was a dream come true to be on this scenario, to really feel the stress coming down the ultimate holes,” Aberg stated.

Scheffler responded with a tap-in birdie at 14 and a nine-foot birdie putt on the par-three sixteenth to safe the victory.

Scheffler was greeted on the 18th inexperienced by a standing ovation from spectators delighted by his expert shotmaking.

A vital streak of three birdies by Scheffler following a bogey at 7 featured his most spectacular shot.

After a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-five eighth, Scheffler lofted an unimaginable 89-yard second shot on the ninth that rolled down a slope inside inches of the outlet to arrange a tap-in birdie for the solo lead.

Scottie Scheffler is again in sole possession of the lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/MGytXpJcXH

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2024

“It was good to get that feeling of hitting a extremely well-struck shot and it set me as much as have a very nice again 9,” Scheffler stated.

WATCH: 2024 Inexperienced Jacket ceremony

Scheffler added a nine-foot birdie putt at 10, reaching 9 underneath and boosting his result in two pictures whereas rivals suffered double-bogeys.

Morikawa made a double-bogey on the ninth after discovering pine straw and a bunker and one other at 11 dropped him out of competition.

“I received grasping on 9 and 11. Once you’re taking part in good you get grasping,” Morikawa stated. “Greed received the very best of us.”

Aberg plunked his second shot at 11 right into a pond and made double-bogey, spoiling his bid to be the primary Masters debut winner since 1979.

“I got here out very nervous. I used to be shaking on the first tee,” Aberg stated. “Hitting within the water on 11 wasn’t excellent.”

Homa, looking for his first Main win, hit an unplayable ball into the flowers over the par-three twelfth on the way in which to his double-bogey.

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy, who wants solely a Masters victory to finish a profession Grand Slam, fired a 73 to complete on four-over 292.

“Hasn’t been my yr this yr however I’m going to maintain coming again till it’s my yr,” McIlroy stated.

Third-ranked Jon Rahm, the 2023 winner, fired a 76 to complete on nine-over 297, whereas South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen ended on 13-over 301 after additionally carding 76.

Woods shot 77 to complete sixtieth on 16-over 304. He stated he plans to play the yr’s different three Majors.

“Hopefully the subsequent three my physique will cooperate,” Woods stated.