Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club with a scintillating ... [+]
There was no doubt that Scottie Scheffler was the hottest golfer in the world as he prepared for the Masters. By the time he was through with Augusta National on Sunday evening, he was clearly the game’s brightest light.
He received a challenge early on when Max Homa birdied hole No. 8 to move into a share of the lead with Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg. With four players tied for the lead as the final round approached the midway point, it appeared that the 2024 Masters would turn into a battle royale.
However, Scheffler would have none of it. High drama at the Masters is supposed to begin on the back nine of Sunday’s round, and Scheffler took that to mean that’s where he was beginning his take over
His back nine actually began one hole earlier. Scheffler had a brilliant birdie on the ninth hole, sinking a beautiful putt that signaled the beginning of his decisive run to the championship.
Scheffler would go on to birdie four of the next seven holes and that allowed him to put his competitors in the rear-view mirror. While Scheffler was playing with a remarkable confidence the other golfers were feeling the pressure. It fell apart for Aberg on the 11th with a double bogey and Homa followed suit with his own double bogey on the par-3 12th hole.
Morikawa went even further as double-bogeyed on the ninth and 11th holes. Each of those golfers were filled with regret after the round, Morikawa blamed his demise on “trying to do too much,” while Homa was cursing his own bad luck.
Max Homa made a run at the Masters title, but he couldn't overcome Scottie Scheffler and a double ... [+]
When players struggle on the legendary 12th hole, it’s usually because of a run-in with Rae’s Creek. In Homa's case, his tee shot bounced off the downslope in back of the green and hopped into a patch of greenery. He was forced to take an unplayable lie penalty and his next shot failed to make the green.
Homa thought the golfing gods had punished him without good reason. "The honest answer is it didn't feel fair. I hit a really good golf shot, and it didn't feel fair. I've seen far worse just roll back down the hill," Homa said. "Yeah, the professional answer is these things happen."
The closer Scheffler got to the finish line the better he performed. Even though he bogeyed the 11th hole, there was no sense of panic. There was never a thought that a run of bad luck would soon derail him.
His tee shots were straight, his iron play was crisp, his approach shots were thoughtful and well-executed and his putting was on point.
It appears that Scheffler is on a Tiger-like roll and the 2024 golf season belongs to him. It would be something of a shocker if Scheffler did not win at least one more of the three majors left on the golf calendar. The oddsmakers were clearly right about making Scheffler the odds-on favorite for the Masters. Top 10 Casinos had Scheffler at +375 and he came through for his supporters.
He took the green jacket in Butler Cabin with grace and humility. Jon Rahm, last year’s winner, helped him on with the championship garb much as he had helped the Spanish golfer the year before. It brought back memories of the 1960s when Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus helped each other put on the green jacket and similarly when Tiger and Phil Mickelson shared the same honor in 2005 and ‘06.
The only thing missing from Scheffler’s game is a “look at me” personality. He may be the best golfer in the world by miles, but he wouldn’t go any further than saying that his game is solid right now.
"I feel like I'm playing really good golf right now," Scheffler said. "I feel like I'm in control of my emotions as I've ever been, which is a good place to be. I feel like I'm maturing as a person on the golf course, which is a good place to be."
The 27-year-old Scheffler has won two Masters titles, but don’t expect any stories detailing any wild celebrations. After the victory, Scheffler did his part to meet all his media obligations, but all he wanted was to get home to his wife Meredith in Dallas. She is due to give birth to their first child any day, and that’s what he wants to celebrate.
Scheffler had said that if his wife had gone into labor while the Masters was unfolding he would have left Augusta to be home for the event.
He did not have to make such a choice, and the sporting world knows he is the best golfer in the world —with the wardrobe to prove it.
