Scottie Scheffler wins Masters in fashion never seen, including Tiger Woods

Scottie Scheffler proved he’s the best player in the world on Sunday at Augusta National.

He won the 2024 Masters with a final-round 4-under 68 to beat Ludwig Oberg by four strokes and earn his second green jacket. Scheffler accomplished that thanks to his excellent ball-striking, keen focus, and ability to avoid mistakes.

Two years ago, he relied on the same formula to win the Masters by three strokes. If not for a four-putt double bogey on the 72nd hole, the deficit would have been even bigger.

Unfortunately, Schaeffler’s victory has great historical significance.No player has ever won the Masters. 2 times in 3 years According to Justin Ray of The Athletic, he has a lead of more than three strokes.

Nevertheless, Scheffler joins an impressive group of people who have won two Green Jacket awards in three years. Eight players before him had accomplished this, with Horton Smith being the first to do so in 1934 and 1936.

Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, and most recently Bubba Watson have all accomplished this during their illustrious careers.

But no one on that list has won two Masters titles by more than three strokes in either event.

Still, when Scheffler stood on the ninth tee on Sunday, he was sitting at 7 under, sharing the lead with Collin Morikawa and Ludwig Oberg. Max Homa also jumped to 7 under with a birdie on No. 10.

Everyone expected it to be a historic Sunday at Augusta, with the contenders exchanging blows on the back nine for the green jacket. But Scheffler landed his first punch on the par-4 ninth. almost knock in The eagle that holed out let out the loudest roar of the week.

At the same time, Scheffler’s playing partner Morikawa also made the first of two costly mistakes. With a poor drive, he left his third shot in a greenside bunker and suffered double bogey.

Shortly after, Scheffler knew Morikawa was in danger and kept his foot on the gas. He made a birdie on the 10th right after the flag.

He then bogeyed the 11th hole, the most difficult hole in Augusta National’s history, but made no major mistakes.

Morikawa, on the other hand, was. He found a pond guarding the left side of the green and made double bogey, all but eliminating his chances.

But while Scheffler was out with a bogey, Homa had to take the lead on an unplayable lieup on the par-3 12th. He hit his tee shot into the bushes and suffered a double bogey.

Photo by Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images

Just before that, Oberg, another favorite to win, made a rookie mistake, and Morikawa suffered the same fate as when he was number 11. He also put his approach into the water and made double bogey.

Everyone around Scheffler fell, leaving Scheffler alone on top.

Sensing an even bigger opportunity, Scheffler did what any great player would do on the 12th hole. He took the line that Nicklaus and Woods always do and hit his tee shot over the middle bunker. He hit the center of the green safely and made par with two putts.

At that point, Scheffler held a three-shot lead heading into the par-5 13th hole, which was pretty much the end. The top players in the game had no intention of relinquishing the lead.

Scheffler proved that, with easy birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th, extending his lead out of reach.

And now the father-to-be has made history with his second green jacket.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.