Golf – Masters: World No.1 Scottie Scheffler wins the Augusta Masters

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler won the Augusta Masters, his first Grand Slam tournament, on Sunday in Georgia, where he finished ahead of Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, second, as well as Australian Cameron Smith and Irishman Shane Lowry, joint third.

The 25-year-old American, winner of his 4th tournament of the season, thus confirms his current supremacy on the North American PGA Tour where the legendary Tiger Woods (47th) has managed a fascinating return to competition by going to the end of the four laps, thirteen months after his car accident which almost cost him his right leg.

meteoric rise

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.

Awesome McIlroy

And even just one, after the first two holes of this 4th piano-initiated tour by Scheffler, which among its manifest qualities possesses that of an unwavering composure. This is evidenced by this extraordinary birdie at N.3 thanks to a perfect chip above the mound, which somehow knocked out the Australian in his kits. For Smith at the same time conceded a bogey on that hole, thus returning three strokes behind. That was the beginning of the end, as three more bogeys and even a double bogey followed at the No. 12 Amen Corner, where the Masters are indeed 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.