The Masters LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Scottie Scheffler wins second green jacket ahead of Ludvig Aberg
The pre-tournament favourite and World No 1 coasted to a four-shot victory as his pregnant wife Merideth watched from home expecting the couple’s first child
Scottie Scheffler has won the Masters for the second time in three years after holding off the challenge of Ludvig Aberg and Max Homa to claim the green jacket by four shots at Augusta National.
Pre-tournament favourite and World No 1 Scheffler held a one-shot lead going into the final round but held his nerve on the back nine - even as a surging Aberg and Homa briefly joined him and Collin Morikawa in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
But the 27-year-old American shot three birdies in a row at the turn to pull clear, with Aberg, Homa and Morikawa all getting into trouble with double bogeys at Amen Corner. Scheffler, by contrast, coasted to victory with a near-faultless display, carding another run of three birdies in four down the stretch.
Scheffler, who won his first major at Augusta in 2022, will now return home to Texas and join his wife Merideth, who is expecting to give birth to the couple’s first child later this month. Scheffler said he would have been prepared to leave the tournament early if necessary
The 24-year-old Aberg continued his stunning rise as a professional, meanwhile, as the Swede finished second on his Masters debut. Aberg, who shone for Europe in the Ryder Cup last year, would have been the first-ever debutant victor at the Augusta were it not for Scheffler.
Follow all the reaction as Scheffler claimed his second Masters title at Augusta
Aberg in the water
Homa -7 (10), Aberg -7 (10)
And could that be that for Ludvig? The Swede finally blinks at the treacherous par-4 11th as he pulls his iron shot into the water left of the green. The best he can hope for is a bogey from there but that will require some short-game magic.
Homa takes the safe option and plays out to the right edge of the green.
Scheffler has daylight
Scheffler -9 (10), Morikawa -5 (10)
If Homa’s approach into the tenth was superb, Scheffler’s is equally magical.
He’s got a great look at birdie...and makes no mistake! Three birdies in a row and he now leads by two over Homa and Aberg. He started slowly but the World No.1 is on fire right now.
Fleetwood and DeChambeau moving on up
Fleetwood -4 (13)
The focus has rightly been on the final four but, back a bit further, Fleetwood advances his position slightly, with birdie at 13
He needs something special down the closing stretch but it’s not out of the question.
Huge birdie for Homa
Homa -7 (10), Aberg -7 (10)
A shot of sheer brilliance from Homa as he birdies the tricky tenth. A slinging hook off the tee gives him the license to attack the green, and it’s a superb effort that he duly converts to move back within one of Scheffler.
What a marvellous hole from the American.
In amongst all that, Aberg makes his par to stay at -7.
Bunker trouble for Morikawa
Scheffler -8 (9), Morikawa -5 (9)
A fatal mistake from Morikawa as he leaves it in the greenside bunker with his third shot. He gives it more to make sure he gets out at the second time of asking but that’s a length putt to avoid a double bogey.
It’s a good stroke but the ball doesn’t drop and that is a double-bogey six in the end. All of sudden, Morikawa is three behind his playing partner having started the hole level. A huge back nine needed.
Scheffler back in front
Scheffler -8 (9), Morikawa -7 (8)
Goodness me, this tournament just keeps on giving. From the fairway, it’s a gem from Scheffler, gripping and spinning back towards the hole and threatening to go in for eagle.
It just misses but a tap-in birdie restores his lead at the top.
Morikawa still to go from the bunker.
Monster birdie for Aberg
Homa -6 (9), Aberg -7 (9)
Any chances of some nerves, Ludvig? Not one of his best irons into the par-4 ninth but the Swede steps up and rolls in a beauty from 36 feet, bending from right to left before dropping in the heart of the hole.
A front-nine 33 for Aberg to go back alongside Scheffler and Morikawa at the top.
Homa’s birdie putt races by but he makes the return one for par to stay just one back.
Scheffler and Morikawa make birdie
Scheffler -7 (8), Morikawa -7 (8)
Scheffler up first and he makes no mistake! A great bounce-back birdie for the World No. 1 but he has the lead on his own for a matter of seconds as Morikawa drains his birdie effort to join him on -7.
Morikawa with a beauty
Scheffler -6 (7), Morikawa -6 (7)
There’s others out there but all the action is with these final two pairings. Morikawa is in the fairway bunker off the tee. He’s forced to layup but, from there, it’s a beautiful wedge in close and he’ll have a chance to get himself into the lead.
Scheffler goes just over the green and his chip runs just past the hole. A good chance, too, for a birdie.
Homa joins the lead at the top
Homa -6 (8), Aberg -6 (8)
A disappointing hole prior but Homa responds in style, reaching the green in two and nursing his eagle effort down close. That’s a great birdie to get himself back up to -6.
Aberg perhaps shows the first signs of nerves as his chip is overhit and spurns any hopes of a birdie, too.
Three becomes four at the top. What a back nine we’re in for.
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