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
Scheffler drops back with second bogey
Scheffler -6 (7), Morikawa -6 (7)
Scheffler has not got it going off the tee, that much is for sure. The leader catches the tree with his drive and can’t take on the green. He’s in the bunker after his second and has work to do to save his par.
Morikawa, though, is first up with his birdie effort. He left it below the hole and it’s a makeable distance but he just can’t get them to drop. It lacks the pace and dies to the left of the hole.
Back to Scheffler. Big par putt...but it slides by! Another bogey for Scheffler and we have a three-way tie at the top.
Aberg within one as Homa makes bogey
Homa -5 (7), Aberg -6 (7)
And here comes Aberg! A gorgeous second shot into the seventh - reminiscent of one from Fleetwood earlier on - gives him a great look at birdie. From there he can’t miss and the Swede is surging and within one of the lead.
Homa, meanwhile, takes a backward step after a double-cross hook on the tee. He punches out well to the front of the green but his par putt just misses on the low side and he drops back to -5.
It’s heating up in this final round.
Putts not dropping for final duo
Scheffler -7 (6), Morikawa -6 (6)
Two nice approaches into the par-3 sixth but neither can take advantage. The putter has been cold for these two so far, Morikawa in particular who has given himself a lot of good looks at birdie.
Onto the seventh they go.
Big miss for Fleetwood
Young -1 (8), Fleetwood -3 (8)
Four back and Fleetwood needs to make things happen. A wedge to eight feet gives him a look at birdie but the opportunity goes begging. Those are the kinds of chances that have to drop if you’re in his position.
Birdie chances go begging for final group
Scheffler -7 (5), Morikawa -6 (5)
A marvellous approach shot from Scheffler gives him a great look at birdie but it’s just pushed out to the left side. Morikawa, meanwhile, has a look from a bit further back but his effort runs out of steam and dies away to the left.
Still, two pars and on to the next.
Huge par save from Aberg
Homa -6 (6), Aberg -5 (6)
Aberg is millimetres away from seeing his tee shot stay on the top ridge but it rolls back down and that’s a nasty two-putt for par. He races the first effort past the hole but that’s a gutsy one back to save par.
Homa, though, lands his on the top shelf and he’s got a great look at birdie...but it doesn’t drop. Pushed out to the right and that’s a golden opportunity.
Back-to-back bogeys for Schauffele
Bryson DeChambeau -3 (6), Xander Schauffele -1 (6)
Disappointing from Schauffele as his tee shot into the sixth comes up short at the par-3. He’s unable to two-putt from the front of the green and it’s consecutive bogeys which move him six behind the leader.
DeChambeau makes par to keep his faint hopes alive.
Steady from penultimate pairing
Homa -6 (5), Aberg -5 (5)
Scheffler looks a bit unsure with his distance control in these early stages, but Homa and Aberg are dialled in. Outside looks at birdie on the fifth but they both settle for pars.
Scheffler drops one back
Scheffler -7 (4), Morikawa -6 (4)
Morikawa finds the heart of the green and two putts for his par but it’s Scheffler who is in trouble as he goes way long with his tee shot into the par-3 fifth.
It’s a tricky chip and the leader leaves himself with work to do to save his par...not to be. His effort drifts right of the hole and his lead goes back to one straight away.
DeChambeau on a roll
Bryson DeChambeau -3 (5), Xander Schauffele -2 (5)
It’s a real yo-yo round for Bryson but he’s back where he started. A birdie on the fifth gets him back to -3 for the tournament and is there life in him yet?
Schauffele, meanwhile, pays the price for a costly approach into the green and can’t save his par from the bunker.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments