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
Almost back-to-back for Fleetwood
Young -1 (2), Fleetwood -2 (2)
A poor drive off the par-5 second prevents Fleetwood from taking the green on in two but he’s left with a tricky downhill putt from the fringe. It’s on a good line and oh so nearly drops in but just has too much speed to catch the lip. He taps in for the par.
Young sees his birdie effort run out of steam so he’s started par-par.
Hojgaard in trouble off the first
Cameron Davis -2, Nicolai Hojgaard -2
It was a poor end to the third round for the Dane and he’s not made a great start to the second as he snap hooks his drive off the first tee. That will be a tricky one to save par from.
Perfect start for Fleetwood
Young -1 (1), Fleetwood -2 (1)
Here comes Tommy! He couldn’t buy a putt yesterday but it’s the perfect start to his final round as he pours one in on the par-4 first. Within five now with the gettable second to come. He couldn’t could he...
Here’s what is to come in the next half an hour or so.
1905: Cameron Davis (-2), Nicolai Hojgaard (-2)
1915: Bryson DeChambeau (-3), Xander Schauffele (-2)
1925: Max Homa (-5), Ludvig Aberg (-4)
1935: Scottie Scheffler (-7), Collin Morikawa (-6)
Round of the day
Kim +5 (66)
A round that will inspire confidence from the chasing pack. A bogey on the 17th is the only blemish for Tom Kim on a back nine that saw him birdie five holes, including all three through the fearsome Amen Corner.
A six-under-par 66 vaults him up into the top 30 as things stand.
Fleetwood underway
Young -1, Fleetwood -1
It will take something special from one of these two to trouble the top of the leaderboard, and that’s certainly not the start Cameron Young would have wanted as he goes way right with his first drive.
Fleetwood sends one straight dawn the middle.
Woods finishes off
Woods +16 (77), Shipley +12 (73)
Tiger almost threatens a closing birdie but his bump and run just misses on the right side. He taps in for a final round of 77 that leaves him 60th for the week. Not the weekend he would have wanted but it marks just the second time he has completed four rounds at a Major since the 2020 Masters.
Let’s see if his body will allow him to recover for next month’s US PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Amateur Neal Shipley, meanwhile, makes a closing bogey but that’s a very encouraging 73 to finish off his great tournament.
Costly three putt from Rory
McIlroy +4 (2), Niemann +4 (2)
Under ten feet for an eagle on the third and McIlroy pushes the effort past the right edge. Back up the hill for birdie...oh no. Misses on the low side this time and it’s only a par. Just not his week.
Hole-out birdie from Rahm
Rahm +3 (7)
The Spaniard is in trouble off the tee but recovers superbly, punching out of the pine straw before holing out from the fairway with a wedge in hand for his third birdie of the round.
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