Scottie Scheffler Makes History, Wins Players Championship & Returns to World No. 1
On Sunday, March 12th, 2023, Scottie Scheffler made history.[0] The Dallas native ran away with the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, winning by five shots over Tyrrell Hatton, who made a run of five consecutive birdies on the back nine. The victory earned Scheffler the $4.5 million first prize and moved him back to the top of the world rankings as he prepares to defend his Masters title next month.
The 26-year-old Scheffler started the final round with a two-shot lead which evaporated on the third hole when he three-putted for bogey and Lee birdied.[1] But five consecutive birdies on the back nine saw him pull away from Hatton and the rest of the field. Scheffler was aided by his short game, which he honed during chipping contests on the back of the range at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas.[2]
Scheffler has been one of the top players in the world for the last 13 months, with this victory his sixth in that time.[3] He joins Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to hold the Masters and Players titles at the same time.[4] Jordan Spieth, who has played with Scheffler at home, said “When I feel like I get the better of him, it's a boost of confidence because he's arguably the best player in the world right now.”[5]
Scheffler’s swing coach, Randy Smith, credits the success to the experience he has gained in the last 13 months.[6] “He’s just got a lot more experience,” said Smith.[7] When you make a living playing out here, various situations arise, and it helps to have a mental library of ideas to draw from in order to find new and different ways to tackle them.[7]
Viktor Hovland and Tom Hoge shared third place at 10 under and Justin Rose finished in the top 10.[8] Scheffler’s clubs included a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus+ Driver (8 degrees) with Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft, and a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Wood (15 degrees) with a Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft.[9]
0. “Scottie Scheffler's 88-year-old grandma walks every hole of his dominant victory” CNN, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/13/golf/scottie-scheffler-grandma-players-championship-spt-intl/index.html
1. “Scottie Scheffler returns to No. 1 in the world by winning Players Championship” The Florida Times-Union, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/golf/pga-tour/2023/03/12/scottie-scheffler-returns-to-no-1-in-the-world-by-winning-players-championship/69999263007/
2. “In pursuit of legacy-defining title, Scottie Scheffler works OT with 54-hole Players lead” Golf Channel, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.golfchannel.com/news/pursuit-legacy-defining-title-scottie-scheffler-works-ot-54-hole-players-lead
3. “PLAYERS lead displays Scottie Scheffler's well-rounded game” PGA TOUR, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2023/03/11/players-lead-displays-scottie-scheffler-well-rounded-game
4. “2023 Players Championship: Min Woo Lee, Tommy Fleetwood among seven golfers who can catch Scottie Scheffler” CBS Sports, 11 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2023-players-championship-min-woo-lee-tommy-fleetwood-among-seven-golfers-who-can-catch-scottie-scheffler/
5. “Scottie Scheffler reclaims world No 1 spot with Players Championship win” The Guardian, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/mar/12/scottie-scheffler-reclaims-world-no-1-spot-with-players-championship-win
6. “2023 Players champion Scottie Scheffler getting a good feel for this winning thing” Golf Channel, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.golfchannel.com/news/2023-players-champion-scottie-scheffler-getting-good-feel-winning-thing
7. “Players 2023: Scottie Scheffler’s 6 victories in 13 months have some believing he’s just getting started” GolfDigest.com, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.golfdigest.com/story/players-2023-scottie-scheffler-six-wins-thirteen-months-just-getting-started
8. “Players Championship 2023 Prize Money: Purse Payout and Final Leaderboard” Bleacher Report, 12 Mar. 2023, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10068609-players-championship-2023-prize-money-purse-payout-and-final-leaderboard
9. “Scottie Scheffler WITB: 2023 Players Championship winning golf gear” Golfweek, 12 Mar. 2023, https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/03/12/pga-tour-scottie-scheffler-witb-bag-2023-players-championship
