Scottie Scheffler Wins The Players Championship and Masters, Thanks to Experience and Grandma’s Support
Scottie Scheffler achieved a monumental feat on Sunday, becoming just the third golfer to hold the titles of The Players Championship and the Masters simultaneously.[0] Scheffler was in control throughout the final round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, taking a two-shot lead over Min Woo Lee of Australia into the round. Lee birdied the opening hole and Scheffler bogeyed the third to tie them at 13-under par.[1]
Scheffler then went on a birdie blitz, finishing with five consecutive birdies to pull away from Lee and Tyrrell Hatton to win by five shots.[2] The victory earned Scheffler the lion's share of the $4.5 million prize, as well as $275,000 for his T13 finish at the Masters and $58,000 for his T13 finish at the Players.[3]
Scheffler's swing coach, Randy Smith, credited his success to his experience.[4] “He’s just got a lot more experience,” Smith said.[2] “It’s about being in situations. When you’re playing out here for a living, situations come up. And if you have a library to go back on and draw it up in your mind a little bit… it’s becoming a habit to make the right decision.”[4]
Scheffler's equipment included the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver, with Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft, the TaylorMade M6 9-degree driver, Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls, Golf Pride Tour Velvet and MCC grips, and True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 and X100 shafts.[5]
The win was especially poignant for Scheffler, who was joined by his grandmother throughout the tournament and celebrated with her after his victory. “She’s a trooper,” said Scheffler.[6] “I really don’t know what to say.[7] She’s had a rough last year with Grandpa passing away, and we have an uncle that’s pretty sick.[7] I’m just happy that we’re able to kind of enjoy all this together.[8]
0. “The Players Championship payout: Five collect seven-figure checks” Golf Channel, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.golfchannel.com/news/players-championship-payout-five-collect-seven-figure-checks
1. “Scottie Scheffler wins Players Championship at Sawgrass, Tyrrell Hatton second” BBC, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/64935087
2. “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
3. “2023 Players Championship leaderboard: Live updates, golf scores, PGA Tour coverage of Round 4” CBS Sports, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2023-players-championship-leaderboard-live-updates-golf-scores-pga-tour-coverage-of-round-4/live/
4. “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
5. “Winner’s Bag: Scottie Scheffler, 2023 Players Championship” Yahoo Sports, 12 Mar. 2023, https://sports.yahoo.com/winner-bag-scottie-scheffler-2023-223719944.html
6. “Scottie Scheffler's Grandma Steals Hearts At Players Championship” TODAY, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.today.com/parents/family/scottie-scheffler-grandma-rcna74644
7. “Scottie Scheffler sweetly embraces wife Meredith after Players Championship win” New York Post , 13 Mar. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/03/13/scottie-scheffler-hugs-wife-meredith-after-players-championship-win/
8. “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/
