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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler efficiently defended his WM Phoenix Commence title Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to accept the No. 1 discipline on the planet.
Scheffler closed with a 6-below 65 to beat Gash Taylor by two strokes in breezy stipulations on the firm and fleet Stadium Course. The 26-year-primitive Texan will jump from 2nd to first in the rankings, taking the pinnacle discipline from Rory McIlroy alongside with his fifth PGA Tour victory.
Scheffler made a 22-foot eagle putt on the par-5 thirteenth to interrupt a tie with Taylor, then took a two-shot lead on the par-3 16th with a 15-footer for par after hitting his tee shot a long way left on the stadium hole.
“I became precise trying to hit a heroic putt,” Scheffler mentioned about the putt on 16. “In these eventualities that’s in actuality all you would additionally reach. So, once I’m standing over that ball all I’m pondering is the ride. I had my line.”
Scheffler birdied the brief par-4 17th and closed with a par to prevail in at 19-below 265.
“I hit some wild pictures off the tee that had been ultimate uncharacteristic for how I on the general shape the ball,” Scheffler mentioned. “I became precise in a spot to grind it out, manufacture rather a pair of putts. I mediate I most effective had two bogeys this week, which is in actuality, in actuality perfect round this golf route.”
He earned $3.6 million from the $20 million purse in the 2nd of the PGA Tour’s fresh designated events, created in line with LIV Golf to bring the pinnacle tour avid gamers collectively extra most ceaselessly.
“There were rather a pair of guys up there,” Scheffler mentioned. “I knew it became going to rob a gigantic round. No one became going to present this golf tournament to me. I needed to exit and originate it.”
Closing year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff for his first tour title. He added victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Match Play and the Masters and became the PGA Tour’s participant of the year.
“I luxuriate in the ambiance right here,” Scheffler mentioned. “It’s rather a pair of enjoyable to play. I mediate the firmness of the golf route in actuality suits me. Having the capacity to play rather a pair of completely different pictures — hit it excessive, hit it low.”
He’s the seventh participant to efficiently defend a title in the tournament, following Ben Hogan (1946-47), Jimmy Demaret (1949-50), Lloyd Mangrum (1952-Fifty three), Arnold Palmer (three straight from 1961-63), Johnny Miller (1974-75) and Hideki Matsuyama (2016-17).
Taylor also accomplished with a 65. The Canadian bogeyed the 16th, missing a 7-footer after Scheffler holed his par putt. Taylor’s tee shot on the 175-yard 16th precise caught the left edge and rolled away from the green.
“I in actuality felt that became a gigantic swing off the tee there,” Taylor mentioned. “That wind became precise loopy tough. I played adequate for it, precise clearly no longer rather adequate. I would luxuriate in the chip abet on there. I felt like that became one I could well per chance presumably hole. It became composed a tricky chip.”
Jon Rahm, the outdated school Arizona Divulge big name who opened the year with consecutive victories in Hawaii and the California barren region, became third at 14 below after a 68. He also became in discipline to rob the No. 1 discipline with a victory.
“I’m no longer sure I could well per chance have performed severely better the final two days, if fact be told,” Rahm mentioned. “I didn’t in actuality feel like I made irascible swings, but I set apart myself in irascible spots.”
The wind became a part all week, with the substantial grandstands and spectator mounds making it advanced to favor.
“The wind this week introduced a fresh disaster that we hadn’t had round this golf route since I’ve been taking half in this tournament,” Scheffler mentioned. “So, it became with out a doubt an even disaster and became a enjoyable week.”
Justin Thomas became fourth at 13 below after a 65. Jason Day (68) adopted at 12 below, and Jordan Speith (70) became but any other stroke abet with Sam Burns (68), Sungjae Im (69) and Tyrrell Hatton (69).
Rickie Fowler became in the neighborhood at 10 below. The 2019 winner had a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh, using a 6-iron in the 216-yard hole.
McIlroy closed with a 70 to tie for thirty 2nd at 4 below.
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