World number one Scottie Scheffler became the first golf professional to defend his title at the Players Championship. After his coup from the previous year, the American won the top-class tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach with a total of 268 strokes and a strong final round of 64.
“It’s great. It’s special,” Scheffler said. After the four major tournaments, the Players Championship is the most important individual competition in golf.
On course for record prize money
Scheffler collected a check for $4.5 million for his second win of the season – just a week ago he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando. The 27-year-old has already earned almost $11 million this season in just seven starts. The Texan already set records for the most prize money in a year in 2022 (14 million) and 2023 (21 million). With around six months left in the season, Scheffler could do that again this year.
With one stroke more, the three Americans Brian Harman, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark came in tied for second place. Schauffele and especially Clark still had a chance of a playoff with a birdie before the 18th and final hole at TPC Sawgrass. But Clark’s golf ball went from the edge of the hole back onto the green.
The German Matti Schmid came in tied for 26th place with 280 strokes after two good rounds at the start. Stephan Jäger failed to make the cut.
