CNN
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It’s stated {that a} Grandma is aware of greatest. Scottie Scheffler, newly topped The Gamers Championship winner, would agree wholeheartedly.
Scheffler’s grandmother, Mary, couldn’t have chosen a greater week to comply with her grandson round all 72 holes of a match.
A dominant victory sealed a dream Sunday for Scheffler at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, reclaiming his World No. 1 spot from Jon Rahm and securing him a $4.5 million lower of a report $25 million prize purse.
The 26-year-old American completed 5 strokes forward of England’s Tyrrell Hatton, the most important margin of victory on the occasion dubbed “the fifth main” since Stephen Ames cruised to a six shot win in 2006.
It marks a sixth PGA Tour victory in a outstanding 13 month stretch for the reigning Masters champion, one made even sweeter by having lots of his household watching on from the sidelines. And a quantity had been gathered on the remaining inexperienced to embrace the brand new champion; spouse Meredith, Mom, Father, and, in fact, Grandmother.
The 88-year-old had made the 20-minute journey from her dwelling in Florida to comply with the progress of her grandson, with social media footage exhibiting her strolling between holes.
“It’s fairly spectacular she’s strolling so many holes out right here, she’s a trooper,” Scheffler instructed reporters.
“I actually don’t know what to say. She’s had a tough final 12 months with Grandpa passing away, and we now have an uncle that’s fairly sick, and I’m simply comfortable that we’re capable of form of get pleasure from all this collectively.”
Although her duties weren’t performed for the day, based on Scheffler when requested how he can be celebrating.
“Possibly Grandma’s obtained some meals at dwelling,” he added.
“I do know she has some dessert. We’ll see what’s in retailer.”
Scheffler didn’t do his grandmother any favors with the livid tempo he set round TPC Sawgrass throughout the week.
After beginning Sunday’s remaining spherical with a two stroke lead over Australia’s Min Woo Lee, the American tore away from the sphere with a run of 5 straight birdies from the eighth gap. A bogey on the 14th supplied a scare, however Scheffler eased dwelling with 4 straight birdies to shoot three-under 69 for the spherical, and 17-under general.
Even a historic end from Hatton wasn’t sufficient to get near Scheffler’s rating. The 31-year-old, chasing his second PGA Tour victory after profitable the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2020, shot a blistering seven birdies throughout the again 9 – together with the ultimate 5 holes – to card a seven-under 65.
In doing so the Englishman tied the match report for a low back-nine rating, 29, at TPC Sawgrass, based on the PGA Tour. Having begun the day in twenty sixth place, his late flourish secured him $2.725 million in runner-up prize cash, with Viktor Hovland and Tom Hoge ending two photographs behind.
Scheffler additionally made historical past. After his maiden main triumph at Augusta final 12 months, he turns into simply the third participant to carry each The Masters and The Gamers Championship titles concurrently after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
With 33 majors and 5 Gamers Championships between them, the pair make for illustrious firm.
“Fairly a particular group of individuals. We might add all our majors and Gamers collectively and I’ve two now they usually have much more than that,” stated Scheffler, laughing.
“Any time you will get talked about in the identical breath as Tiger and Jack it’s very particular. I’m very grateful for that.”
The victory continues Scheffler’s wonderful begin to 2023, and his second win after he defended his title on the WM Phoenix Open in February.
That triumph had seen Scheffler reclaim world No. 1 spot from Rory McIlroy, just for Rahm to leapfrog the American per week later with victory – already his third of the 12 months – on the Genesis Invitational.
But the Spaniard’s hopes of a fourth had been dashed early on at TPC Sawgrass, as he withdrew following Thursday’s first spherical citing sickness having opened with a one-under 71.
In the meantime, McIlroy endured an uncharacteristically torrid weekend, capturing 76 and 73 en path to lacking the lower at a PGA Tour occasion for the primary time since FedEx St. Jude Championship in August 2022.
For the brand new world No. 1, consideration now turns as to if he can defend his inexperienced jacket at Augusta subsequent month.
“I’m simply snug with the place my recreation is,” Scheffler stated.
“I really feel like I’m bettering. I’m undoubtedly studying extra and the extra you will get into rivalry and be within the moments. I’d say that’s most likely probably the most precious factor is figuring out what you’re feeling like and having the ability to put together for it.
“Going into the Masters, it’s going to be a enjoyable week. Champions Dinner, there’s going to be loads of enjoyable stuff that I get to try this week, however by the point we tee it up Thursday all people begins at even par so it most likely doesn’t have a lot of an impact.”
