NASSAU, Bahamas — Eight victories weren’t sufficient for Scottie Scheffler. With birdies on three of the first four holes on Sunday, he took the lead and triumphed with a six-stroke advantage over Tom Kim at the 2024 Hero World Challenge, marking his ninth victory of the year. “It feels great,” Scheffler commented. “I’ve been lucky […]
NASSAU, Bahamas — Eight victories weren’t sufficient for Scottie Scheffler.
With birdies on three of the first four holes on Sunday, he took the lead and triumphed with a six-stroke advantage over Tom Kim at the 2024 Hero World Challenge, marking his ninth victory of the year.
“It feels great,” Scheffler commented. “I’ve been lucky to secure some wins from some really solid golf. This week was no exception where I played really well and got to see positive outcomes from my game. Overall, it was a really enjoyable year.”
Indeed it was. Scheffler finished with a birdie on the last hole, carding a 9-under 63 at Albany Club, culminating in a total score of 25-under 263 and successfully defended his title at the unofficial 20-man event organized by Tiger Woods.
“You were in my tummy last time,” Meredith Scheffler told their first child, son Bennett, who was born in May and was carried around the course by her mother in a baby carrier.
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Scheffler, the reigning world No. 1 and FedEx Cup champion, won seven tournaments on the PGA Tour, including the Masters, Players Championship, and Tour Championship. He also secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, which he counts as his eighth victory.
“Gotta enjoy each one; they’re all so distinct,” said Scheffler’s caddie Ted Scott. “It’s just wonderful to witness him back in form.” He then grinned slightly before hurrying off to the airport for a flight.
Scheffler began with 67 and followed it up with a flawless 64 to take the lead. However, he stumbled with a rather ordinary third-round 69 and trailed Justin Thomas by one stroke heading into the final round. Thomas wedged from 112 yards to 3 feet at the first hole to maintain his one-shot lead but dropped back with bogeys at Nos. 2 and 5 (and a birdie at three) and never regained control. Scheffler has now shot lower than Thomas in eight of the last nine instances they have shared the course.
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“I wish I could have applied a bit more pressure on Scottie heading to the back nine,” Thomas expressed. “But, you know, it’s tough to expect good results when leading by just one over Scottie and shooting only 1 under on Sunday.”
Scheffler burst out with determination to make it clear he was there to compete. He sank an 8-foot birdie at the first hole and reached the par-5 third hole in two, two-putting for another birdie. Then, a significant blow to his rivals came at the fourth when he made a 49-foot birdie putt.
“Seeing a long putt like that drop is an amazing feeling, providing good energy, and I try to use that to fuel the rest of my round,” he remarked.
Kim, who finished with a 68, briefly reduced Scheffler’s lead to one with a 4-foot birdie at the ninth before Scheffler matched him with his own 4-foot birdie putt at nine in the following group. He maintained his aggression on the back nine, birdying at 10 and aiming for the flag at 13, where he made a 6-foot putt using the claw grip, putting his right hand’s palm off the club, a technique he used this week in competition for the first time from around 15 feet and in.
“It’s over,” a fan remarked, perhaps a bit prematurely, though he wasn’t incorrect.
Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course on December 08, 2024 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Scheffler left no room for doubt towards the end, driving the green at the 359-yard par 4 14th for another birdie and adding more birdies at Nos. 16 and 18.
When all was said and done, many of the top players were left to simply admire his brilliance.
“Sometimes it seems he’s just playing around with us out here, you know, which is not easy to achieve,” Jason Day remarked.
For Kim, who often engaged in practice money games back in Dallas with Scheffler before Bennett’s arrival and mentioned he lost 95 percent of those encounters, was astonished by how Scheffler consistently avoids poor scores.
“He comes out here and wins, that’s what he does all the time,” said Kim. “What stands out to me is his constant desire to improve. Even after winning nine times this year, he’s still seeking small ways to enhance his game, which is really impressive to observe, and there’s a lot to learn from that.”
Thomas and others shared a similar view that Scheffler is adept at managing all the external pressures – whether it’s the arrival of his child, facing challenges at the PGA Championship, or dealing with the expectations of performing well every time he plays. No one has shown a better ability to compartmentalize and remain in his own zone.
“I don’t think people realize how hard it is to win when everyone expects you to succeed, or when every spectator anticipates you to perform well, and you also put that pressure on yourself, and still manage to deliver,” Thomas explained. “It’s as much of a skill as manipulating your wedge distance or driving far, whatever it may be — staying present and focused in the moment.”
“It’s challenging to articulate, but it can be incredibly tough to achieve at times,” Thomas continued. “That’s what I find most impressive about Scottie.”
The year 2024 belonged to Scottie Scheffler, and if his recent putting adjustment is any sign, he is poised for even greater success in 2025.
