ORLANDO, FLORIDA | Not long after Scottie Scheffler had completed his dominant five-stroke victory over Wyndham Clark to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, the runner-up said what many were thinking.
“It would be borderline unfair if he starts putting really good. I never want to wish ill on anybody, but if he starts putting positive each week it's going to be really hard to beat,” said Clark, who started the final round one behind Scheffler, shot 2-under-par 70 on a difficult Bay Hill course and found himself playing for second place over the closing holes.
Scheffler, who started the round tied for the lead with Shane Lowry, closed with a 66 on a day when the final-round scoring average was 73.15 to finish at 15-under 273. It was his seventh PGA Tour victory and his first since the Players Championship last year, an event where he will be the defending champion this week. He earned $4 million from the $20 million purse in the fourth signature event of the season.
There were only four sub-70 scores in the final round, and Scheffler’s 66 was the lowest by two strokes.
“He showed today why he’s world No. 1,” said Lowry, who finished third, six behind.
It was a Sunday that felt like Scheffler went one way and everyone else with a chance when the final round began went the other way.
Lowry shared the lead with Scheffler when they teed off early Sunday afternoon but he bogeyed the first two holes and fell back.
Clark traded birdies with Scheffler early but his momentum stalled and by the time they reached the 12th hole, Scheffler’s lead had stretched to five strokes and he could enjoy the long walk up the 18th hole without any drama.
“I think this one’s pretty special. Like some of y’all had mentioned, it had been awhile since I won,” Scheffler said.
“I did win in the Bahamas [the unofficial Hero World Challenge in December], but as far as a PGA Tour event, it had been almost a year, and so there had been a lot of chatter about my game and the state of where it was at, and so it was nice to kind of come in here with a good mental attitude and to perform well under pressure, and I think today’s round was really special for me going forward.”
Doing what he seemingly always does – leading the field in strokes gained off the tee and strokes gained tee to green – Scheffler flipped the narrative this week by finishing fifth in strokes gained putting, including ranking first in the final round.
In six starts this year, Scheffler has finished in the top 10 five times, and he now has a win that should quiet the critics questioning his ability on the greens.
“Anyone can pop up and win an event here or there or get on a good run, but the consistent performances that Scottie’s been putting in week-in and week-out every time he tees it up, it is incredible,” Rory McIlroy said.
Ron Green Jr.