Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed out on a third consecutive PGA Tour title as Stephan Jaeger clinched his maiden title on the tour.
German pro Jaeger came good on his 135th start as he finished on -12 at Memorial Park to clinch the Texas Children's Houston Open.
His total was one ahead of five players on -11 including the world No.1 Scheffler and popular Texan who almost forced a play-off after stiffing his approach at the last to five foot before missing in the final group alongside Jaeger.
Jaeger,34, who celebrated with his wife and baby on the 18th green, said: "It was a blast the last couple of days to fight with him (Scheffler). I tried to make some putts and make some birdies. Birdies eluded me on the back nine but I am super happy."
Jaeger held his nerve to par in on the tricky back nine as several players went top of a congested leaderboard including Alejandro Tosti and Thomas Detry. But Detry's putter let him down on the closing stretch and Scheffler's Achilles heel with his putting re-emerged too.
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOUSTON OPEN LEADERBOARD
- -12 Jaeger
- -11 Scheffler, Tosti, Detry, T Moore, Finau
- -10 Skinns, Greyserman, Rai, Horschel
- -9 Bhatia, Noren, Dunlap
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Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's live final-round coverage of the Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.
We are expecting (and keeping our fingers crossed for) a stellar finish to this week's PGA Tour event, with any one of around a dozen players genuinely harboring hopes of lifting the title on Sunday evening.
Scottie Scheffler heads up the five-man group who begin on -9, but what number will they need to reach in order to reign supreme? We're about to find out...
Follow along for all of the key updates until a champion is crowned later this evening. Thank you for joining us.
PROBLEMS FOR FINAU AT FIRST
Defending champion Tony Finau's chances have been hit by a bogey at the first. He chipped on to the par 4 with his third shot before missing the shot putt to go back to -6.
SIX-WAY TIE FOR LEAD AFTER OPENING BIRDIE FOR TAYLOR MOORE
Taylor Moore has jumped into a tie for lead on -9 with a birdie at the first after putting his stunning approach to two feet.
Birdie for @TaylorMooreGolf at No. 1. There are now six players tied for the lead at -9. pic.twitter.com/fT4IU5LmlFMarch 31, 2024
BIG RECEPTION FOR SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER ON FIRST
Scheffler, who is from Texas, gets a big ovation on the first , before despatching his driver 279 yards down the middle of the fairway in an impressive start. But his second to the par four has come up just short on the fringe.
IMPRESSIVE PUTT FROM MOORE AT SECOND
Fresh from his opening birdie, Taylor Moore has just canned a 16-foot putt for par on the par 3 second to stay at -9.
NICK DUNLAP WITH A CHANCE TO JOIN LEADERS
What a packed leaderboard we have here. Nick Dunlap also has a chance to get to -9 too after firing in his tee shot at the par 3 second to nine-feet which he then converts.
SCHEFFLER PARS THE FIRST AFTER DEFT CHIP
Scheffler's approach to the first came up short but he chipped up close and tapped in for his par to stay at -9.
ARGENTINE TOSTI MOVES BACKWARDS AFTER PUTTING WOES
After missing a short birdie putt on the left side at the first, Alejandro Tosti has just done the same with a par putt on the second. He is now -8.
SCHEFFLER FIRES IN TEE SHOT CLOSE AT PAR 3 SECOND
World No.1 Scheffler is surely the man to watch again today. He has a look at birdie at the par 3 second after putting his iron to 11-feet to give him a chance to move to -10 which he takes to join Taylor Moore, who birdied the third.
FINAU CHIPS IN AT FOURTH FOR BACK TO BACK BIRDIES
Finau's opening bogey is now a fading memory after the defending champion completed back to back birdies on the third and the fourth. His latest came from a stunning chip in from 49-feet.
A chip-in birdie for @TonyFinauGolf 💥Finau moves to -8 and two shots back @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/RUlfA9WdGzMarch 31, 2024
SCHEFFLER HAS ANOTHER BIRDIE LOOK AT THE THIRD
Scheffler has chipped up close to six foot at the par 5 third to give himself a chance of back to back birdies to take the lead as he rolls in the putt to go it alone at the top.
SCHEFFLER'S TEE SHOT AT FOURTH OPENS UP THE HOLE
Fresh from successive birdies, Scheffler has hit his tee shot on the 482-yard par four fourth on to the left side of the fairway to open up the approach to hole before unleashing a 193-yard shot to nine feet.
MOORE LOOKS SET TO PUSH SCHEFFLER ALL THE WAY
Taylor Moore is -2 today through four holes to stand -10 and has put his approach to the fifth in close. He has not missed a cut this season and came tied 12th last weekend so is in decent form.
JAEGER MOVES LEVEL WITH SCHEFFLER AT -11
Stephan Jaeger has just birdied the fourth to get to -11 after curling in a decent 23-foot putt before playing partner Scheffler is unable to follow him into the hole from 12-feet as he has to settle for par.
Tied at the top.@SJ_sedl_Golf makes back-to-back birdies of his own to pull even with Scheffler at -11. pic.twitter.com/LZjp1YRMpNMarch 31, 2024
SCHEFFLER BOOMS DRIVE 322 YARDS ON PAR FOUR FIFTH
Scheffler has found the fairway at the par four fifth with a fine drive to the right side of the fairway. He gets a 'mud-ball' but still puts his approach from 127 yards to 22 feet from where he makes par.
AKSHAY BHATIA JUST ONE SHOT BEHIND AFTER SUCCESSIVE BIRDIES
Akshay Bhatia is up to -10 now after birdieing the fifth and the sixth. He has got his broom handle putter working well. He has been joined at -10 by David Skinns who has made his first birdie on the fifth after a solid start.
SCHEFFLER AND JAEGER MATCHING EACH OTHER SHOT FOR SHOT
Scheffler and Jaeger both remain at -11 and have found the fairway at the sixth with driver along with playing partner David Skins.
NOREN MAKES SECOND EAGLE OF THE DAY AT A PAR 5
Alex Noren is up to -9 for the day after an eagle three at the par 5 eighth after his approach hit the pin. It left the Swede smiling after he also made a 3 on the par 5 third earlier. He is now -5 after 9 holes.
An albatross attempt off the flagstick!Alex Noren settles for his second eagle of the day @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/v2cUtkvNpwMarch 31, 2024
UNFORCED ERROR FROM SCHEFFLER ON THE SIXTH
Scheffler faces a battle to save par on the par 4 sixth. After finding the fairway off the tee he has missed the green short and left with a shot from 121 yards to leave himself way below the hole with a delicate, tricky chip from 50 feet which he has put 22 foot past the hole as the world No.1 drops a shot.
SCHEFFLER LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AT THE PAR 3 SEVENTH
Scheffler made an uncharacteristic error on the sixth , perhaps due to the wind, but he has fired in a superb tee shot on the par 3 seventh to eight foot from 221 yards as leader Jaeger looks likely to drop a shot after missing the green and chipping past the hole.
BHATIA IS THE NEW LEADER AS SCHEFFLER AND JAEGER MISS PUTTS
Scheffler had to settle for a par 3 on the seventh despite putting his approach to nine foot, while German pro Jaeger drops his first shot of the day there which means Akshay Bhatia is into the lead after a birdie on the eighth. However the leader's tee shot on the par 3 ninth is in a tricky bunker after short siding himself.
A new solo leader arises @TCHouOpen 👀22-year-old @AkshayBhatia_1 leads by 1. pic.twitter.com/wrtT3gE3RhMarch 31, 2024
BHATIA'S LEAD IS SHORT-LIVED AMID BUNKER WOES
Bhatia's lead at the top doesn't last long after his tee shot on the par 3 ninth found the greenside bunker and he took two attempts to get out as he records a bogey. That leaves Thomas Detry as the man to catch after he gets to -2 for the day.
Trouble for the solo leader. Akshay Bhatia escapes with a bogey and moves one back of leader Thomas Detry @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/mUZd7mNugaMarch 31, 2024
LAST WEEK'S WINNER PETER MALNATI RECORDS AN ACE
Fresh from winning last weekend on the PGA Tour at the Valspar Championship, Peter Malnati has just aced the seventh to cap a memorable week. That leaves him -2 in total after he started his round on the 10th today.
🚨 BUCKETS in the bucket hat!! 🚨 An ace for @PeterMalnati on the 223-yard par-3 7th hole @TCHouOpen! (Presented by @CocaCola) pic.twitter.com/PXnvXXkiQ7March 31, 2024
GREAT STORY FOR ENGLISH PRO DAVID SKINNS
English journeyman pro David Skins, 42, from Lincoln is enjoying his best season in his life after coming tied fourth at the Cognizant Classic recently. He is now tied for the lead here after going -2 for 8 holes to stand -11 in total. He has hardly missed a shot so far today in a composed display alongside world No.1 Scottie Scheffler who he is currently beating.
JAEGER BACK OUT IN FRONT AFTER SUCCESSIVE BIRDIES
German pro Jaeger is back out infront on -12 after birdies on the eighth and ninth to reach the turn in -3, one ahead of Scheffler who is -11 and -2 at the turn.
Darts in the final group 🎯🎯 Stephan Jaeger birdies to take the solo lead and Scottie Scheffler birdies to get one back @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/gBE5cTdgLbMarch 31, 2024
LAST GROUP ALL STRUGGLING AT THE TENTH
Jaeger, Skinns and Scheffler all hit disappointing shots into the 10th with only Skinns finding the putting surface. But they all walked off with pars nonetheless.
SCHEFFLER CRUSHES FIVE IRON INTO PAR 3 11TH
Jaeger's 6 iron into the par 3 11th has come up just short of the green but Scheffler and Skinns have followed him and hit 5 irons to give themselves an outside birdie look from 32 foot and 40 foot respectively. The trio all again walk off with pars after Jaeger chips up close and Scheffler's putt somehow stays out. Scheffler will do well to avoid getting frustrated at this rate.
ARGENTINE TOSTI IS NOW JUST A SHOT BEHIND
Tosti is now -2 for the day and -11 in total after a birdie on the 12th.
The Tosti Tango 🕺 pic.twitter.com/aqDEDABbmzMarch 31, 2024
JAEGER HAS A CHANCE TO EXTEND HIS LEAD ON THE 12TH
Jaeger is the only member of the final group to hit the green and give himself a birdie look on the par four 12th. Skinns and Scheffler face tricky chips to get up and down and the world No.1 , whose approach landed near the pin and ran off down a slope, looks to be getting frustrated, which could cost him victory over an inexperienced field. The trio all walk off with pars though after some superb chips.
Scottie short game magic 🪄 pic.twitter.com/SS3nvDw7R6March 31, 2024
SCHEFFLER SPINS IN A WEDGE ON 13TH TO GIVE HIMSELF BIRDIE LOOK
Scheffler has been looking frustrated on this back nine but he has a good look at birdie on the 412-yard par 4 12th after putting a wedge from 114 yards to 11 feet. While rivals Jaeger and Skinns have both missed the elevated green with the leader flying the putting surface. Jaeger does superbly to get up and down though with a gutsy putt as Scheffler's birdie slides by and Skinns has a bogey.
JAEGER SHOWING PLENTY OF GUTS TO RETAIN THE LEAD
That was a heck of par to stay out in front by German Stephan Jaeger who rolled in an impressive 19-foot putt on the 13th after he missed the par four with his approach and put his chip past the hole.
CLUTCH! Stephan Jaeger saves par to hold on to the solo lead @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/FXKlaQTlXRMarch 31, 2024
CLOSING TRIO MUST NOW NEGOTIATE TOUGH PAR 4 14TH
Jaeger has missed the fairway on the right off the tee on the 14th while Scheffler has smoked a 319-yard drive down the middle of the fairway. The German has cut a high fade from 165 yards on to the green, where Scheffler and Skinns also put their balls as the trio all make par.
JAEGER IN THE BOX SEAT ON PAR 3 15TH
Leader Jaeger has a chance of a birdie at the 15th where he has put his tee shot to 17 foot. Scheffler and Skinns both missed the green and are scrambling to save par. The German eventually taps in for par as Skinns follows him in before Scheffler pulls his putt. Scheffler earlier missed the green on the right off the tee and appeared to suggest a disagreement with his caddie Ted Scott by muttering "the wind was off the left all day".
ALEJANDRO TOSTI PACKS A POWERFUL PUNCH
Alejandro Tosti is currently second and continuing to attack the course. Having made an unlikely three at the 15th when his ball somehow stayed out of the water, he has just hit his tee shot at the par 5 16th a staggering 383 yards to leave a short iron into the green from 175 yards.
Keeping the dream alive! Rookie @AleTostiOK with an electric par save to remain one back @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/wHu0uNE7h5March 31, 2024
SCHEFFLER NOT OUT OF IT YET
Scheffler is two shots back after a bogey on the 15th but he is on the par 5 16th in two and just 19 feet away with a putt for eagle. Joint leader Jaeger had to lay up and wedge up to a similar distance before getting a par as Scheffler is able to pick up a shot on the leader along with Skinns.
TOSTI FAILS TO MAKE BIRDIE ON 17 AS JAEGER WAITS ON TEE
The drama is building here with Tosti failing to birdie the short par four 17th allowing Jaeger , Scheffler and Skinns in the group behind to follow them after a 12 minute wait on the tee. The trio have all thumped the ball up there to leave short chips on to the 329-yard hole.
SCHEFFLER HASN'T MADE MANY PUTTS BUT HAS A BIRDIE LOOK ON 17
Scheffler has chipped up to 13 feet from the hole at the short 17th but misses yet another putt. Jaeger now has a chance to take a one-shot lead up the last if he can convert but he too misses as Tosti and the German remain tied at the top.
TOSTI STRUGGLING TO MAKE PAR AT LAST
Tosti has left himself an 18-foot putt for par to finish on -12 which is the same total as Jaeger in the group behind who has just crushed his last drive 329 yards down the fairway. Tosti misses which means Jaeger is likely to win with a par at the last unless Scheffler or Skinns in his group birdie the last and the German fails to.
AWESOME APPROACH FROM SCHEFFLER PUTS PRESSURE ON JAEGER
What a stunning approach from world No.1 Scheffler from 183 yards to 5 ft 5 from the hole. Jaeger is 20 feet away and will play first with a putt for birdie to win the title by getting to -13.
One final push. Just one back, Scottie Scheffler gives himself a birdie look on No. 18 @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/A4KyYkLWgwMarch 31, 2024
JAEGER PARS IN FOR -12 TOTAL LEAVING SCHEFFLER PUT FOR PLAY-OFF
Scheffler's birdie attempt slides by and Jaeger wins after parring every hole on the back nine for a -3 round and -12 total.
To force a playoff ... A narrow miss by Scottie Scheffler whose bid to win three straight falls one shot short pic.twitter.com/RMgjfQB7u3March 31, 2024