Scottie Scheffler produced a dazzling six-under-par final round to obliterate the competition at Bay Hill, as he romped to a classy victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five shots.
The fourth PGA Tour Signature Event of 2024 began with Scheffler and Shane Lowry top of the leaderboard at -9, with US Open champion, Wyndham Clark, one shot back and Rory McIlroy lurking at -5.
But Scheffler blew them all away with an irresistible display of big drives, good approaches and some fine putting to secure his first win in a year at Bay Hill to collect $4million and cement his position as World No.1.
Speaking after his round, the 27-year-old said: "I played a good round of golf, we got off to a good start and I tried my best to keep it rolling. I didn't look at many leaderboards today and stayed in my own little space and just tried to keep pushing. As I made the turn on the back nine I knew I had a good few shots lead.
"I stayed in my process and tried to have a good attitude. I played well. Anytime you can win Arnie's tournament it is pretty special, he meant a lot to the game of golf and us as professionals. It is an honour to win here."
Lowry, who came third, said: "I got beaten by the World No.1. It was exhibition stuff."
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL LEADERBOARD
- -15 SCHEFFLER
- -10 CLARK
- -9 LOWRY
- -7 HENLEY, ZALATORIS
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MATSUYAMA UNDERWAY AS BIDS TO CHASE DOWN LEADERS
Hideki Matsuyama, fresh from his recent win, gave himself a look at birdie on the first in a bid to apply heat to the leaders. But he left it well short surprisingly and had to scramble a par however Russell Henley has birdied the first to move to -8, just one shot back.
RORY UNDERWAY BUT NO SIGN YET OF A HOT START
McIlroy started the day four shots back at -5 and has just opened with two successive pars. But McIlroy will still fancy his chances after already winning this year once in Dubai.
SPIETH BACK IN THE CLUBHOUSE AFTER EVENTFUL ROUND
Jordan Spieth is currently tied 36th after a -3 round today to finish +1 for the tournament. His round included a remarkable par save on the par 5 16th when he was forced to play one shot left-handed.
Another day, another ridiculous par save from @JordanSpieth. (Presented by @CDWCorp) pic.twitter.com/qfEPsySZ32March 10, 2024
McILROY LOOKING OUT OF SORTS
Rory's odds of coming from behind look to be increasing after an unconvincing start despite the Northern Irishman remaining -5. The world No.2 pulled his first two approaches but still saved par on the first and second. His approach to the third was also ropey as he missed the green on the right.
CLARK OPENS WITH A BIRDIE AT FIRST BUT SCHEFFLER UNDAUNTED
Wyndham Clark has opened up with a birdie at the first from 23 foot to move level with the leaders but Scottie Scheffler has responded by putting his approach close in the group behind which he converts to get to -10..
TROUBLE FOR MCILROY AT PAR FIVE FOURTH
Rory's start is going from bad to worse. He dropped a shot to slip back to -4 following a bogey at the third when he missed the green from 146 yards. Now on the fourth he has driven into a hazard off the tee from where he could only hack it out from a terrible lie as he went on to record a bogey.
LOWRY'S CHALLENGE ALREADY FADING FAST
Shane Lowry started the day level with Scottie Scheffler but is already now three shots back after two opening bogeys after missing both the first two greens.
SCHEFFLER LOOKING COMPOSED AND CONFIDENT
World No.1 Scheffler has made an impressive start after his opening birdie. He has another look at birdie at the third after a solid iron from 127 yards to 35 feet. It comes up just short but he gets a tap in four as his run of one putts ends.
Scottie Scheffler has made nine straight one-putts. This is the most in his career on TOUR. pic.twitter.com/wSAh4wrsZvMarch 10, 2024
SCHEFFLER IN THICK ROUGH AT THE FOURTH BUT MAY SCRAMBLE PAR
Scheffler has missed the fairway off the tee at the par five fourth but powered a recovery shot out of thick rough to give him a chance of making the green in regulation.
McILROY FIND WATER AT THE PAR 5 SIXTH
McIlroy started the day just four shots back on -5 but his challenge looks over already after just six holes. Having already dropped two shots with bogeys, McIlroy has just put his second at the sixth into the water going for the green in two en-route to a double bogey seven. But one player moving the opposite direction is Justin Thomas who is now -7.
Raise the putter and walk it in.@JustinThomas34 moves to T3 with his third birdie of the day. pic.twitter.com/BvW193qpW0March 10, 2024
ROLLERCOASTER ROUND FOR CLARK SO FAR
Reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark is having an erratic round with two bogeys and two birdies in his first four holes today. He is two shots back and will need to be more consistent if he is to chase down Scheffler.
A surprise birdie is always a bonus.Looked good the whole way, @Wyndham_Clark! pic.twitter.com/zjxXvPXnyqMarch 10, 2024
JUSTIN THOMAS COULD SET A CLUBHOUSE TARGET
Resurgent Thomas , who endured a torrid 2023 and missed the Tour Championship, reached the turn -3 and -7 in total and has another look at birdie on the 10th. JT missed it though and then found water off the tee at 11.
SCHEFFLER MAKES BIRDIE AT SIXTH WITH GUSTY UP AND DOWN
After putting his approach to the par 5 sixth green on the right, Scheffler had the kind of chip over a bunker to a pin with water beyond it that would make most amateurs go weak at the knees. Not your world No.1 though who floated his chip past the hole to leave a short uphill birdie putt which he drained to get to -11.
CONTRASTING FORTUNES FOR TWO CHALLENGERS
Matsuyama has just missed a tiny putt on the eighth to drop a shot but Clark continues to push hard to hunt down Scheffler after firing his approach to the par four eighth to 13 feet. Clark's attempt just slides by though and Scheffler's two-shot lead remains.
SCHEFFLER LEADING FROM THE FRONT IN STYLE
The world No.1 hit a 325-yard drive on the eighth and a fine approach to 15-foot before missing his birdie and signing for a par to stay two shots ahead. Scheffler won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA Tour Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. Scheffler is the first player to win Player of the Year honours in back-to-back seasons since Tiger Woods won the award in three straight years from 2005-07.
ANOTHER DEADWEIGHT BIRDIE PUTT LEAVES TAP IN PAR
Scheffler continues to hit fairways and greens and is looking very solid with the flat stick , which has traditionally been his Achilles heel. Take the ninth where the American found the middle of the green with his second from 199-yards from where his 36-foot putt rolled out to four inches from the cup.
SCHEFFLER'S 90-YARD WEDGE LEAVES SHORT BIRDIE PUTT ON 10
After yet again finding the fairway on the 10th, Scheffler has stiffed his approach shot with a wedge from 90 yards. He now has an eight-foot putt for a potential four shot lead which he converts as his putter continues to do the business.
DAY TO FORGET FOR McILROY
He will have teed off with the leader in his sights but right now, at +6 for the day after only 12 holes, McIlroy is just playing to save face and regain some confidence in his swing.
SCHEFFLER'S BALL STRIKING IS IMPERIOUS
Scheffler has just split another fairway on the 11th - his seventh in nine attempts - and fired in an approach shot from 109 yards to six foot to tee up another potential birdie which he rolls in. He is playing so well it is almost impossible to see him losing this tournament now.
Leader by FIVE!Scottie Scheffler takes a commanding lead @APInv with a birdie on No. 11. pic.twitter.com/YYNHlZQs9VMarch 10, 2024
THEEGALA IN CLUBHOUSE AT -5 AFTER -4 TODAY
Scheffler is making this Bay Hill course look easy but that is clearly not the case. Sahith Theegala has just finished with a final round 68, he insisted: "The course is brutal, it is a lot calmer than yesterday but every hole is a grind. It is one of the toughest golf courses we play all year."
SCHEFFLER RECORDS SUCCESSIVE PARS ON 12 & 13
Scheffler , who is working with renown putting guru Phil Kenyon, has just two putted for par at the 12th. The flat stick has often been Scheffler's weakest club but his work with it is clearly paying off. He has also changed putter recently to a TaylorMade Spider Tour X and it is clearly going very well.
SCHEFFLER LEADS BY FIVE WITH FIVE HOLES LEFT
Scheffler is running down the holes now in a dominant display with majestic ball striking and clinical putting. He has just hit the par 3 14th with a 200-yard iron to the heart of the green from where he two-putted for a third successive par.
SCHEFFLER SMOKES ANOTHER DRIVE ON TO THE FAIRWAY AT 15
Scheffler is putting on a ball-striking masterclass and no one will touch the world No.1 at this rate today. He went for a three-wood off the tee on the 15th but still smashed the ball 293 yards down the middle before yet again firing his approach bang on line on to the green from 178 yards from where he holes out from 34 feet for a fifth birdie to pump the air. He now leads the field in strokes gained in putting this week.
The lead is SIX for Scottie Scheffler. No. 15 is the second-hardest hole this week, but Scheffler has made birdie there three straight days. pic.twitter.com/Rw5CLIqHt0March 10, 2024
DOMINANT SCHEFFLER EYES ANOTHER BIRDIE ON PAR 5 16TH
Scheffler is cruising to victory here with a totally dominant display and he looks set to pick up another birdie at the 16th after sticking his wedge to four feet before rolling in the putt.
McILROY SIGNS FOR A DISAPPOINTING 76
McIlroy has just walked off the 18th after a final round 76 which featured a lot of loose iron shots, especially early on. He was +5 at the turn in a display which will set alarms bells ringing ahead of Augusta next month as he ended -1 in total.
SCHEFFLER HAS TAP IN PAR ON 17TH
Scheffler found the sand off the tee at the 220-yard par 3 17th but still made par after a sublime bunker shot to leave a tap in for par. He will now head up the last with a six shot lead to be crowned deserved champion.
SCHEFFLER SECURES TITLE WITH SENSATIONAL DISPLAY
Scheffler has a bogey-free card today to stand at -6 for the day and -15 overall. He looks set to preserve that record up or better it up the last after a fine drive which left him a 155 yard approach to 16 feet as the American walked up to the green to chants of: "Scottie, Scottie." His birdie attempt slid by but he taps in for a birdie and his seventh PGA tour victory.
