NASSAU, BAHAMAS: Viktor Hovland led by three when he started the final day and by two shots when he came to the 72nd hole of the Hero World Challenge. Still, Scottie Scheffler did not give up and Hovland had to sweat it out to make a 20-footer for bogey to beat back the Masters Champion, who was hoping to get back to World No. 1 with a win.
Scheffler himself had troubles on the final and missed a par putt from 10 feet as Hovland won by two shots. But it was as tense as it gets here on Sunday.
If Hovland had missed the 20-footer and Scheffler's first putt, which grazed the hole and went past, had fallen, it would have been a play-off. Considering Hovland at one stage led the field by four and was five clear of Scheffler, that would have been incredible. Hovland finished at 16-under to become the fourth successive European to win the HWC. Scheffler ended at 14-under. Cameron Young (68) was third, followed by Xander Schauffele (68) in fourth and Justin Thomas (70) fifth. Collin Morikawa (70) and Tony Finau (68) were sixth and seventh.
There were many crucial moments in the final round but the one that stood out wasprobably on the sixth, where Scheffler chipped in for an eagle to momentarily catch up with Hovland at 14-under. Minutes later, Hovland drained a 12-15 footer himself for a birdie and stayed ahead. He stayed ahead right through and made some amazing clutch putts, too.
The stretch from sixth to ninth, where Scheffler double bogeyed and then the late second surge by Scheffler made for riveting golf, a drama worthy of a classy event.
If Scheffler was gritty and kept coming back, Hovland proved nerveless.
Hovland became only the second player after Tiger Woods (2006-2007) to win the HWC back-to-back and the key to his game this entire week was amazing putts. He needed 23 and 24 putts on the week and that was the difference between him and the rest.
