World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler produced a commanding performance on the final day at Augusta to seal his second Masters triumph in three years with a four-shot victory.
Scheffler, who was the pre-tournament favorite, entered the final round with a one-shot advantage and despite the threats posed by a number of players on a tense final day, Scheffler hit a four-under 68 to run away from the pack and finish on 11 under, securing his second win at Augusta and slipping on the famous Green Jacket once more.
Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, on his debut major appearance, shot a final-round 69 to finish runner-up on 7 under while there was a three-way tie for third that featured American pair Collin Morikawa and Max Homa as well as England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
It was a shaky start to the final day for the 2022 champion as he saved pars on the first two holes and a bogey on the seventh meant that he fell back alongside Åberg and Morikawa. A birdie from Homa on the eighth meant he joined the three at the top of the leaderboard but Scheffler birdied the same hole to lead once more.
Scheffler then produced a stunning moment on the ninth as he nearly holed his 89-yard approach to the par-4 ninth which set him up nicely to sink back-to-back birdies.
As the players reached Amen Corner, it remained tight at the top of the leaderboard. However, there were costly slip-ups from Morikawa, Homa, and Åberg, all of whom collected double-bogeys in the famed section at Augusta to give Scheffler a three-shot advantage and control of the tournament with seven to play.
The 27-year-old went on to sink birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th which essentially sealed his second triumph in this major.
This victory adds to the wins he claimed at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship meaning that he had now collected nine trophies since February 2022, marking him as one of the most consistent players in recent times.
He has also joined the list of 17 players who have achieved the feat of winning the Masters twice, becoming the fourth-youngest to do so.
Five-time Masters Tiger Woods marked his 100th competitive round at the tournament by finishing last of those who made the cut after hitting a five-over 77 while defending champion Jon Rahm produced a disappointing defense as he finished tied-45th.
The next major on the golf calendar is the PGA Championship taking place between 16-19 May at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.