After it was over, once Rory McIlroy secured back-to-back Masters wins with a bogey at No. 18, the stunning comeback Scottie Scheffler nearly pulled off came more into focus.
The world’s No. 1 golfer finished just one shot behind McIlroy after beginning the weekend 12 shots back of the lead. Scheffler closed with rounds of 6-under 65 on Saturday and 4-under 68 on Sunday to rise up into contention. A Scheffler birdie attempt that just missed on the 17th hole loomed even larger once the final groups rolled in and McIlroy’s 12-under par became the winning score.
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But Scheffler had a different bad break on his mind when speaking to reporters after Sunday’s final round. “I’m not in charge of course setup,” he told reporters, and then specifically referenced Friday’s second round when he teed off with the morning wave and finished with a 2-over 74.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler tosses his ball on the seventh green during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler tosses his ball on the seventh green during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler plays his shot on the 13th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler and his caddie, Ted Scott, cross the Hogan Bridge on his way to the 12th green.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler walks past the leaderboard on the 12th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Patrons react as Scottie Scheffler misses a putt on the ninth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler plays a shot on the eighth fairway during the final round.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler, plays his ball on the seventh hole during the final round.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler reacts after a putt on the sixth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler looks on from the sixth green.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler takes a shot on the sixth fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler walks to the fifth tee during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Haotong Li and Scottie Scheffler walk up to the fourth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler walks to par three, fourth green.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler walks off the third green after making a birdie putt.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler waits to putt on the third green.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Haotong Li and Scottie Scheffler walk onto the third green during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie SchefflerÕs name is added to the thru board at the second green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler watches his shot on the first fairway during the final round.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li walk up the first fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
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Scenes from Scottie Scheffler’s final round at Augusta
Scottie Scheffler tees off on the first hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
OPINION: Rory McIlroy is Masters king and major royalty, a choke artist no more
“I would’ve liked it to have been a little bit more equal in terms of the firmness on Thursday and Friday,” Scheffler said. “I was a bit surprised at how soft things were on Friday afternoon, especially as it got late in the day. But the weather also changes, like it was a bit windy on Thursday.”
“So who knows, it’s just that’s part of the game,” he continued. “We play an outdoor sport, and you don’t know how conditions are gonna change — especially course conditions. Overall, like I said, just Friday for me, going out early, not being able to shoot an under-par round, that definitely hurt my chances. I think I started the weekend maybe 12 back, so to get within one was a pretty good run.”
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Scheffler was seeking a third Masters win in five years and it was his fourth top-five finish in seven starts this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scottie Scheffler wonders if Masters course setup was ‘equal’ in 2026
