Scottie Scheffler showed Si Woo Kim and Blades Brown how to close out a PGA Tour event during the final round of the American Express.
Scheffler’s victory was his 20th on the PGA Tour, earning him lifetime membership, as he came out on top at the American Express.
Advertisement
The world number one started Sunday’s round tied with Brown at 21-under-par, both trailing Si Woo Kim by one shot.
All attention was on Brown after he matched Justin Rose’s long-standing record, becoming the first player in 28 years to break into the top five after three rounds of a PGA Tour event.
No one expected Scheffler to step back. The real question was how Blades would handle it when things got serious and if Si Woo could maintain his composure and secure his fifth PGA Tour title despite the mounting pressure?
Scottie Scheffler shares thoughts on Blades Brown and Si Woo Kim after American Express win
Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
Scheffler’s form looked solid throughout the tournament, even if his driving wasn’t quite where it usually is.
Advertisement
Still, he managed to pull clear with a 67 on Sunday as both Brown and Si Woo faded down the stretch, finishing with rounds of 74 and 72.
Afterwards, the 29-year-old was asked whether his experience gave him an edge over the final group at this point in his career.
He responded: “Not necessarily. I think you got to go out there, and there’s a reason we play the tournament.
“There’s a reason why we have to finish off the tournament. You don’t get awarded the trophy on the 16th hole. You got to finish the tournament.
“I was going against two guys today in the final group that are really, really talented players.
Advertisement
“Si Woo has so much talent. He’s so good at golf. Then Blades, this is my first time seeing him, but anybody at 18 years old that can make it into the final pairing of a PGA TOUR event’s doing something right.
“And then there were plenty of other guys behind us chasing us. And it’s a course where you got to go out there and make birdies.
“So there was a lot of challenges today, but I’m proud of the way we played and put up a nice round.”
Si Woo Kim and Blades got a front-row seat to a Scheffler masterclass
Scheffler’s iron play was sharp throughout the final round, but it was his course management that really stood out, as is so often the case.
Advertisement
One of the best examples came on the par-five eighth. Scheffler had about 290 yards left to the green but chose to lay up rather than risk leaving himself a long bunker shot.
The 29-year-old told his caddie, Ted Scott, that he wanted to leave himself 92 yards for his third shot and ended up just two yards off that number. It was textbook execution.
Scheffler made birdie while both Si Woo and Brown tried for the green in two but ended up short in the bunker. Si Woo carded a double bogey, Brown made par, and from there, Scheffler never looked back.
There are plenty of reasons why Scheffler is world number one, but his ability to manage a round may well be his biggest strength.
Read the full article here
