Scottie Scheffler cements superstar status with stunning comeback for Players Championship repeat

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Maybe now Scottie Scheffler will be properly recognized as the superstar he is in his sport.

Maybe now Scheffler will break from the shadows of the unassuming, overlooked star in golf the No. 1 world ranking for the past 10 months wasn’t enough to showcase and define just how good the 27-year-old New Jersey native is, then perhaps this past week — and specifically Sunday — will add the exclamation point that’s been missing all this time.

You cannot hide dominance, and Scheffler exudes exactly that at the moment.

Legends are made from virtuoso performances and results like the one Scheffler delivered at this week’s Players Championship at the venerable and memorable TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course as he became the first player in the 50-year history of the tournament to defend his title.

Scheffler, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last Sunday for the second time in three years, won his second consecutive Players Championship and he did it in stunning comeback fashion, beginning the final round five shots behind 54-hole leader Xander Schauffele.

The end to the tournament was positively scintillating.

Scheffler had posted 20-under par for the week after shooting 8-under-par 64 and fidgeted around the clubhouse and then the practice range while Schauffele, the defending Olympic gold-medal winner, reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and reigning British Open champion Brian Harman all played the 18th hole at 19-under par, needing a birdie to force a playoff.

None of the three could make that happen.

Harman pushed his 18-foot putt to the left and missed.

When Schauffele, who had missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole moments before that would have tied the lead, failed to drain a long one on 18.

And finally, Clark watched his 18-foot birdie putt do a 360 around the hole and halfway down before rimming out.

Scheffler knew by the sound of the massive crowd around 18 the putt failed to drop and he hugged his caddie, Ted Scott, and celebrated.

“It’s tough enough to win one Players,” Scheffler said. “So, to have it back-to-back is extremely special.’’

What added to the legend was Scheffler shrugging off a scary neck and shoulder ailment that popped up in the middle of his second round Friday. He had a physio with him for about five holes, massaging him between holes.

He powered on and shot a 3-under-par 69 on Friday to stay in it.

“I’m a pretty competitive guy, and I didn’t want to give up in the tournament,” Scheffler said. “I did what I could to hang around until my neck got better. Today it felt really good.”

Scheffler, who began the day five shots off the lead, tied the largest comeback in tournament history. He, too, tied the tournament record for lowest final-round score by the winner with his 8-under-par 64.

Scheffler finished without a bogey over the final 31 holes leading up to those dramatic final moments, specifically Clark’s cruel lip-out.

“I don’t know how that putt doesn’t go in,’’ Clark said. “It was kind of right-center with like a foot to go, and I knew it was going to keep breaking, but it had speed and I thought it was going to go inside left. And even when it kind of lipped, I thought it would lip in. I’m pretty gutted it didn’t go in.’’

Clark finished runner-up to Scheffler last week at Bay Hill.

“Obviously, there’s positives in it,’’ Clark said. “You finish second, you get a bunch of points and money and all that stuff, but it just sucks. I’ve always wanted and dreamt about making a putt that really mattered to either force a playoff or win a tournament, and I have yet to do it in my professional career. So, I was pretty bummed that I didn’t have one of those really awesome moments.

“I don’t know, I’m still a little beside myself. I’m still shocked that putt didn’t go in.’’

Clark said when he first saw Scheffler’s name on the leaderboard on the 11th hole, “I kind of chuckled and I said, ‘Yeah, of course,’ I mean, he’s the best player in the world.’’

Said Schauffele: “No surprise to see Scottie’s name up there.’’

For Schauffele, this was particularly gutting because, despite the fact that he’s won seven PGA Tour tournaments and is the reigning Olympic champion, he’s desperately seeking a signature win after having some close calls at major championships.

“I’m going to lick my wounds,’’ Schauffele said. “These suck. When I went to bed [Saturday] night, it’s not exactly how I envisioned walking off the 18th green. I’ll lick my wounds and right back to it next week.

“My dad told me a long time ago to commit, execute and accept,’’ Schauffele went on. “I’m swallowing a heavy dose of acceptance right now, but that’s kind of what I did. I tried to commit, I executed poorly on some shots, and here I am accepting it.’’