PGA The Players Championship FR 8 Under Par
2 Consecutive Wins '8.5 Million Dollar Jackpot', 8th Career Victory
Harman, Schauffele, Clark 'Tied 2nd by 1 Stroke'
Kim Siwoo Tied 6th, Im Sungjae Tied 31st
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) achieved his first back-to-back victory at the tournament.
Scottie Scheffler is smiling while holding the trophy immediately after winning The Players Championship. [Ponte Vedra Beach, USA = Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News]
On the 17th (local time), at TPC Sawgrass (par 72, 7,275 yards) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, Scheffler shot 8-under par in the final round of the PGA Tour’s "fifth major," The Players Championship (total prize money $25 million), securing a one-stroke victory (20-under par 268). This marked his second consecutive win following last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, his eighth career win, and earned him a winner’s prize of $4.5 million.
Scheffler set a new milestone by becoming the first player to win this tournament, which celebrated its 50th edition, two years in a row. Although six players had won the event more than once before, none had achieved consecutive victories until Scheffler. Following the $4 million winner’s prize at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he earned a total of $8.5 million (approximately 11.3 billion KRW) over two weeks. This thrilling come-from-behind victory was achieved despite overcoming muscle stiffness in his neck during the second round, which required treatment mid-round.
Starting from a tie for 6th place, five strokes behind, Scheffler recorded one eagle and six birdies without a single bogey. He made an eagle on the 4th hole (par 4) with a 92-yard wedge shot. He then added consecutive birdies on holes 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 16. While practicing on the green preparing for a playoff, Scheffler embraced his caddie in joy as his victory was confirmed.
Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, and Xander Schauffele (all USA) tied for 2nd place at 19-under par 269. Clark missed a birdie putt on the final 18th hole (par 4) that would have forced a playoff. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) exchanged five birdies for five bogeys and finished tied for 19th place at 9-under par 279.
Kim Si-woo is making a birdie putt on the 18th hole of the 4th round at The Players Championship. [Ponte Vedra Beach, USA = Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News]
Korea’s 2017 champion Kim Si-woo recorded one eagle and seven birdies (one bogey), shooting 8-under par to jump to a tie for 6th place at 15-under par 273. This marked his first top-10 finish in eight tournaments this year. Kim posted a greens in regulation rate of 77.78% (tied 7th), 1.43 putts per green in regulation (2nd), and 25 putts total (tied 7th) on the day. Im Sung-jae finished tied for 31st place at 7-under par 281.
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