Scottie Scheffler Withstands Early Pressure To Win The Masters

Scottie Scheffler poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the Masters on April 10, 2022 in Augusta, Ga.

Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. withstood early and late challenges to shoot a final-round 71 Sunday and win his first major championship in the 86th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
Leading by three strokes after Saturday’s third round, Scheffler held his ground as playing partner Cameron Smith of Australia birdied the opening two holes Sunday to close to within a stroke of the leader.
A pair of Smith bogeys and a Scheffler birdie on a bump-and-run shot from below the green on the third hole put Scheffler back up by four strokes. 
“It was definitely not a shot I expected to see go in,” Scheffler, who was born in New Jersey but now lives in Dallas, said in a TV interview. “It definitely got things rolling for me. I played some really solid golf after that.”
Once again playing with a composure that belies his age, the 25-year-old Scheffler — the world’s No. 1-ranked player — finished the tournament 69-67-71-71-278. He was the only player to play below par in all four rounds.
“I may have looked calm on the outside, but … it’s a long day, it’s a tough day,” Scheffler said. “I was just trying to keep my head down and just execute shots.
“I was fortunate to put myself in a position where I was in control of the tournament today. So, I didn’t have to worry about what anyone else was doing out there. If I took care of my stuff and played good, solid golf, I felt like I would get the job done.”
The only time he showed any nerves Sunday was on the 18th green when he lipped out a pair of short putts. But he buried his final attempt for a double-bogey and was off to be fitted for his first green jacket in Butler Cabin.
A charging Rory McIlroy finished with a record-tying final-round total of 64 to finish 7 under for the tournament. He holed out his bunker shot on the 18th hole to electrify the enormous crowd. McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, finished second, with Smith and Ireland’s Shane Lowry tied for third.
Playing with McIlroy, 2020 U.S. Olympian Collin Morikawa also holed out from the same bunker to finish his round with a 67 and take fifth place. Fellow U.S. Olympian Justin Thomas finished eighth.