Scottie Scheffler strolls to second Masters victory at Augusta National
How did things play out on the final day of the Masters? NCG’s Matt Chivers can fill you in on Sunday’s events at Augusta…
It was like 2022 all over again for Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler won the Masters in such a dominant fashion that, a long way from the finish line, we all knew who the winner would be.
The American won by four shots and although it was close and curious around the halfway stage, there was only one man with an extra gear that wanted the Green Jacket more than anyone else.
Here is what happened on the last day of the 2024 Masters…
Masters report: So what happened?
The order of the leaderboard largely remained unchanged in the opening acts of the show. Scheffler touched eight-under-par with a birdie on the 3rd hole, but he gave one back with a bogey on the next one.
He was seven-under-par after six holes, but he had a long line of stars behind him including Ludvig Aberg who, to this point, was putting like a demon. Birdies on the 2nd and 7th holes for the young Swede took him to just one shot back with Collin Morikawa who was sensibly bowling along one shot behind as well.
Max Homa started well with a birdie on the 2nd hole and, although he also gave one back on the 7th, his solid start paid dividends as once Scheffler made a bogey on the 6th hole, we had a three-way tie for the lead between Scheffler, Morikawa and Aberg.
Homa cashed in on the 8th with a birdie and now, we had a four-way tie with Bryson DeChambeau and Tommy Fleetwood within three shots off the summit with their back nines remaining.
On the 9th, Aberg rolled in an incredible looping, downhill birdie putt to join Scheffler and Morikawa in the lead on seven-under-par. This happened shortly after the American pair made birdies on the 8th hole in the final group of the day.
But then Scheffler cranked up the pressure. After Morikawa found the greenside bunker on the 9th, Scheffler almost holed his second shot from the fairway. He tapped in for a birdie, while Morikawa struggled to a double-bogey.
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This was the leaderboard when the leaders began the back nine at the 2024 Masters:
-8 Scottie Scheffler (9)
-7 Ludvig Aberg, Max Homa (10)
-5 Collin Morikawa (9)
-3 Tommy Fleetwood (12), Bryson DeChambeau (10)
Around the turn, Scheffler began to ignite the burners. He birdied the 10th hole for his third in a row and suddenly, he had a two-shot lead over Homa and Aberg.
He might have bogeyed the 11th hole, but his rivals began to flounder. Aberg hit his second shot in the water on the same hole which led to a double bogey, and Morikawa did the same thing.
Meanwhile, Homa dashed his chances when he dashed his ball into the bushes long of the 12th green. Like many players before him, the PGA Tour star had his hopes eliminated on one of the most feared holes on the planet. Scheffler’s lead was three.
To his credit, Aberg battled back. He made birdies on 13 and 14 to remain in the back of Scheffler’s mind, but the World No.1 added birdies on 13 and 14 too to reach 10-under-par for the week and kept his Scandinavian opponent three shots away.
He had navigated every possible obstacle and even added a birdie on the 16th hole. As he arrived at the 18th hole in the setting sun, Aberg finished with a 69 ahead to end on seven-under-par. A fierce effort on his Masters debut.
Scheffler went one better with a four-under-par 68 to finish on 11-under-par and win the Masters by four shots.
Scottie Scheffler dominates Masters final round: What did the players have to say?
Scottie Scheffler:
“I did my best. I did my best to stay calm out there. I tried to stay patient on the course and I was able to make some key shots and key putts today to keep my round going. Ludvig played great today, he made a good move at me there on the back nine and I was fortunate to hold him off towards the end.
“I hadn’t hit many good iron shots (up until the 9th hole) which is a bit unusual for me. I’d hit some good ones but they weren’t really ending up where they were supposed to and so, I had that bogey on 7 and a nice birdie putt on 8 and then going to number 9, it was nice to get that feeling of hitting a really well-struck shot and then it set me up to have a nice back nine.
“I’m coming home (addressing his pregnant wife now). I’ll be home as quickly as I can. I love you and I’m coming home.
“You’re about to make me cry here in the Butler Cabin! It’s a very special time for both of us. I really can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament again. I really can’t put it into words what it’s going to be like to be a father for the first time, so I’m looking forward to getting home and celebrating with Meredith. It’s been a really long week without her, I’m just looking forward to getting home.”
Max Homa:
“I thought I handled myself great, didn’t make any putts, really didn’t feel like I blinked. Would have loved the ball on 12 not to go in the foot of ivy. But I hit a good shot, and I think I did that all weekend.
“Scottie is an amazing golfer. It’s really impressive. Obviously, I was going to need to play some spectacular golf today, did not. But I thought I played some really good golf, so I’m proud of that, and it was a really fun weekend.”
Tommy Fleetwood:
“It was a nice round of golf. Of course, to get into any kind of serious contention, I guess I needed a much lower one and I needed a few more fireworks. But the golf course isn’t giving much away.
“I think overall throughout the week, I made so few bogeys – I had a bogey-free round today, which is amazing, and I made so few bogeys throughout the week, considering the conditions, which is such a positive, and I did so many good things.
“I think I look back on it and scorable holes probably cost me. I didn’t really birdie the par-5s that much, so I’ll sort of look back on that and think I could have done better there.
“But overall I had a beautiful day today. I really enjoyed being out there. It’s Masters Sunday, and I had a bogey-free round, so there’s not much to complain about.”
Shot of the day
Scheffler has become somewhat of a killer on the PGA Tour. His driving and iron play is formidable and when his putting is hot, it’s all over.
After his playing partner Morikawa found the greenside bunker on the 9th hole, Scheffler launched his ball over the pin and it trickled back to within an inch of falling into the cup.
He tapped in for birdie and Morikawa continued to double-bogey the hole. A brutal window of about five minutes where Scheffler began to take control.
Stat of the day
Justin Ray is always on hand to deliver incredible statistics and with his second Masters win, Scheffler has made history…
Wholesome moment of the day…
Verne Lundquist, the man who called moments from the Masters commentary booth such as Jack Nicklaus’ iconic display in 1986 and Tiger Woods’ chip-in on the 16th hole in 2005, completed his 40th and final broadcast at Augusta National this week.
A quite incredible moment occurred by that 16th green again on Sunday. Sat by the par 3 putting surface, Lundquist watched Woods finish the hole and while walking to hole 17, Woods shook hands with the legendary commentator.
Strange press conference moment of the Masters final round…
Neil Shipley was the only amateur to make the cut at the 2024 Masters, so he had the pleasure of joining the historic low amateur winner’s board at this most prestigious tournament.
Shipley also played with Tiger Woods in the final round and afterwards, a reporter asked him if Woods had passed him a note, and what the note said. Except, this never happened…
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
