The weekend may have started with all the buzz around Tiger Woods’ return to the golf course, but it ended with the number one player in the world donning his first green jacket.
Scottie Scheffler, beginning the day with a 3-shot lead, rallied from a slow start to shoot a 1-under on Sunday, finishing the tournament at 10-under and beating Rory McIlroy by three strokes.
McIlroy had a spectacular Sunday, shooting an 8-under 64 on the day, including this birdie on 18 to head into the clubhouse just three strokes behind Scheffler.
What a way to finish. McIlroy holes out on No. 18 to put pressure on the leader. #themasters pic.twitter.com/L5fWWbR9cj
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2022
“It’s what you dream about, right? You dream about getting yourself into position,” McIlroy said after the round. “I wasn’t quite close enough to the lead, I don’t think. Scottie is playing really, really well. But to play as well as I did today, and then to finish like this, it’s just absolutely incredible. This tournament never ceases to amaze. That’s as happy as I’ve been on a golf course right there.”
The raucous crowd at the 18th green was treated to another birdie from the bunker just seconds later, when Collin Morikawa chipped in for a final round 67.
Collin Morikawa sees McIlroy's chip in and answers with his own. #themasters pic.twitter.com/jGiEEdR1Gu
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2022
But it all was about Scheffler on Sunday, whose consistency around the greens earned the 25-year-old his first major. Scheffler birdied 14 and 15, making the walk up to the 18th green simply a coronation, and becoming just the fifth world’s number one to win the Masters tournament.
Woods, who was playing in his first tournament since his major car accident in February 2021, shot a final round 78, finishing the tournament 13-over par. It was nothing short of a miraculous return for Woods, who told reporters in November that his days of playing full time on the PGA Tour were over.
“I don’t think words can really describe that given where I was a little over a year ago and what my prospects were at that time to end up here and be able to play in all four rounds,” Woods said. “Even a month ago, I didn’t know if I could pull this off. I think it was a positive, and I’ve got some work to do and looking forward to it.”
Woods told Sky Sports that he plans on playing at The Open in July, but has not decided on the PGA Championship or the U.S. Open.
“It’ll be just the big events,” Woods told Sky Sports after Sunday’s round. “I don’t know if it’ll be Southern Hills or not. But I am looking forward to St. Andrews. That is something that is near and dear to my heart. I’ve won two Opens there, it’s the home of golf. It’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I will be there for that one. But anything in between that, I don’t know. I will try, no doubt. Like this week, I will try and get ready for Southern Hills and we’ll see what this body is able to do.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].