Scheffler bests Kim in playoff for sixth win of '24

CROMWELL, Conn. — Scottie Scheffler needed to wait out a local weather protest on the 18th inexperienced and Tom Kim‘s tying birdie on the final gap of regulation.

These occasions solely delayed what appears to be inevitable on the PGA Tour this season: the most effective golfer on the earth strolling off with the trophy.

Shrugging off a protest that interrupted the match on the 72nd gap whereas the leaders have been lining up their putts, Scheffler received the Vacationers Championship on the primary gap of sudden loss of life Sunday for his sixth win of the yr, essentially the most in a single season on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods had six in 2009 and essentially the most earlier than July since Arnold Palmer received six (two every in February, April and Could) in 1962.

“When one thing like that occurs, you do not actually know what’s taking place, so it could possibly type of rattle you a little bit bit,” Scheffler mentioned of the protest.

“That may be a annoying scenario, and you’d hate for the match to finish on one thing bizarre taking place due to a scenario like that,” he mentioned. “Tom and I each tried to calm one another down so we might give it our greatest shot there on 18.”

Scheffler closed with a 5-under 65 and a 22-under 258 whole on the TPC River Highlands, and Kim matched him with a final-round 66.

Tom Hoge and Sungjae Im tied for third, 2 photographs again, with Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia tied for fifth at 18 below. Bhatia was additionally within the ultimate group that was disrupted by the protest.

It was Scheffler’s fourth victory of the yr within the tour’s $20 million, limited-field signature occasions, incomes him a payday of $3.6 million. He additionally received the Masters and the Gamers Championship.

And Scheffler nonetheless has two months to go.

“As a lot as I really like him, I might have cherished to take that away from him,” mentioned Kim, who shares a birthday and a friendship with Scheffler. “However I am joyful for him, and after I tapped out, after he tapped out, he mentioned some very nice phrases and it meant so much to me.”

Scheffler had a 1-stroke lead heading to the 18th inexperienced on Sunday when six people stormed the course, waving smoke bombs that left a pink and white powdery residue on the placing floor. Some wore white T-shirts with the phrases “NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET” in black lettering.

After a delay of about 5 minutes, when match officers used towels and blowers to take away the powder and every other marks which may have an effect on play, Scheffler left a 26-foot putt from the perimeter on the sting of the cup and tapped in for par.

Kim then made a 10-foot birdie putt for a 66 to match Scheffler.

“Clearly it’s a disruption and you don’t need it to occur, however for me it simply type of slowed issues down,” Kim mentioned. “It took the which means of the putt away for a second. As a result of for the previous 17½ holes all you are interested by is golf, and all of the sudden when that occurs your thoughts goes into a whole — like, you are nearly not even taking part in golf anymore. I believed it was a dream for a second.”

The opening location on the 18th was moved for the playoff to keep away from the elements of the inexperienced affected by the protesters.

Scheffler hit his method within the playoff to 11 ft whereas Kim discovered a greenside bunker. Kim’s blast from a plugged lie ran 36 ft previous the opening, leaving Scheffler with a straightforward two-putt par for the victory. Afterward, his spouse, Meredith, met him on the inexperienced, carrying their 6-week-old son, Bennett.

“It is enjoyable competing in opposition to your pals,” Scheffler mentioned. “However on the identical time, it is tough. As a result of a part of me needs him to overlook the putt and a part of me needs him to make the putt. … However he ought to do not forget that putt he made on 18, as a result of it was fairly particular. And he is an incredible participant and an incredible champion.”

Coming off a tie for forty first within the U.S. Open — by far his worst end of the yr — Scheffler trailed Kim by 3 strokes after the primary spherical, by 2 after the second and by 1 heading to the tee Sunday.

Scheffler took a 1-shot lead over Kim with three straight birdies on Nos. 13-15 — he had putts for eagle on two of them. Whereas Hoge signed for a 62 to complete at 20 below, and Im joined him there, Scheffler and Kim matched pars over the subsequent two holes to arrange the shocking end.

Scheffler and Kim share a June 21 birthday — Scheffler is 6 years older — they usually celebrated with famend New Haven pizza earlier than the match. The Dallas-area residents performed collectively within the ultimate group Sunday, chatting and joking round.

However solely one in every of them might maintain the trophy on the finish.

And similar to it has been so typically, it was Scheffler, who grew to become the primary participant to have his birthday throughout a tour occasion and go on to win since Xander Schauffele on the 2018 WGC-HSBC Champions.

Kim mentioned being in a pack of leaders together with his birthday buddy allowed him to concentrate on his personal sport.

“You need not fear about him, as a result of he’ll play effectively,” Kim mentioned. “Clearly he is an exceptional participant, world No. 1, all these titles. However on the identical time for me he is simply Scottie Scheffler, he is only a good pal.

“To return down with somebody that I play plenty of golf with, who beats me so much at dwelling — and, sadly, he beat me within the playoff too. Nevertheless it undoubtedly made it much more satisfying on the market.”

Info from The Related Press was used on this report.