SCOTTIE Scheffler won the FedEx St. Jude Championship by eight strokes Sunday, ending a seven-month drought after firing a 4-under-par 68 in the final round at TPC Southwind.
The title was only the second for Scheffler this season, but it was nearly a no contest as his closest pursuers fell by the wayside one after the other in the middle of another of the world No. 1’s sizzling finishes.
Although he did not win for a long time after his PGA Tour season debut in the American Express championship, it did not mean he was sloppy or mediocre.
He was, in fact, the most consistent. In that winless stretch, he had five second places and five top-four finishes. He also changed the narrative at TPC Southwind, site of the St. Jude Championship, where he has played seven times, but did not record a win until Sunday (Monday in Manila).
He posted a 263 total and finished 17-under, eight ahead of Korean Si Woo Kim, who shot a 68. Sam Burns, paired with Scheffler, shot a 73 and finished third, tied with Alex Noren, who had a 69.
Sungjae Im shot a 74 and tied for fifth, but more important for the South Korean, it got him into the Top 50 and that earned him a spot in next week’s BMW Championship, the second leg before the Tour Championship..
Losing the spot was Keith Mitchell, who shot a 72. Also missing out was Jordan Spieth, who shot a 70. Spieth needed four pars on his last four holes to advance, but made only three.
Those who made the Top 50 also are assured of spots in next year’s Signature Events which offer $20 million prize for each event.
With his win, Scheffler earned $3.6 million and got an additional $23 million in bonus money for being No. 1 in the FedExCup standings through next week's BMW Championship.
Thitikul leads Thai sweep of Portland Classic podium
Jeeno Thitikul led a remarkable finish for Thailand when she won the The Standard Portland Classic while two of her countrywomen tied for second.
Thitikul closed with an 8-under-par 64 to edge Arpichaya Yubol (67) and Chanettee Wannasaen (63), who both finished at 7 under.
Sophia Schubert, the 54-hole leader, finished fourth.
It was the 10th LPGA Tour win for the 23-year-old Thitikul. She had a total of 226, 22 under, and earned $300,000, moving her closer to $20 million in career earnings.
The week was a spectacular one for Thai golf. Not only did players from Thailand capture the top three spots, there were a total of five Thai players in the Top 10.
Two days earlier, in this tournament, Bianca Pagdanganan missed the cut after shooting a 3-over-par 75. She had shot a 6-under-par during the first round and was tied for second.
She was 3 under after two rounds. The cut was at 4 under.
She had a double bogey on the 17th hole which cost her a chance to play the weekend, wasting the birdies she made on the 14th and 15th holes that had earlier given her some breathing room.
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