World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler etched his name into the history books on Sunday, successfully defending his title at the WM Phoenix Open and joining an elite group of golfers. The 26-year-old American fired a final-round 65 to finish at 19-under-par 265, securing his fifth PGA Tour victory.
With his win at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona, Scheffler became the seventh player to win back-to-back titles at the event, and the first since Hideki Matsuyama in 2017. The victory also propelled him back to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“It’s so special to come out here and defend my title,” Scheffler said after hoisting the trophy. “The fans here are incredible, and to have their support means a lot to me.”
Scheffler battled a star-studded leaderboard, including Spain’s Jon Rahm and Canada’s Nick Taylor, who both applied pressure throughout the final round. Taylor finished second at 17-under-par, while Rahm took third at 14-under-par.
The win adds to Scheffler’s impressive resume, which includes his maiden major victory at the Masters in 2022. As he continues his ascent in the golfing world, many are predicting even greater achievements for the Texas native.
“Scottie is playing some phenomenal golf right now,” said Rahm. “He’s definitely someone to watch as the season progresses.”
With this victory, Scheffler further cements his status as one of the game’s brightest stars, and he’ll undoubtedly be the man to beat in upcoming tournaments, including the prestigious majors later this year.
