AUGUSTA, Ga. — Scottie Scheffler got here to Augusta Nationwide this week trying to be a part of Jack Nicklaus as the one gamers to win three Masters in a four-year span.
He needed to accept a fourth-place end.
Scheffler, the No. 1 participant on the earth and the pre-tournament favourite, shot a 3-under 69 on Sunday to complete at 8-under 280 in every week when he might by no means recapture the mojo that led to titles in 2022 and 2024 at Augusta Nationwide.
However he walked away inspired by his play.
“It was simply every week during which I might have gotten annoyed with both how I used to be enjoying or how I used to be swinging or stuff happening, on the course, not hitting it the place I used to be trying,” Scheffler stated. “I used to be simply pleased with the way in which we hung in there and put up a very good battle. Just a few various things occur at present and I possibly have an opportunity within the tournaments. I wasn’t far off.”
Scheffler, who hasn’t gained on the PGA Tour this 12 months, stated it was “one thing to construct off of.”
For a second, it seemed like eventual champion Rory McIlroy had opened the door for Scheffler when he double-bogeyed the thirteenth and bogeyed the 14th.
Scheffler was two photographs again, however he might handle solely par on every of his last 4 holes.
“I felt like I needed to birdie the final three holes,” Scheffler stated. “Not making birdie on 15 undoubtedly damage. However general, the bogey on 12 sort of set me again just a little bit. However I bounced again fast with birdies on 13 and 14. I felt like I bounced again rather well at present.
“I believe this was the perfect I have been mentally all 12 months. I believe my sport simply wasn’t there.”
