World number one Scottie Scheffler came through a final-round tussle with Cameron Smith to cement his place as the dominant force in the men’s game by clinching his first major in the 2022 Masters golf tournament.
Scheffler saw his overnight advantage temporarily cut from three to one during a thrilling final day at Augusta National, only to pull clear of the chasing pack and register a fourth win in his last six starts.
The 25-year-old American finished three shots clear of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who shot an extraordinary 64.
McIlroy, who started the day one over, raised hopes of a sensational comeback when he holed out of the greenside bunker amid incredible scenes on the 18th, moving within three shots of the lead.
However, Scheffler remained steady and extended his advantage, which meant his late wobble on the 18th green did not matter.
Afterwards, Scheffler revealed he “cried like a baby” on Sunday morning because he doubted if he was ready to win one of the sport’s most iconic tournaments.
