• Golf

Sports Desk, Apr 15 ( EFE).-

World number one Scottie Scheffler won his second Augusta Masters golf championship on Sunday, two years after first lifting the trophy at the legendary Georgia course in the United States.

The 27-year-old American carded a four-under-par 68 in the final round to finish with an overall eleven under-par 277.

Scheffler finished four shots ahead of Ludvig Aberg, who became runner-up with seven under par 281.

Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, and American duo Max Homa and Collin Morikawa shared third position with four under par 284.

Spanish Jon Rahm, winner in 2023 and who had a cumulative score of nine over par, was in charge of delivering the green jacket to Scheffler.

“It’s hard to put into words how special this is,” said Scheffler, who also won the title in 2022.

“It’s been a long week, a grind of a week. It was a battle. The golf course was so challenging, and to be sitting here wearing this jacket again and getting to take it home is extremely special.”

Both of Scheffler’s titles came while holding the top position in the rankings.

Tiger Woods is the only other player to win two Masters titles while holding the top ranking.

The final day was expected to be a duel between Morikawa and Scheffler.

But it was the 24-year-old Swede Aberg, who showed some resilience by equaling Scheffler at six under par after the seventh hole, which saw Scheffler make a bogey against a birdie from Aberg.

Scheffler, however, chained three birdies in a row—six in nine holes—to leave Aberg with no further momentum.

Scheffler had earlier announced his intention to leave the tournament if his first child was born, which did not happen.

“I’m coming home,” Scheffler said with a laugh in a message dedicated to his wife, Meredith, after winning his third title of the year.

“I’ll be home as quick as I can. It’s a very special time for both of us. I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament. I really can’t put into words what it’s going to be like to become a father for the first time.”

The tournament provided a painful experience to five-time champion Tiger Woods, who closed his worst four-day, 72-hole tournament as a professional golfer with a 16-over-par 304. EFE