….Fatiha Betscher
Little wonder new World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler admits his head is spinning.
It took Scheffler three wins in just 42 days to reach the pinnacle of the World Rankings following his convincing 4 & 3 victory over fellow American Kevin Kisner in the final of the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in Austin, Texas.
At the age of 25 year, 9 months and 6 days Scheffler ended Spaniard Jon Rahm’s reign of 36 weeks as World No. 1 thanks three wins in his last five starts.
Scheffler won the WM Phoenix Open on February 13th, was seventh in the Genesis Invitational, won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing T55th at the Players, and now he has won the WGC – Dell Technologies Match-Play.
The last player to reach World No. 1 in 42 days or fewer was David Duval in 1991 and took just 21 days from his first win on October 12th 1997 to his third of an eventual 13 Tour successes on November 2nd, 1997.
Little wonder Scottie Scheffler’s head is spinning – World No. 1 in 42 days (Photo – PGA Tour Twitter)
“My head is kind of spinning right now, to be honest with you. I’m obviously pretty happy, and I really can’t put into words what it felt like after Kevin conceded my six-inch putt or whatever”, said Scheffler.
“My head has just been kind of spinning. We took a lot of photos and now I’m sitting in here with you guys. So, definitely a lot of emotion coming off the green today. It’s been kind of a crazy past few months. I got my first win in Phoenix, and then I guess this is my third now, and golly, what a long week.
“I really don’t know how to describe the emotion. I’ve thought about winning this tournament ever since last year. It left kind of a poor taste in my mouth getting so close and ultimately coming up short.
“So, it feels really good to finish the job this time around”.
The out-pouring of support for Scheffler could not have been stronger for the golfer born in New Jersey, but grew-up in Austin in attending Highland Park High School, and later playing golf at the University of Texas from 2014 to 2018. In 2015, he was named Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year while he was on the USA winning Walker Cup team.
Scheffler qualified for both the 2016 and 2017 US Open. He turned pro and secured his PGA Tour card with two wins on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour. Last year he made his Ryder Cup debut on the back of three top-10s in the majors – T8th PGA Championship, T7th US Open and T8th at The Open.
He was handed the Walter Hagen trophy after a convincing 3 & 1 win over Dustin Johnson in Sunday morning’s semi-final and then was never behind in the final against Kevin Kisner going 2 up after four, 3 up after six, 4 up at 14 and winning the match with a par on 15.
“With the way the wind was blowing and how gusty it was and the green firmness was getting up and the pins were definitely challenging, it was tough to make birdies out there”, said Scheffler.
“I kind of kept reminding myself to stay patient. When you build up a lead on a guy like Kevin, it never really feels safe, kind of like my lead this morning on Dustin. I never felt safe. Dustin definitely proved it wasn’t safe this morning.
I would just say it got tougher as the afternoon went on. As the wind picked up it was really tough to make birdies”.
Scheffler is not contesting this week’s Valero Texas Open which makes his next event the Masters. He made the trip to Augusta National twice before and posted a pair of top-20s including T19th in 2020 and T18th last year.
What chance is there of being third time lucky and being fitted with a green jacket?
WGC – DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY (Facts and Figures)
- Scottie Scheffler wins the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, defeating Kevin Kisner in the Championship Match, 4 and 3
- Scheffler earns his third career PGA TOUR victory, with the first two coming on February 13 (42 days ago) and March 6 (21 days ago)
- With the victory, Scheffler moves to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career and extends his lead in the FedExCup standings to 780 points
- Corey Conners finishes third with a 3-and-1 victory over Dustin Johnson in the Consolation Match
Championship Match
Scottie Scheffler (5) def. Kevin Kisner (29), 4 and 3
Consolation Match
Corey Conners (36) def. Dustin Johnson (8), 3 and 1
Scottie Scheffler (5) – Winner
| Category | With the victory |
| Age | 25 years, 9 months, 6 days |
| FedExCup | No. 1 |
| OWGR | No. 1 |
| Starts – wins – top-10s in PGA TOUR career | 75-3-21 |
| Starts – wins – top-10s on TOUR in 2021-22 | 12-3-6 |
Results
6-1-0 in 2022, 10-2-2 career
Wednesday def. Ian Poulter 2 and 1
Thursday lost to Tommy Fleetwood 2 and 1
Friday def. Matt Fitzpatrick 5 and 4
Playoff def. Matt Fitzpatrick 6 holes
Round of 16 def. Billy Horschel 1-up
Quarterfinals def. Seamus Power 3 and 2
Semifinals def. Dustin Johnson 3 and 1
Championship def. Kevin Kisner 4 and 3
Third career PGA TOUR title
- PGA TOUR wins: 2022 WM Phoenix Open, 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, 2022 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
- Won his first title on February 13 (42 days ago) and his second on March 6 (21 days ago)
- Last player to go 42 days or fewer between first and third PGA TOUR wins: David Duval, 1997 (21 days)
- Three wins in his last five starts on the PGA TOUR
| Tournament | Result |
| WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play | Won |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | T55 |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard | Won |
| The Genesis Invitational | T7 |
| WM Phoenix Open | Won |
World No. 1
- Moves to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career
- Becomes the 25th player to reach No. 1 in the OWGR (est. 1986)
- Becomes the sixth-youngest player to reach No. 1 in the OWGR
Youngest to reach No. 1 in the OWGR
| Age | Player |
| 21 years, 5 months, 16 days | Tiger Woods |
| 22 years, 20 days | Jordan Spieth |
| 22 years, 10 months | Rory McIlroy |
| 25 years, 14 days | Justin Thomas |
| 25 years, 8 months, 9 days | Jon Rahm |
| 25 years, 9 months, 6 days | Scottie Scheffler |
- Ends Jon Rahm’s streak of 36 consecutive weeks as World No. 1
Tournament history
- Record this week: 6-1-0
- Career record at the tournament: 10-2-2 (2nd/2021, Won/2022)
- Youngest winner in tournament history (25 years, 9 months, 6 days); previous: Rory McIlroy (25 years, 11 months, 29 days in 2015)
- First player to win the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play a year after losing in the Championship Match since Kevin Kisner in 2019
- First player to win a PGA TOUR event after finishing runner-up the year prior since Dustin Johnson at the 2020 Masters Tournament
- Advanced from group play after defeating Matt Fitzpatrick in a six-hole playoff; becomes the third consecutive winner of the event to have competed in a playoff following group play
- With a win in the Semifinals over Dustin Johnson, became the sixth player to advance to the Championship Match in consecutive years:
Scottie Scheffler: 2021, 2022
Kevin Kisner: 2018, 2019
Hunter Mahan: 2012, 2013
Paul Casey: 2009, 2010
Geoff Ogilvy: 2006, 2007
Tiger Woods: 2003, 2004
Three-time winner this season
- First player with three wins on the PGA TOUR this season
- First player to win three times in a season on TOUR before the Masters Tournament since Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas in 2016-17 (three each)
- Fourth consecutive week with a PGA TOUR winner that had already won this season (Scheffler/Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Cameron Smith/THE PLAYERS Championship, Sam Burns/Valspar Championship, Scheffler/WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play)
- Extends his lead in the FedExCup standings to 780 points
- Last FedExCup leader to win on TOUR (not including TOUR Championship): Justin Thomas, 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
Miscellaneous notes
- Kevin Kisner becomes the third player to lose in the Championship Match multiple times (2018 and 2022), joining Davis Love III (2004, 2006) and Paul Casey (2009, 2010)
- With his win in the Semifinals, Kisner became the third player to advance to the Championship Match three or more times: Tiger Woods (2000, 2003, 2004, 2008), Geoff Ogilvy (2006, 2007, 2009), Kevin Kisner (2018, 2019, 2022)
- Corey Conners defeats Dustin Johnson in the Consolation Match, 3 and 1, to finish third; with his win in the Quarterfinals, Conners became the first Canadian in tournament history to advance to the Semifinals
- Johnson (4th) earns his second top-10 in his last three starts on the PGA TOUR (T9/THE PLAYERS Championship)
