Orlando, Fla. – Sunday at Bay Hill was a thriller as three of the top five finishers shot over par for the day. However, there can only be one winner, and at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational, it was Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler used his ability to scramble around the greens to pull through for his second win in three weeks.
A Thriller Down the Stretch
As the final three groups finished hole fifteen, there were a bunch of players that were all within one or two strokes of the lead. As the tournament came closer to its end, four players emerged as the main contenders; Gary Woodland, Billy Horschel, Viktor Hovland, and Scottie Scheffler.
Gary Woodland looked to have the best chance after an amazing eagle on hole 16.
While this putt was being hit, Scheffler was in some trouble in the rough right behind him, and even after barely making contact with the ball, Scottie was forced to lay up once again, putting in for par. Luckily, Scheffler’s scrambling was unlike anyone else’s today as the par putt allowed him to stay within arm’s length of the lead.
After this, everything just started to go right for Scheffler. Woodland got into some trouble on the par-three hole 17, finishing with a double bogey that dropped him out of the lead.
Then, both Hovland and Horschel had chances to force a playoff on the eighteenth green, but both players missed their putts, clinching the victory for Scheffler.
Two For Three Scheffler
This marks the second time in three weeks that Scottie Scheffler has won a PGA Tour event, just weeks after his win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Ever since the Ryder Cup, his name has been coming up again and again in top golf circles.
Scheffler was not perfect; he only hit 35.71% of fairways and 50% of greens in regulation, but he did gain 2.032 strokes on the greens on the final day after only averaging 1.064 strokes gained on the week.
He was playing out of the rough 64.29% of the time on Sunday. With how notably thick it was, just looking at this stat and nothing else, it would be hard to believe he really won. What it really came down to, however, was his play around the greens. The ability to save par after only hitting 50% of greens was very important.
Billy Horschel’s Comeback
Through ten holes, Billy Horschel was five-over on the day, seemingly out of the tournament. However, after birdies on holes 12 and 15, he was only one stroke back of the leaders heading to the last tee.
Unfortunately, the University of Florida alumni will have to keep waiting for his first win in his home state after his missed putt meant he fell just short of forcing a playoff.
What’s Next
Next week the PGA Travels to Ponte Vedra, just south of Jacksonville, for the Players Tournament. TPC Sawgrass and its iconic island green will play host for what many call golf’s unofficial fifth major.
