Scottie Scheffler returned to winning ways and recorded a sixth PGA Tour victory in 10 starts after beating Tom Kim in a dramatic finish at the Travelers Championship.
The world number one, who entered the final round one shot behind at TPC River Highlands, carded five birdies in a bogey-free 65 to finish on 22 under par alongside overnight leader and playing partner Tom Kim.
Kim holed a 10-foot birdie on his final hole to force a playoff, after play was briefly stopped when several protesters ran onto the 18th green and spread colored dust on the putting surface before being removed by police.
Image: Scottie Scheffler has won six times on the PGA Tour this season
The green was cleared before the play-off, where Kim could not get up or down from the sand and Scheffler made a winning par to become the first player since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win six times before July on the PGA Tour.
The victory follows victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, The Masters, RBC Heritage and Memorial Tournament already this season, and his latest success extends his lead at the top of both the world rankings and the FedExCup standings.
Image: Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim played in the final group on Sunday alongside Akshay Bhatia.
How Scheffler won another exclusive event
Scheffler opened with five straight pars before taking advantage of the par-five sixth and rolling in from 15 feet on the next, then responded to a missed opportunity on the 12th by two-putting from 12 feet to birdie the next par five.
The two-time major winner shot his approach close on the 14th hole and added another birdie after driving over the green on the par-four 15th, where Kim also took a shot to stay within one.
Image: Tom Kim was fighting for a fourth PGA Tour victory and the first of the campaign
Kim, who started the day with a lead, had lost his lead overnight as he hit the turn with even par, only to make three birdies in a six-hole stretch on his back nine to get to 21 under par. .
Both players failed to capitalize on birdie opportunities on the next two holes to keep Scheffler one ahead heading into the par-four final, where Kim nearly holed his approach shot to leave it within 10 feet of the pin.
Image: The last group paused briefly on the 18th green for the police to remove the protesters.
Scheffler’s second shot barely missed the greenside bunker and ended up on the fringe, before play was briefly interrupted as several protesters ran onto the green and dust was thrown onto the putting surface.
The protesters were quickly removed and the green cleared of debris, with Scheffler’s outside birdie attempt stopping on the right edge before Kim endeavored to take the contest to a playoff.
Scottie Scheffler brings his baby Bennett to the winner’s interview after winning the 2024 Travelers Championship after a tiebreaker.
Kim saw his approach cover a bunker and left him unable to save par, as Scheffler missed his birdie attempt but cruised to victory, the 12th of his PGA Tour career and the fourth in a signature event this season.
“It’s been a great season,” Scheffler said. “I’ve been lucky enough to get some wins and it’s been a lot of fun. Tom played his heart out today. He’s a great player, a great champion and it was fun to fight with him today.”
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When asked about the protests on the 18th green, Scheffler added: “Luckily for Tom and I we are great friends, so we were able to relax each other. You don’t really understand the situation, there are people running everywhere and we really don’t understand. “I know what’s going to happen, so it’s a little confusing.”
Tom Hoge scored 62 in the final round to jump into third place tied with Sungjae Im, while Patrick Cantlay shared fifth place with Tony Finau, Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia.
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Cameron Young, who shot only the 13th sub-60 in PGA Tour history during the third round, opened with four consecutive birdies and shot a four-under 66 to finish tied for ninth with Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman .
Whats Next?
The PGA Tour heads to Michigan next for the Rocket Mortgage Classic, where Rickie Fowler returns as the defending champion at Detroit Golf Club. Early coverage begins Thursday at 5pm on Sky Sports Golf before full coverage from 8pm Stream the PGA Tour and more, contract-free, with NOW.
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