Scottie Scheffler Claims Enthralling Arnold Palmer Invitational

On a day where players were struggling to break par, it was Scottie Scheffler who came out on top by just one shot

Scheffler fist pumps
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Going into the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Scottie Scheffler was eight shots back off the lead. On Sunday afternoon, he was picking up the trophy, his second PGA Tour win in just three starts.

It was a brutal final day at Bay Hill, with many top quality players shooting rounds in the 80's and only four making it to an under-par number!

"The win feels great," explained Scheffler. "To win on such a tough course, especially with the way I finished - I mean, I didn't have my best stuff today, but I just kept grinding and made some key putts down the stretch, but it was a fight all day.

"This golf course is a beast right now and to make any kind of putt out here is so difficult. I'm just proud of how I stayed patient out there today and it was a great result!"

At the beginning of the final day, it was Talor Gooch and Billy Horschel who shared the overnight lead at seven-under-par but, in US Open like conditions, we saw the leaderboard chop and change on a hole-by-hole basis.

Through the early stages though, it was Viktor Hovland who took the lead, with a one-over-par front nine giving him a one-shot advantage over an extremely congested leaderboard.

It was the back nine though where we saw the most change, with multiple players laying down their markers throughout a chaotic stretch at Bay Hill. At one point, it seemed that Hovland was going to cruise to victory, with the 24-year-old doubling his advantage.

However, literally one hole later, he was back into a share of the lead with Horschel, with the American capitalising on a Hovland bogey with a birdie. Two holes after, it was Scheffler who raced to the top, with a putting masterclass over the 14th and 15th giving him the upper hand.

Scheffler chips

Scheffler produced some superb up-and-downs over the back nine to secure the title

(Image credit: Getty Images)

With three holes remaining, Scheffler was then overtaken by Gary Woodland, whose eagle at the par-5 16th jumped him into the outright lead. Looking for his first win since his 2019 US Open success, the American would follow up his eagle with a double-bogey at the 17th, with a closing bogey dropping him two shots back of the eventual winner.

Because of Woodland's mishap, it was up to Scheffler to safely navigate the iconic 18th and, when he two-putted for a par and a five-under tournament total, it left Horschel needing a birdie to ruin the party.

Finding the green in two, his birdie putt glided past the hole, handing Scheffler the biggest win of his career and his second in three starts, with the victory adding on to his Waste Management Phoenix Open success just a few weeks ago. The American will also see a rise in the world rankings, as the 25-year-old now moves to 5th.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.


Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.


Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x