Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland will return Monday morning for a sudden-death playoff at the Travelers Championship after the final round was suspended due to weather. Scheffler made an 8-foot par putt on the 18th hole on Sunday, securing his spot in the playoff. The final round saw a 90-minute delay as storms passed over TPC River Highlands, leading officials to determine there was insufficient daylight to begin the playoff on Sunday.
The playoff is scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. on Monday. This marks the first instance of a PGA TOUR event extending an extra day since the PLAYERS Championship last year. Scheffler expressed his determination, stating, “It’s more fun when you’re making the ones to win. But to keep yourself in it is also nice. Like I said, I live another day until tomorrow, and will be coming out in the morning and see what I can do.”
Final Round Dynamics
Both Scheffler and Hovland had birdie opportunities on the 18th hole. Scheffler‘s 30-foot putt went 8 feet past the hole, while Hovland‘s 25-foot attempt narrowly missed, resulting in a 69 for him. Scheffler then sank a crucial par putt for a 68, matching Hovland at 21-under 259.
Hovland, who started the final round with a one-shot lead over Scheffler, found himself two shots behind when play was halted by rain and lightning near the 14th hole. Following the delay, Hovland made a 15-foot birdie putt from just off the green, narrowing the gap to one shot. Scheffler then had to make a 6-foot par putt to maintain his lead.
On the par-4 15th, Scheffler‘s pitch from the rough went over the back of the green and down a slope. He chipped onto the green and made another significant par putt, while Hovland secured his third consecutive birdie. This left the two players tied. Scheffler later missed a 10-foot birdie chance on the 17th, and then managed a shot from the wet rough on the 18th fairway to within 30 feet.
PGA TOUR officials made the decision before the completion of the 18th hole that there would not be enough light for even one extra hole. The two golfers reached the playoff in different ways: Scheffler recorded three birdies against one bogey, while Hovland had only two pars during a 10-hole stretch in the middle of his round.
Other Competitors and Course Conditions
Hovland initially fell behind by two shots, but a two-shot swing on the seventh hole helped him recover. A two-shot swing in Scheffler‘s favour occurred at the start of the back nine, before Hovland gained ground with three consecutive birdies, with the final two coming after rain altered the course conditions.
Hovland noted that the break in play was beneficial for him to regain composure. He commented, “I hit some good shots and then some bad shots and I just couldn’t quite get a flow in. So it was nice to just get completely off the golf course and reset and I felt a lot better coming back. So sometimes that’s all you need.”
Collin Morikawa finished strongly, hitting a shot from a bunker on the 18th to within 10 feet for his ninth birdie of the round, ending at 20-under 260. Morikawa, who started the day nine shots behind the leader, waited approximately three hours, including the delay, before departing. He had hoped for a low score, saying, “I told my wife earlier this morning, ‘Let’s shoot 61 and end the three-week stretch on a good note.’ And sometimes the way you manifest things works out.”
Matt Fitzpatrick finished alone in fourth place after shooting a 64. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark also performed well, despite a demanding week. He remained in contention until a shot into the water on the 17th resulted in a bogey. Clark posted a 65, finishing three shots behind the leaders.
The playoff between Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Monday.
Read Also
Source: pgatour.com
