Scottie Scheffler did it like it was in his own backyard. Or in the “office golf” playing alone. The American put together five straight birdies midway through the final roundhe built a lead by six shots and left all the drama for everyone else on his way to a 3-under 69 to clinch the PGA Tour’s richest purse by five shots: the win represented a $4.5 million prizeas well as a stepping stone to world number one for the second time this year.

Scheffler won The Players, considered the fifth ‘big’ of the season, with a cumulative -17 after delivering a 69-stroke, three-under-par card with five ‘birdies’ for two ‘bogeys’ on Sunday.

The American, defending champion of the Augusta Mastershe won his second tournament of 2023, after making his title defense in Phoenix and the sixth of his career.

In addition to two crowns in Phoenix and Augusta, Scheffler won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He now has six wins in his last 27 PGA matches, including all four last year, culminating in his Masters championship.

Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods they managed to bring in The Players as the current champions of the Augusta Masters.

“It was a long and hard day, I did a good job of not pushing, considering the difficult conditions,” said Scheffler after winning the tournament. “I’m just trying to improve, I feel lucky to be able to win and enjoy the victories,” added the American.

When he took the comfortable victory on the 18th hole, Scheffler celebrated with his wife, Meredith Scudder, with a fond kiss. Then he did it collectively and also thanked the rest of his family for accompanying him in the moment of victory, including his 88-year-old grandmother.

How comfortable was Scheffler’s win? When he pocketed a 20-foot putt for par on the last hole, Scheffler had the biggest margin to a win at The Players since Stephen Ames won by six in 2006.

Briton Tyrrell Hatton finished in second place, five shots behind Scheffler, with a total of twelve under par. Tom Hoge and Norway’s Viktor Hovland finished tied for third, with a combined -10.

Rahm was unable to defend his lead when he retired earlier in the day on Friday with a health issue, after posting a 1-under 71 on the opening day.

The Spaniard had reached the top of the standings on February 19, when he won the third tournament of his brilliant season at the Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades (California, USA).

In addition to the Genesis Invitational, Rahm has won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, The American Express.