Arnold Palmer Invitational: Scottie Scheffler clinches second PGA Tour title; set to claim No. 7 in Official World Golf Rankings

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Scottie Scheffler clinches second PGA Tour title; set to claim No. 7 in Official World Golf Rankings

Scottie Scheffler

America’s Scottie Scheffler held on for a one-stroke victory at the recently-concluded Arnold Palmer Invitational to claim his second PGA Tour win in three starts.

Scheffler, who fired an even-par 72 to finish five-under to seal victory at the Bay Hill Golf Course, had earlier clinched February’s Phoenix Open in Arizona.

English golfer Tyrrell Hatton, who won the event in 2020, finished with a round of 69 to finish at four-under alongside Viktor Hovland (Norway) and Billy Horschel (The US). On the other hand, Irish men Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell finished at one over.

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With this triumph, Scheffler is now set to move up to the fifth spot in the Official World Golf Rankings. “It feels great, especially to win on such a difficult golf course and the way it finished,” he told Sky Sports.

“I didn’t play my best stuff, I just kept grinding and made some key putts down the stretch, and it was really just a fight all day.

“I’m really proud of how I stayed patient, Teddy [Scott, Scheffler’s caddie] did a good job of trying to keep me in it and it was a good result.”

“Feel Punch-drunk, to be honest” – Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy reckoned that he felt “punch-drunk” after a torrid final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 25-year-old, who claimed his first Tour title in a play-off at the WM Phoenix Open last month, finished on a five-under-par total of 283, one shot clear of a three-way tie for second.

“I feel punch-drunk, to be honest,” McIlroy said.

“The weekend, it’s like crazy golf. You just don’t get rewarded for good shots.

“Like I’m venting here and I’m frustrated and whatever. I think as well the frustration it’s a carbon copy of what’s happened the last three years here.

“Like I’m playing good. I’m hitting good shots. I’m swinging the club well. I’m chipping well. I’m putting well. But it can knock your confidence whenever the conditions are like this.

“I just need a day off tomorrow to forget about what’s happened this week and then just sort of focus on next week.”

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