AUGUSTA, Ga. — Scottie Scheffler entered the final round of the 86th Masters with a three-shot lead and walked off the course with a three-shot victory.
The world No. 1 backed up his new title with an impressive performance at Augusta National Golf Club, winning the green jacket at 10 under for his first major championship and fourth victory in his last six starts. The 25-year-old Texan shot a 1-under 71 on Sunday to hold off a charging Rory McIlroy, who signed his name to the lone bogey-free round of the week, an 8-under 64 aided by a hole-out from the bunker on the 18th green.
Scheffler is just the fifth player to win the Masters while ranked No. 1, joining the likes of Ian Woosnam (1991), Fred Couples (1992), Tiger Woods (2001 and 2002) and Dustin Johnson (2020).
Cameron Smith, winner of the 2022 Players Championship, entered the final round in second place at 6 under but struggled to keep up the pace, shooting a 1-over 73 to finish T-3 with Shane Lowry at 5 under.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama finished T-14.