Follow usAmerican Scottie Scheffler has reclaimed golf’s No.1 ranking from Rory McIlroy after successfully defending his WM Phoenix Open in style.
Back on top of the world 🏆
An inside look at Scottie Scheffler’s victory @WMPhoenixOpen and rise back to World No. 1.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 13, 2023
Scheffler earned $US3.6 million ($A5.2m) from the $US20 million ($A29m) purse in the second of the PGA Tour’s new designated events, created in response to LIV Golf to bring the top tour players together more often.
“There were a lot of guys up there,” he said. “I knew it was going to take a great round. Nobody was going to give this golf tournament to me. I had to go out and earn it.”
Playing alongside Scheffler and Taylor in the final group, in-form World No.3 Jon Rahm posted a 68 and had to settle for outright third, five shots behind the winner.
Masters champion Scheffler carded a closing six-under 65 at TPC Scottsdale on Sunday to finish on 19-under-par, two shots ahead of Canada’s Nick Taylor, who also shot a 65.
Australia’s former World No.1 Jason Day continued his good run as he shot 68 to be outright fifth, a shot behind fourth-placed Justin Thomas (65), following his last-start tied seventh at Torrey Pines.
Scheffler’s triumph meant McIlroy needed to finish third or better to remain top of the rankings, but the Northern Irishman had to settle for a tie for 32nd following a final round 70.
Final leaderboard @WMPhoenixOpen ⛳️
1. Scottie Scheffler (-19)
2. @NTaylorGolf59 (-17)
3. @JonRahmPGA (-14)
4. @JustinThomas34 (-13)
5. @JDayGolf (-12)
T6. @JordanSpieth (-11)
T6. @SamBurns66
T6. Sungjae Im— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 13, 2023
McIlroy had not finished worse than eighth in his previous eight starts, a sequence which included three wins.
Sam Burns (68), Sungjae Im of South Korea (69), Tyrrell Hatton of England (69) and Jordan Spieth (70) tied for sixth at 11-under.
A message from your back-to-back @WMPhoenixOpen champion, Scottie Scheffler 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/mKX7JmFtgo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 13, 2023
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