Inevitable Scottie Scheffler Succeeds Again, Wins Sixth Title of Year at Travelers Championship
CROMWELL, Conn. – Scott Scheffler Sr. paced anxiously on the large hill overlooking the 18th green at TPC River Highlands, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Travelers Championship’s first playoff hole. His son, Scottie Scheffler, was on the green, preparing for an 11-foot birdie putt after Tom Kim, who forced the playoff with a birdie on the 18th, missed his par putt following a bladed bunker shot.
With just two putts needed for his sixth victory of the season, Scott knelt down, blocking his own view so the fans behind him could watch. He didn't need to see; the roars from the crowd told him his son had succeeded once again.
Scottie Scheffler secured his sixth win of the season, the quickest to achieve this feat since Arnold Palmer in 1962. With victories in four Signature Events, THE PLAYERS Championship, and the Masters, Scheffler has amassed 12 career TOUR wins since February 2022, a run unmatched in this generation outside of Tiger Woods.
The Winning Moment
Scheffler’s triumph came on the first playoff hole against Tom Kim, with both players finishing at 22-under 258. After Kim's missed par putt, Scheffler capitalized, sinking his birdie putt to clinch the victory.
“It was a great finish. This golf course produces a lot of those, you know, the exciting stuff coming down the stretch,” Scheffler said. “It was a lot of fun and I'm proud to be sitting here with the trophy.”
Dominance in Context
Scheffler’s rapid accumulation of titles places him in elite company. Only Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Nick Price have won at least six times in a season since 1983, but none have done it as quickly as Scheffler. Despite his dominance, Scheffler maintains a focus on the process rather than the results, a luxury afforded by his consistent success.
His competitors are acutely aware of his dominance. Players like Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, and Kim have all fallen short despite strong performances. Kim, reflecting on his two three-putts and subsequent bogeys, recognized the challenge of competing against Scheffler.
“When you're going against Scottie, who I know very, very well, I knew that today I had to play really good golf and I felt like I did,” Kim said.
Sunday’s Drama
Scheffler’s win wasn’t always assured. Early on Sunday, he parred the first five holes while others, including Cameron Young, Akshay Bhatia, and Xander Schauffele, surged. However, Scheffler soon found his rhythm, birdieing the sixth and seventh holes to tie for the lead. Kim’s bogey on the eighth gave Scheffler control, and despite challenges, he maintained his lead.
Final Push to Victory
Kim was the only challenger to keep pace, matching Scheffler’s birdies on the 13th and 15th holes. The duo headed to the 18th with Scheffler holding a one-shot lead. Kim nearly achieved a walk-off victory with a close approach shot but settled for birdie, forcing the playoff.
In the playoff, Kim faltered with a poor bunker shot, and Scheffler capitalized with a confident birdie putt to secure the win.
Scottie Scheffler’s season has been a showcase of consistent excellence, and his latest victory at the Travelers Championship further cements his status as the top player in the world.
