Scheffler successfully defends Hero World Challenge title

Scottie Scheffler secured a remarkable victory at the Hero World Challenge, successfully defending his title with a commanding six-shot lead. Scheffler ended the final round at nine-under 63 to cap off his year on a high note. 

This win at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas marked Scheffler’s ninth triumph of 2024, strengthening his position as one of golf’s elite players. At just 28 years old, he is now the first golfer since Tiger Woods to hold the world  number ranking for an entire year.

The Hero World Challenge was Scheffler’s first event since playing at the President’s Cup in September. Finishing six shots behind Scheffler was Tom Kim, while Justin Thomas finished third at 18 under. 

Scheffler’s performance was stellar; he finished the tournament bogey-free, totaling 25-under for the event. His early momentum included three birdies within the first four holes, and he maintained control throughout, adding four more birdies in the final stretch. 

This victory not only adds to his impressive season but also places him among an exclusive group of players who have won consecutive Hero World Challenge titles, joining legends like Woods and Viktor Hovland. 

The American has had a historic year; he also clinched a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and won both the FedEx Cup and his second Masters title in three years. After this victory, he expressed satisfaction with his performance and looked forward to spending time with family during the off-season while preparing for future competitions. 

He said: “I think it has been a great year and a fun year. I have been fortunate to get some wins out of some really good golf. This was another week where I played really solid and was able to see some nice results from that.

“I am very grateful for the season and the wins, but at the end of the day, when we go home, I am looking forward to doing things that are not golf.

“I like to live my life and enjoy my time at home. I have had a little bit of time to reflect, but I am not really sure how to assess it. It has just been pretty surreal, a lot of fun and I am just really grateful.”

Scheffler also received praises from Woods, who was in awe of his playing style, adding that Scheffler has the tendency to finish top 10 at every event while picking up a lot of wine along the way.