Faith and skill carry Scottie Scheffler over the line at the Masters | Golf News – Times of India

AUGUSTA: Through the week, Scottie Scheffler seemed unhurried. Calm and composed, knowing exactly what to do. The genial smile accompanied by the laughs at the press conference defined the belief in himself and the faith he has embraced.
Emotions seemed to get the better of him only when he was giving his speech at the Green Jacket ceremony. “I never got this far in my dreams,” he said.
Scheffler finished 10-under with Rory McIlroy second at 7-under, still ruing the missed putts but exulting in his 64, the day’s best and his best finish at the Masters. It included an eagle on 13th and a hole out from the bunker on 18th. Playing partner Morikawa (-4) did the same at the same holes and was fifth. Lowry finished 5-under despite the crippling triple on fourth. Smith was playing with Scheffler but towards the end he was a million miles behind at 5-under. Smith and Lowry tied for third.

From no PGA Tour wins 57 days ago, he now had four including a Major and a WGC. He was also world No. 1. Scheffler took the Green Jacket in such a commanding manner that it suggested he was ‘born to do this’ as a fellow pro Colt Knost had said about him.
Scheffler was a man unfazed by the situation. Yet, he had us stunned in disbelief when he said he cried in the morning. “You know, last night was pretty easy. I was tired. We got some food. I spilled my dinner in the car, and that was extraordinarily frustrating. You can see Meredith (wife) is still laughing at me. She thought it was the funniest thing ever; I didn’t think it was so funny at the time. Last night was fine.”
“This morning was a totally different story. I cried like a baby this morning. I was so stressed out. I didn’t know what to do. I was sitting there telling Meredith, I don’t think I’m ready for this. I’m not ready, I don’t feel like I’m ready and I just felt overwhelmed,” he said.

“She told me, ‘Who are you to say that you are not ready? Who am I to say that I know what’s best for my life?’ And so what we talked about is that God is in control and that the Lord is leading me; and if today is my time, it’s my time. Gosh, it was a long morning.”
The storm had passed by the time he arrived at the course. “(I) had a big breakfast. My stomach has been hurting for two days straight. I would say I calmed down when I got to the course. Right when I got to the training room and started working with Troy, I was pretty calm.”

It showed. The smile did not leave his face and the gait had the same pace, even as the Aussie with a mullet, Cameron Smith, birdied first and second to cut the overnight lead from three to one just like that. Then came the moment that changed the course of the day. On the third, Scheffler’s approach from the pine needles on the left came up short and rolled back down the slope. He needed a perfect pitch for an up-and-down. Recalling that, Scheffler said, “I would say what was most pivotal was getting that ball up and down. To have it go in was obviously off the charts, but my main goal was just to get up and down.
Parring 4 and 5 was huge. After that I just started cruising.” Smith bogeyed third and fourth and Scheffler birdied third. The gap was back to four. McIlroy had the crowds roaring as did Morikawa. Lowry made a charge at one point. Smith was not going anywhere till he was swallowed by the lake guarding the 12th at the Amen Corner and came out with a triple.

Scheffler eschewed risks at times but boldly embraced them on other occasions. He chipped superbly and putted extraordinarily, draining all crucial and clutch putts. Scheffler was 12-under and five ahead when he arrived at the 18th tee.
Scheffler said, “My swing maybe felt a little bit off, but other than that, I feel like I wasn’t ever really going to make a bogey. That was my goal. I just tried to hit good shots.” Sounds simple, but it never is. On the 18th, he was on the green in two. Then he did what he had avoided all week – stumble. It was not a birdie, nor a par or a bogey but a double bogey from 40 feet. Yet, he smiled and looked at the indulgent Ted Scott, his caddie with whom he shares a bond cemented by faith and trust.

Scott, who carried Bubba Watson to two Masters titles, smiled back. He was now ready to carry Scheffler to a Green Jacket. Bubba was watching his young friend from outside. The putt finally dropped and the arms went up high towards the heavens, thanking God who he did not forget for even a moment. A new champion had arrived. Scottie Scheffler.