’Entirely different planet’: Golf world flipped on its head in $25m, 20-day upheaval

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler clinched his fourth victory of the year on Monday, securing a three-stroke win at the delayed conclusion of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.

A two-and-a-half-hour storm and rain delay halted play on Sunday with Scheffler having three holes left and a five-stroke lead.

Scottie Scheffler has won the RBC Heritage, taking home $3.6 million.

Last 5 Events
• Arnold Palmer: 1st
• Players: 1st
• Texas Children's: 2nd
• Masters: 1st
• RBC Heritage: 1st

That's $16 million in winnings over 44 days.

He's on an entirely different planet right now. pic.twitter.com/YOJBHQDVlm

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 22, 2024

The world number one calmly finished par on the 16th and 17th before ending with a bogey on the final hole, his first since a double bogey on the third hole of the tournament.

Sahith Theegala’s impressive 28-foot birdie putt on the 16th earned him a solo second finish, marking his fifth top-ten finish of the year.

Scheffler, now boasting ten career wins on the PGA Tour, becomes the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007-08 to win four times in a five-tournament stretch.

Notably, Scheffler joins Bernhard Langer from 1985 as the only player to win the Masters and then triumph at the Heritage the following week.

With his $3.6 million prize from the RBC Heritage, Scheffler’s total earnings in just 44 days, and 20 days of golf, surpassed $16 million (A$24.8m).

Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler stated, “Last week was fantastic and then coming into this week, I didn’t have my usual prep work but showed up rested and ready to go. I got off to a slow start on Thursday but other than that I played some really nice golf in the middle of the tournament and it’s nice to be done.”

Scheffler’s final round score of three-under 68 secured him a 19-under total for the tournament. His recent back-to-back wins follow victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship in March.

Expressing his mental growth, Scheffler remarked, “I think mentally the last month or so has been as good as I’ve been in a long time and I think that is why I’m seeing some of the results. Just staying in it, doing the best I can – and I lot of that stuff is easier said than done.”

Despite his remarkable consistency, Scheffler remains focused, stating, “It does not get boring. I think hitting a really well-struck golf shot close to the pin is like an addicting feeling. That’s what keeps everybody coming back.”

Wyndham Clark tied for third with Patrick Cantlay after an impressive Sunday round of 65, while Austrian Sepp Straka finished tied for fifth place.

Unfortunately, Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg endured a disappointing finish with a double bogey on the 18th, slipping down the leaderboard to T10.

Collin Morikawa, who also contended with Scheffler at Augusta, finished ninth, ending with a one-over round of 72.

As Scheffler heads out of South Carolina with his wife Meredith expecting their first child, his plans for celebrating his recent wins remain simple, stating, “I’m going to get a breakfast burrito, some coffee, and I’m going to go home.”