Scottie Scheffler’s putter saved him time and again on Sunday afternoon at the Travelers Championship.
That wasn’t the case on Monday morning.
Scheffler missed a birdie putt from 2 feet, 4 inches on TPC River Highlands’ par-4 18th hole, burning the left edge with his attempt to match Viktor Hovland, who had just rolled in a 7-footer that ultimately won Hovland a one-hole playoff and his first PGA Tour title in 15 months.
“I hit it on my line,” Scheffler said afterward. “It was just a little firm.”
Scheffler is now 0-2 in playoffs this season and has finished runner-up four times since winning in his season debut at The American Express in January.
An 83-minute rain delay forced the Travelers into a fifth day, as there was no daylight for more golf after Hovland and Scheffler each finished 72 holes at 21 under. Scheffler needed to make an 8-footer for par on No. 18 to force overtime, and he converted for the fourth time from such range in the final round.
Both players hit the 18th fairway on Monday morning, and Scheffler struck first by flagging his 155-yard approach to within 3 feet. Hovland followed from 151 yards to give himself a great look at birdie as well.
“I knew I had to bring my best to have a chance to beat, and he certainly brought it out of me,” Hovland said.
Hovland added: “It was one of those putts where it felt like if I miss, he probably makes, so I knew I had to make mine.”
Hovland’s putt snuck in the right side, and the 28-year-old Norwegian, now an eight-time Tour winner, gave a fist pump as dozens of his countrymen, who found their way to Cromwell between attending Norway’s World Cup matches, cheered among a crowd that was 45,000 strong on Sunday and still an impressive size for a Monday morning. Hovland’s mom, Galina, was also in attendance, watching her son win on Tour for the first time in person.
Norway plays Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday in Dallas. The flight from New England to Texas should be buzzing.
