Scottie Scheffler taught Si Woo Kim and Blades Brown a thing or two about how to get over the line and win on the PGA Tour during the final round of the American Express.
Scheffler now has 20 PGA Tour wins to his name, and the lifetime membership that comes along with it, after reigning supreme at the American Express.
The world number one began the final round tied with Blades Brown on 21-under-par, one shot adrift of the leader, Si Woo Kim.
On Sunday, all eyes were on Blades Brown after he equalled Justin Rose’s 28-year PGA Tour record, becoming the first player aged 18 or under since the Englishman to end up inside the top-five after 54 holes of a PGA Tour tournament.
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We all knew that Scheffler wouldn’t back up. But how would Brown perform under the most intense pressure?
And would Si Woo be able to withstand the heat as he hunted down his fifth PGA Tour title?
Scottie Scheffler delivers verdict on Blades Brown and Si Woo Kim
Scheffler’s game was in good shape at the American Express, but he was nowhere near his absolute best, especially with his driver.
He was still able to win at a canter in the end, as Brown and Si Woo fell away, shooting rounds of 74 and 72 respectively.
Scheffler was asked if he believes he had an advantage on Brown and Si Woo during the final round of the American Express, due to his current standing in the game.
He said: “Not necessarily. I think you got to go out there, and there’s a reason we play the tournament.
“There’s a reason why we have to finish off the tournament. You don’t get awarded the trophy on the 16th hole. You got to finish the tournament.
“I was going against two guys today in the final group that are really, really talented players.
“Si Woo has so much talent. He’s so good at golf. Then Blades, this is my first time seeing him, but anybody at 18 years old that can make it into the final pairing of a PGA TOUR event’s doing something right.
“And then there were plenty of other guys behind us chasing us. And it’s a course where you got to go out there and make birdies.
“So there was a lot of challenges today, but I’m proud of the way we played and put up a nice round.“
Si Woo Kim and Blades Brown would certainly have learned a great deal from watching Scottie Scheffler in action up close and personal in the desert on Sunday.
Si Woo Kim and Blades were treated to a Scottie Scheffler clinic
Scheffler’s approach play throughout the final round was exquisite but his course management was elite as well, as per usual.
A great example of this was on the par-five eighth hole.
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Left with around 290 yards to the green, Scheffler opted to lay up as he didn’t want to leave himself with a long bunker shot if he failed to reach the putting surface.
The 29-year-old told his caddie, Ted Scott, that he wanted to leave himself 92 yards for his third shot, and he was left with 94 yards to the pin after his lay-up.
Scheffler made birdie while his playing partners, Si Woo and Brown, went for the green in two and came up short in the bunker.
Si Woo made a double bogey from there while Brown made a par, and Scheffler didn’t look back from that moment on.
There are many things to admire about the world number one but the way in which he manages his rounds is arguably his real superpower.
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