Scheffler Faces Hovland in Monday Playoff at Travelers Championship

Scottie Scheffler displayed significant emotion after sinking an 8-foot par putt on the 18th hole at the Travelers Championship, securing a sudden-death playoff against Viktor Hovland. This event took place at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, where inclement weather caused a 90-minute delay in the final round. Officials decided that there was insufficient daylight to initiate the playoff, which was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Monday. This marks the first time since last year’s Players Championship that a PGA Tour event extends into an additional day.

Scheffler expressed his excitement, emphasizing the importance of remaining in contention. “It’s more fun when you’re making the ones to win,” Scheffler stated. “But to keep yourself in it is also nice. Like I said, I live another day until tomorrow, and will be coming out in the morning and see what I can do.” Both Scheffler and Hovland had opportunities for birdies at the end of the round. Scheffler’s 30-foot putt missed, leaving him with an important 8-foot par putt. Meanwhile, Hovland’s 25-foot attempt narrowly missed, leading to a tap-in for a final score of 69. Scheffler concluded the day with a score of 68, equaling Hovland at 21-under 259.

These scores were just one shot ahead of Collin Morikawa, who finished with an impressive 61. Despite briefly tying for the lead, Morikawa’s final push wasn’t enough. Viktor Hovland began the final round leading by one shot over Scheffler. Play was interrupted due to heavy rain and lightning, leaving both players in the fairway on the 14th hole. Hovland’s 15-foot birdie putt from the fringe brought him within one shot, while Scheffler’s must-make 6-foot par putt preserved his lead.

On the par-4 15th, Scheffler’s approach from the rough nearly found the water, but instead, it rolled beyond the green down a slope. He managed to save par with Hovland close for a consecutive birdie. This sequence of events left them tied. Scheffler’s 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th missed, allowing him to maintain his lead until the final hole. Scheffler’s shot from the wet rough on the 18th landed close to 30 feet, leading to a decision by PGA Tour officials that sunset would not allow an extra hole to be played that day.

Scheffler’s game included three birdies and one bogey, while Hovland had a stretch with only two pars over 10 holes. Hovland initially fell behind, but a two-shot change on number 7 and another at the start of the back nine helped him catch up. Three consecutive birdies after rain altered course conditions fueled his comeback. “I hit some good shots and then some bad shots,” Hovland explained. “I just couldn’t quite get a flow in. So it was nice to just get completely off the golf course and reset, and I felt a lot better coming back.”

Morikawa, finishing at 20-under 260, secured his ninth birdie on the 18th after a sand bunker escape. Starting nine shots behind the lead, Morikawa waited hours during the delay without much expectation. He reflected, “The thought of actually having a chance, waiting it out, didn’t really cross my mind. But I told my wife earlier this morning, ‘Let’s shoot 61 and end the three-week stretch on a good note.’ And sometimes the way you manifest things works out.”

Matt Fitzpatrick, with a round of 64, secured fourth place. Wyndham Clark, coming off a draining week at the U.S. Open, played well until a water hazard on the 17th led to a bogey. Clark ended with a score of 65, finishing three shots behind.