CROMWELL, Conn. — Scottie Scheffler pumped his fist with extra emotion than he confirmed all day Sunday as he made an 8-foot par putt on the 18th gap to earn the precise to return Monday on the rain-delayed Vacationers Championship and play in a sudden-death playoff in opposition to Viktor Hovland.
The ultimate spherical was suspended for 1 hour and 23 minutes after a storm hit TPC River Highlands and officers decided there was not sufficient daylight to start the playoffs.
The playoffs are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday, marking the primary time since final 12 months’s Gamers Championship {that a} PGA Tour occasion was held in further time.
“It is extra enjoyable if you create one thing that wins,” Scheffler mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s additionally good to maintain myself in it. Like I mentioned, I’ll dwell yet another day till tomorrow and exit within the morning and see what I can do.”
Scheffler and Hovland every had birdie alternatives on the finish. Scheffler hit a 30-foot putt 8 ft by the opening. Hovland’s 25-foot try narrowly missed and he tapped in for 69. Scheffler sank his third large par putt for a 68, matching Hovland at 21-under 259.
This was one stroke forward of Collin Morikawa, who was tied for the lead at one level with a 61, nevertheless it by no means felt prefer it was sufficient.
Hovland entered the ultimate spherical with a one-stroke lead over Scheffler, however on the 14th gap, with each gamers within the fairway, play was interrupted by heavy rain and lightning within the space, and he discovered himself two spots down.
Hovland sank a 15-foot birdie putt from the entrance of the inexperienced to get inside one stroke, however Scheffler needed to sink a 6-foot par putt to keep up the lead.
On the reachable par-4 fifteenth, Scheffler’s pitch from the collar of the tough — the moist grass might need saved his tee shot from going into the water — barreled towards the highest pin and continued on, over the again and down the slope. He chipped it on the inexperienced and made one other large par putt, maintaining Hovland tight for his third straight birdie.
So the 2 remained tied collectively. Scheffler missed a giant likelihood for a 10-foot birdie on No. 17 by spinning off the left fringe of the cup. The world’s No. 1 participant then hit a shot inside 30 ft of the moist tough to the precise of the 18th fairway.
PGA Tour representatives decided there was not sufficient mild to play one further gap earlier than Hovland and Scheffler completed 18th.
Hovland fell to 2 strokes early, however solely allowed a two-stroke swing at No. 7. A two-stroke swing gave Scheffler a bonus on the again 9. Hovland then made three consecutive birdies to maneuver up within the standings, with the final two birdies because of rain and altering course circumstances.
The break was good for Hovland to relax.
“I hit some good pictures, I hit some unhealthy pictures, however I simply could not get my circulation proper,” Hovland mentioned. “So it felt good to utterly get off the golf course and reset, and I felt rather a lot higher after I got here again. So typically that is all you want.”
Scheffler has an total PGA Tour playoff report of two wins and a couple of losses. Hovland is 1-0.
Morikawa completed in fashion on No. 18 by hitting his shot 10 ft out of the moist sand of a bunker for his ninth birdie of the spherical and a 20-under 260. Morikawa, who began the primary day 9 strokes behind the lead, needed to wait about three hours, together with delays, earlier than leaving.
“The considered ready for it after I really had the possibility did not actually cross my thoughts,” Morikawa mentioned. “However I mentioned to my spouse early this morning, ‘Let’s shoot a 61 and finish the three-week sport on a very good word.'” And typically the way in which you phrase issues works out. ”
Matt Fitzpatrick shot a 64 to complete alone in fourth place, adopted by U.S. Open champion Windham Clark, who made a powerful displaying after a draining week at Shannecock Hills. He stayed that approach till he hit a shot into the water on No. 17 for bogey. Clark shot a 65 and was simply three pictures behind.
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.
