Scheffler holds off Canada's Taylor to repeat as WM Phoenix Open champion
26-year-old regains No. 1 world ranking from McIlroy with 2-shot victory
Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his WM Phoenix Open title Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to regain the No. 1 spot in the world.
Scheffler closed with a 6-under 65 to beat Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., by two strokes in breezy conditions on the firm and fast Stadium Course. The 26-year-old Texan will jump from second to first in the world rankings, taking the top spot from Rory McIlroy with his fifth PGA Tour victory.
Scheffler made a 22-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th to break a tie with Taylor, then took a two-shot lead on the par-3 16th with a 15-footer for par after hitting his tee shot far left on the stadium hole.
Scheffler birdied the short par-4 17th and closed with a par to finish at 19-under 265.
"I hit some wild shots off the tee that were pretty uncharacteristic for how I usually shape the ball," Scheffler said. "I was just able to grind it out, make a lot of putts. I think I only had two bogeys this week, which is really, really good around this golf course."
He earned $3.6 million US from the $20 million purse in the second of the PGA Tour's new designated events, created in response to LIV Golf to bring the top tour players together more often.
"There were a lot of guys up there," Scheffler said. "I knew it was going to take a great round. Nobody was going to give this golf tournament to me. I had to go out and earn it."
WATCH | Scheffler defends WM Phoenix Open title:
Last year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff for his first tour title. He added victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Match Play and the Masters and was the PGA Tour's player of the year.
"I love the environment here," Scheffler said. "It's a lot of fun to play. I think the firmness of the golf course really suits me. Having the ability to play a lot of different shots — hit it high, hit it low."
He's the seventh player to successfully defend a title in the tournament, following Ben Hogan (1946-47), Jimmy Demaret (1949-50), Lloyd Mangrum (1952-53), Arnold Palmer (three straight from 1961-63), Johnny Miller (1974-75) and Hideki Matsuyama (2016-17).
Taylor also finished with a 65. The Canadian bogeyed the 16th, missing a seven-footer after Scheffler holed his par putt. Taylor's tee shot on the 175-yard 16th just caught the left edge and rolled away from the green.
"I really felt that was a great swing off the tee there," Taylor said. "That wind was just crazy strong. I played enough for it, just obviously not quite enough. I would love the chip back on there. I felt like that was one I could potentially hole. It was still a tricky chip."
Jon Rahm, the former Arizona State star who opened the year with consecutive victories in Hawaii and the California desert, was third at 14-under after a 68. He also was in position to take the No. 1 spot with a victory.
"I'm not sure I could have done much better the last two days, honestly," Rahm said. "I didn't feel like I made bad swings, but I put myself in bad spots."
'The wind this week brought a new challenge'
The wind was a factor all week, with the large grandstands and spectator mounds making it difficult to judge.
"The wind this week brought a new challenge that we hadn't had around this golf course since I've been playing this tournament," Scheffler said. "So, it was definitely a good challenge and was a fun week."
Justin Thomas was fourth at 13 under after a 65. Jason Day (68) followed at 12 under, and Jordan Speith (70) was another stroke back with Sam Burns (68), Sungjae Im (69) and Tyrrell Hatton (69).
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Rickie Fowler was in the group at 10 under. The 2019 winner had a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh, using a 6-iron in the 216-yard hole.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford finished in a four-way tie for 10th at 10-under. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., finished tied for 50th at 1-under, while Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill tied for 57th at even par.
McIlroy closed with a 70 to tie for 32nd at 4-under.
