Scottie Scheffler wins Dell Match Play to become world No. 1
Photo Credit: Zach Smith
Scottie Scheffler used to wear long pants to practice at his local club growing up because he dreamed of being a professional golfer.
Right now, there’s nobody better.
The former Texas golf standout won the WGC-Dell Match Play Sunday with a 3&4 win over Kevin Kisner to move into the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in his career.
“I never really got that far in my dreams,” Scheffler said as he did his best to hold back tears. “I never made it that far. I just love playing golf. I love competing. I'm just happy to be out here.”
The 25-year-old is the 25th player to ever reach No. 1 in the world, and just the 6th to do it before the age of 26. The 42 days between his first PGA Tour win to the top spot is the shortest span by more than 200 days.
Scheffler now has three wins in his last five starts, winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Feb. 13 and taking home the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month.
“I don’t feel like No. 1 in the world, I feel like the same guy I was four months ago, and I hope that doesn’t change,” Scheffler said.
He won two of three matches in group play before outlasting Matt Fitzpatrick in a six-hole playoff on Friday to advance to the knockout stage.
In a rematch of last year’s Championship Match, Scheffler beat Billy Horschel 1-up in the Round of 16 before downing Seamus Power 3&2 in the quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.
Scheffler beat 2017 Match Play Champion Dustin Johnson 3&1 in the Semifinals on Sunday morning before his dominant showing against Kisner, who won the tournament in 2019 and had won 15 of his last 16 individual matches.
“I don’t know how to describe the emotion, I’ve thought about winning this tournament since last year left a poor test in my mouth,” Scheffler said. “It feels really good to finish the job this time around.”
In his four years with the Longhorns, Texas won three Big 12 Championships. Scheffler was the Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year in 2015 and qualified for the U.S. Open in 2015 while representing the Longhorns.
He came to the Match Play tournament a few times in college, parking at a friend’s house up the road and walking to beat the parking struggles. He said he remembers listening to the sound coming from Rory McIlroy’s driver on the range.
“I always dreamed of playing this tournament, so just to out here was a treat,” Scheffler said. “It’s been a long journey to this point. I fought a lot of stuff during college, and to be out here and win this tournament in front of the fans down here is really special.”
Scheffler won three of the first six holes on Sunday to jump out to a 3-up lead. But Kisner, who rallied from 3-down earlier in the tournament started to get some momentum as the pair made the turn.
Kisner looked to have an opening when Scheffler’s third shot into the par-5 12th found a greenside bunker, but Scheffler stayed aggressive and chipped in for birdie to halve the hole.
“I wanted to hit a really cool shot and maybe show off a little bit, which was maybe a little mental error on my part,” Scheffler said. “I was trying to make it. I hit on line and was fortunate to see it go in.”
The PGA Tour heads to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open beginning Thursday at TPC San Antonio. The majors begin in just a couple of weeks when the Masters starts on April 7 in Augusta, Georgia.
Scheffler will be a favorite to win his first-ever major title.
But like he did on the course all week at Austin Country Club, he just wants to keep his head down and keep focused.
“I don't place too many expectations on myself,” Scheffler said. “Like I said, I just like being out here and competing. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to do that, and I look forward to doing it as long as I can.”