Monday, April 15th, 2024 Edition​

Super Scottie: Scheffler pulls away to win Masters 2024 at Augusta National for second major title

– by Adam Schupak / Golfweek

Per Adam: “On Sunday morning before the final round of the Masters, Scottie Scheffler felt overwhelmed again.

Two years ago, he was seeking his first major title and wasn’t sure if he was ready for that breakthrough. He felt anxious and broke into tears before his wife Meredith’s calming presence helped him find an inner peace that led him to victory. Two years later, Scheffler was in position to win another green jacket but this time Meredith was back home in Dallas awaiting the birth of their first child later this month. So, Scheffler sat around with some of his best childhood friends, who stepped in to deliver the words he needed so he could overcome his biggest foe: himself…”

B&B POV: Scottie is a DOG. He’s now won nine times on the PGA Tour, including capturing his 2^nd green jacket on Sunday. He hasn’t shot over par in a tourney since last July.

He’s only 27, even though he looks 35. Let’s also not forget that he was 17-year-old kiddo when he played in his 1^st tour event and made the cut; the year after he won the US Junior Am. So success isn’t new for the prodigious bearded man from Texas. Cowboy up golf fans. We’re witnessing greatness every week he tees it up.  

Despite Masters finish, Tiger Woods encouraged and eyeing next three majors

– by Todd Kelly / Golfweek

Per Todd: “First, the good news.

Tiger Woods played 72 holes in an official PGA Tour event for the first time since February 2023, and the weekend at a major for the first time since the 2022 Masters…”

B&B POV: After 36 holes of the Masters, Tiger was sitting T-22 at 1-over-par on the treacherous Augusta National GC. The first two days of the tourney saw tough conditions with 6-over-par making the cut. Friday evening Tiger was in contention—only seven back of the leaders—especially if he put together a strong Saturday round. However, the golf Gods had other plans for the GOAT. He went on to shoot 82-77 on the weekend and finished in 60^th – DFL of those who made the cut. During his post-Sunday round presser he talked optimistically about playing in the final three majors of the year – the PGA at Vahalla, US Open at Pinehurst, and the Open Championship at Troon. We sure want him to tee it up in those tourneys, make cuts, and improve on his results from last week. Let’s gooooo!

WITB Winner’s Bag: Scottie Scheffler, 2024 Masters

– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: Scheffler’s gear setup has predominantly stayed the same this season outside of testing/playing some different putters. Since his win at the Players, we’ve only seen one change in his bag – the grip he uses on his TaylorMade Spider Tour X. This week he went with a Golf Pride cord putter grip. Way to mix it up big boy. No one should be surprised that a player in the type of heater he’s in isn’t mixing things up just for kicks and giggles. Why would you? 

Scheffler’s Golf Gear:

DRIVER: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft

FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Black 8X shaft

IRONS: Srixon ZU85 (3), with Nippon Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour X shaft, (4), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft, TaylorMade P-7TW (5-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts.

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50, 56, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts.

PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Tour X L-Neck prototype

BALL: Titleist Pro V1

GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet (full swing) / Golf Pride Pistol (putter)

Check out our Best Golf Drivers 2024 edition.

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PAYDAY! Masters 2024 Prize Money Payouts

– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: Scheffler pocketed $3.6M and very possibly an actual second green jacket. Or, he won the cash and the cool Big-A Trophy that winners get — a replica of ANGC clubhouse.

Question for someone smarter or more connected than us: If you win the Masters a 2^nd time, do you actually get a 2^nd jacket? Good question. This year alone he’s won $15,093,235, and over his young PGA TOUR career he’s already earned $57,658,464, good for 10^th all-time. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

Tour Confidential: Scottie Scheffler’s win, Ludvig Aberg’s Masters potential

– by GOLF Editors

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Scottie Scheffler’s Masters win, Ludvig Aberg’s potential, Tiger Woods’ week and more.

What does B&B think?

1. Just how dominant can Scheffler become? Tigeresque? No one alive today will ever go on a decade-long heater like Tiger did; but Scheffler has the all-around game, especially when he putts above-average compared to his peers, to win a handful or more majors and 25+ tour events before his career comes to an end. 1^st ballet Hall-of-Fame-level of success for the Texas Young Gun.   
2. What impressed you most about Scheffler’s Masters performance? Normally he plays with the personality and temperament of a robotic Bob Estes AI. But this week, we saw all kinds of fist pumps and furrowed brows. We saw a killer in action. And we loved every minute.
3. Which competitor on Sunday should have kept up? No one in the field this week had a chance of keeping up. Maybe Rahm or Koepka could have had they been in contention, but they weren’t. No one on the first page of the leaderboard had a chance Sunday.
4. When Scheffler’s game comes back to Earth, who will win a future Masters? Young guy, Ludvig Aberg. Older guy, Tommy Fleetwood. Gray haired, Rory. Yes, we think before his career is over, Rory will be wearing a green jacket.    
5. Was PGA TOUR vs. LIV a storyline this week?  Not really, and we’re thankful. Other than Greg Norman barnstorming the grounds after having to buy a ticket, the focus was mostly on the golf and not which tour the golfers play on. The focus was on the majestic course, the hard-as-hell conditions, and Scottie’s legacy-building performance.
6. Having made the cut but finishing last among those who did, was the week a success for Tiger? Yes. And for us too. He played 72 holes and thanks to the Masters we were able to watch most of his play. If he can stay healthy(ish), he’ll post better scores or at least finish higher in a major or two later this year.
7. 10 years from now what will you remember from the 2024 Masters? Tiger making the cut and Norman being a jackal. Sorry Scottie.

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