Scheffler bests Kim in playoff at Travelers
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler knows how to handle chaos on the PGA Tour in all its various forms.
Scheffler won the first playoff hole with a par to capture the Travelers Championship on Sunday in Cromwell, Conn., defeating South Korea’s Tom Kim after what briefly became a hectic scene a hole earlier at TPC River Highlands.
As the final group was on the 18th green for the final hole of regulation, five protesters ran onto the course, setting off smoke grenades and spreading a powdered substance on the green. They were apprehended by police, and there was a delay as the area was cleaned up before the golfers putted.
“You really didn’t know what was happening,” Scheffler said.
Scheffler had left his approach on the left fringe and two-putted from there. Kim’s approach shot was within a couple inches of the hole before rolling back, where he converted the must-make putt to extend the tournament.
The duo played No. 18 again in the playoff, aiming at a new hole location that tournament officials set up to avoid the stray powder. Kim’s approach shot was short and landed in a bunker. After blasting out, he couldn’t roll in a long par putt.
“I wish I would have had a bit more of a chance,” Kim said.
Even with protesters interrupting the tournament, not much is slowing down Scheffler, who won for the sixth time on the PGA Tour this year, all since the beginning of March. He prevailed for the second time in three weeks, capturing the Memorial Tournament prior to last week’s struggles at the U.S. Open.
“It has been a great season,” Scheffler said. “I’ve been fortunate to come away with some wins, and it has been a lot of fun. Tom played his heart out today.”
Amy Yang of South Korea held off the field at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for her first career major title on Sunday in Sammamish, Wash.
The 34-year-old Yang, who arrived at Sahalee Country Club on Sunday morning with a two-shot lead through 54 holes, shot an even-par 72 to card a 7-under 281 for the week. She defeated Lilia Vu (71 Sunday), Jin Young Ko of South Korea (71) and Miyu Yamashita of Japan (73) by three shots.
Yang had five prior victories on the LPGA Tour, most notably at the CME Group Tour Championship last November. She twice finished as a major runner-up, at the 2012 and 2015 U.S. Women’s Open tournaments. This week was her 75th start in a major.
“I always wanted to win a major and I came close several times, and I started doubting myself if I’m ever gonna win a major before I retire, because I’ve been on tour quite a while,” Yang said on the NBC broadcast. “I am so grateful and very, very happy to win a major.”
Yang at one point held a seven-shot advantage over the field. Her fifth and final birdie of the day, a 4-foot birdie tap at the par-3 13th hole, put her at 10 under when the next-closest golfers stood at 3 under.
After a bogey at the par-4 16th, Yang landed her tee shot at the par-3 17th into the water. She made double bogey to slip to 7 under but still had plenty of cushion for the final hole.
“It’s all the hard work our team did together and I’m so grateful for that. All four rounds it was tough out there, but I just trusted what I prepared and I did my best all week,” said Yang, who shot 70-68-7172 during a week when only 13 players finished under par.