The years go by, but life remains the same on the PGA Tour. No one seems capable of challenging the Number One in the world, Scottie Scheffler (-27), who continues to accumulate victories, now reaching 20 wins on the circuit. A milestone he achieves before turning 30 and after claiming victory with overwhelming authority at The American Express, the second tournament of the season and the first scoring event he has participated in for months. The Texan’s monologue begins early in this 2026…
It seemed that the inspired Si Woo Kim (-22), who arrived as co-leader for the final 18 holes of the tournament, having delivered a great performance on Friday at the course where the final round was played and who already knew what it was like to win this tournament, could challenge the man from Ridgewood. Or perhaps the very young Blades Brown (-19), relying on his carefree attitude at 18 years old and without a card, would be able to cause an upset. But nothing could be further from the truth. Against this Scheffler, there is little or nothing to be done.
The leader of the OWGR saved the best of the week for Sunday, sweeping through the Pete Dye Stadium Course like a true whirlwind. A score of eight under par over 16 holes, with nine birdies and an eagle, gave him such an advantage that he could even afford the ‘luxury’ of sending a ball into the water on the peninsula of the 17th. His lead by then was no less than six strokes ahead of Jason Day (-23) and Ryan Gerard (-23), who had finished their tournament with rounds of 64 and 65 strokes, respectively.
Not even Andrew Putnam (-23), who had a long putt for birdie on the 18th, could dream of a miracle. So the conclusion of the visit to California was a triumphant stroll for a player who had never won his first scoring tournament of the season and who faces the new course striking genuine fear into his rivals. Perhaps we will have to wait for opponents like Rory McIlroy to return to the United States after starting their year on the DP World Tour for someone to try to challenge a superlative Scottie.
In the featured match on Sunday, Si Woo Kim disconnected from the fight with a catastrophic series of two bogeys and a double bogey over four holes to finish the first half of his round. Meanwhile, Blades Brown sent a ball into the water on the par-five 5th hole and was unable to find the birdie production he had showcased in the first three rounds. A sensational performance nonetheless, finishing in 13th position in a tournament he entered with a sponsor’s invitation and had a putt for birdie on the 18th that, had it gone in, would have opened the door to Torrey Pines next week. It was not to be, and he must return to the Korn Ferry Tour.
Scheffler pockets $1,656,000 for his victory, takes the lead in the FedEx Cup, and continues to extend his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking. With 20 victories in 151 tournaments throughout his career on the PGA Tour, the Texan continues to shatter records and follow in the footsteps of the great legends of this sport. But above all, he does so by conveying overwhelming superiority, tremendous solidity in all aspects of the game, and an astonishing ability to minimise errors and surpass anyone who stands in his way. A golfer of a different calibre.
