\n<\/p>\n
In comparison, it felt as though there would be precious little romance at East Lake in Atlanta, where Scheffler landed the $25m (\u00a319m) play-off bonus. He won because his season-long performances gave him a handicapped head start.<\/p>\n
Collin Morikawa was actually 22 under par for the week in Georgia and Sahith Theegala 21 under compared with Scheffler\u2019s 20-under total. But with the world number one starting on an arbitrary 10 under, while Morikawa was at four under on Thursday’s opening tee, he proved a comfortable winner.<\/p>\n
It is a fair reflection of the season, where he won six other PGA Tour events, including his second major, plus Olympic gold.<\/p>\n
But, the artifice of the season finale is aggravating, as are the outrageous sums of money involved. Scheffler\u2019s on course earnings totalled \u00a347.4m in 2024, equating to \u00a39,282 for every shot he hit or \u00a3631,370 for every tournament played.<\/p>\n
It is far from golf\u2019s most attractive trait and it was interesting and refreshing that none of Scheffler\u2019s post round comments made mention of the extraordinary income generated by this latest success.<\/p>\n
He did, though, talk about the trophy – one that had eluded him in the previous two years despite starting both of those concluding Tour Championships in pole position.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal to start the week was just to have the right attitude and use what I feel like is my best strength, and that’s my mind,\u201d Scheffler said.<\/p>\n
It is clear that it is the competition rather than financial reward that drives this extraordinary golfer. And it was this spirit that, actually, made the final round such an engaging watch.<\/p>\n
A wild drive on the seventh and a shank out of a bunker at the next opened up the tournament. The chasing Morikawa was in with a shout.<\/p>\n
But caddie Ted Scott\u2019s pep talk to the ninth tee reset the narrative. Scheffler fired a brilliant tee shot into the par-three green for the first of three successive birdies before an eagle at the 14th.<\/p>\n
It was the stuff of a champion of rare quality – perhaps not deserving of such absurd financial rewards, but certainly worthy of of huge respect.<\/p>\n
Scheffler is the undoubted player of the year. This despite Open and US PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffle landing one more major than the Masters winner.<\/p>\n
And while we are dishing out accolades, we should mark the remarkable job done by Catriona Matthew, the first professional to captain the GB&I Curtis Cup team.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, the United States won by 15\u00bd-4\u00bd in a drubbing that posed a question over whether the opposition going forward should take in the whole of Europe.<\/p>\n
Matthew, who has led the continent\u2019s pros to two Solheim Cup successes, fostered an indomitable team spirit. \u201cWhat a leader,\u201d Karen Stupples, one of her assistants, told me.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe comes over all laid back but inside Catriona is as tough a competitor as they come. She knew the girls, the best combinations, the order to send them out. She was brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n
All of this was said with tears in the eyes of the former pro turned commentator, who won her Women\u2019s Open title at the same Sunningdale venue two decades ago.<\/p>\n
Matthew is naturally understated, always the first to take a step back and leave the glory to her players. Every one of them contributed to the scoreboard in their thrilling 10\u00bd-9\u00bd triumph, with Irishwoman Sara Byrne going unbeaten.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously quite a few of them (Byrne included) will turn pro,\u201d Matthew told BBC Sport. \u201cSo the future of women\u2019s pro golf is looking really good,<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think just the enthusiasm and the desire they had to win when they\u2019re not playing for any money is just fantastic to see. The crowds really got into it and we had huge crowds for this event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dimmock played in the Curtis Cup defeat of 2014 and since turning pro a year later, had only won once. But last Sunday she came through a sudden death play off against Pauline Roussin-Bouchard to claim the Women’s Irish Open at Carton House.<\/p>\n
The Englishwoman with Irish roots has battled back from a career threatening thumb injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud of myself,\u201d she said after collecting a winner\u2019s cheque for \u00a350,500. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot that goes into getting me back fit. There\u2019s a lot of blood, sweat and tears.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denmark\u2019s Norgaard was equally emotional with his British Masters victory on the DP World Tour – his first professional triumph. \u201cIt’s hard to put into words because it means so much,\u201d he said having sobbed through a television interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve had such a slow career but always becoming a little bit better every year. I\u2019ve not won on Challenge Tour and I’d not won anything here, and then winning this tournament is quite, quite special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quite the understatement, but a message in keeping with a golfing weekend where the glorious pursuit of victory trumped everything.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n