\n<\/p>\n
Scottie Scheffler hit a sensational nine-under 63 as he capped a year of dominance by retaining the Hero World Challenge with a six-shot winning margin.<\/p>\n
The world number one, who won the Masters and Olympic gold in 2024, claimed a record-equalling ninth title of the year with a bogey-free round to triumph on 25 under.<\/p>\n
The victory means he has won an incredible 42.9% of the 21 tournaments he has played in 2024.<\/p>\n
“[That was] very satisfying,” he said after tying Tiger Woods (2000) and Vijay Singh (2004) for the most wins in a single season since 1950, although this event and the Olympics are not PGA Tour competitions. <\/p>\n
“I did a lot of good stuff on the course, played a really solid round of golf.<\/p>\n
“[It] feels nice to take a little break and come back and continue to play some pretty solid golf.”<\/p>\n
Scheffler, who had not competed in a strokeplay event since winning the PGA Tour Championship in August, joined Woods (2006-2007) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2021-2022) as the only back-to-back winners of the 20-man invitational event at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.<\/p>\n
Scheffler, 28, birdied three of the first four holes and four of the final six as he romped to victory.<\/p>\n
South Korea’s Tom Kim, who hit a 68, was a distant second while overnight leader Justin Thomas ended a shot further back in third.<\/p>\n
Thomas, who remains without a win since claiming the 2022 US PGA Championship closed with a one-under 71.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old followed birdies at the first and fourth holes with bogeys at the par-three second and fifth.<\/p>\n
That allowed Scheffler, who holed an eight-foot birdie at the opening hole, a tap-in birdie at the par-five third and a stunning birdie putt from just inside 50 feet at the fourth, to take a lead he would not relinquish.<\/p>\n
“It has been a great year and a fun year,” added Scheffler.<\/p>\n
“I have had a little bit of time to reflect, but I am not really sure how to assess it. It has just been pretty surreal, a lot of fun and I am just really grateful.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n