American Scottie Scheffler has survived an excruciating missed putt by rival Wyndham Clark on the final green to become the first player in the 50-year history of The Players Championship to win at TPC Sawgrass in consecutive years.
Scheffler fired a final-round, eight-under 64 to finish the week at 20-under 268 and claim his second straight victory at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The world No.1 fought through neck pain earlier in the tournament and started the day five shots off the pace of 54-hole leader Xander Schauffele.
After racking up an eagle and six birdies, he watched as Brian Harman, Schauffle and Clark were unable to pull out one more birdie to force a playoff.
Clark's bid to tie, on nearly the exact putt Harman missed moments before, traced the left rim of the cup around the back and out.
Looking for another big trophy to add to his growing collection - including the US Open and Pebble Beach Pro-Am - he birdied the previous two holes to get close, sticking his tee shot at the famed 17th to 4 1/2 feet - but his birdie try from 17 feet at the 18th refused to fall.
"I don't know how that putt doesn't go in," said Clark. "It was kind of right centre with like a foot to go and I knew it was going to keep breaking, but it had speed and I thought it was going to inside left, and even when it kind of lipped, I thought it would lip in.
"I'm pretty gutted it didn't go in."
Harman (68 on Sunday), Clark (69) and Schauffele (70) tied for second at 19 under. Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (69) finished fifth at 16 under.
Scheffler also won on tour for the second straight week, having captured his second career Arnold Palmer Invitational title last week in Orlando. He has six top-10 finishes in seven starts this season.
"It's pretty special," said Scheffler, the first golfer to win the Players twice since Tiger Woods in 2001, 2013. "That's something you never really get the opportunity to do very often.
"It's tough enough to win one Players, so to have it back-to-back is extremely special."
Reuters/Newshub
