Scottie Scheffler has recorded a final-round 64 to become the first player in history to successfully defend the Players Championship.
On the back of his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the world number one was a clear favourite to prevail at Sawgrass, and he did so in style on Sunday.
Having shaken off a neck issue from earlier in the week, Scheffler produced a faultless round of golf, posting six birdies and eagle to claim a one-shot win.
Even going agonisingly close to a seventh birdie on the last did not cost the American as he edged out Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman.
Of the three, Clark came the closest to forcing a playoff, with the US Open champion having been off the pace for most of the day until he came alive during the closing three holes.
One ... shot ... short ... 💔
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024
Heartbreak for Wyndham Clark on the 72nd hole @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/6d1Qa3elOa
Birdies at 16 and 17 meant that another would take him level with Scheffler, but he watched his 17-foot birdie putt on the last find the hole but lip out.
Harman also missed from a similar distance, while Schauffele bogeyed 14 and 15 to drop back into the pack from a winning position and ultimately failed to respond.
England's Matt Fitzpatrick was the best of the rest three shots further back, ahead of Si Woo Kim and Hideki Matsuyama who shared sixth position.
Ludvig Aberg was in eighth on his own, with Sahith Theegala and Maverick McNealy making up the top 10 and Rory McIlroy down in 19th spot after a final-round 72.
Darren Plant
