The state of Texas impacted the 88th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club over the weekend as Highland Park High School and University of Texas alum and Dallas resident Scottie Scheffler won his second career Green Jacket.
The 27-year-old became the fifth No.1 ranked player in the World Golf Rankings with a four-stroke victory over Ludvig Aberg, joining Ian Woosnam, Fred Couples, Tiger Woods, and Dustin Johnson while winning the Masters for the second time in the last three years.
“It’s hard to put into words how special this is,” Scheffler told the media after Sunday’s final round. “It’s been a long week, a grind of a week. The golf course was so challenging, and to be sitting here wearing this jacket again and getting to take it home is extremely special.”
SMU alum and fellow Dallas resident Bryson DeChambeau led for the first two days, but Scheffler pulled into a tie after Day 2 and took control on Day 3 as he carried the lead into the final round, where he fought off Texas Tech alum Aberg and others with four birdies on the back nine to pull out the victory following a four-way tie.
“I think it’s a difficult golf course to close out a win on,” Scheffler explained. “… I did that to the best of my abilities today and was fortunately able to hit some really key shots and make some nice birdies there on the back nine. Really, from hole eight on, I played really, really nice golf.”
Two other Texans finished in the top 10: DeChambeau tied for sixth at two-under-par, and Dallas resident Will Zalatoris tied for ninth with an even par. The Woodlands native Patrick Reed finished in 12th, while Dallas’ Jordan Spieth missed the cut.
Scheffler now turns his attention to becoming a father before taking on the field at next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky, and looks forward to the challenges both present.
“I’m definitely not going to intentionally take my eye off the ball,” he told the media. “I will go home, soak in this victory tonight. Will definitely enjoy the birth of my first child. But with that being said, I still love competing. My priorities will change here very soon. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line. But I still love competing. I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon, that’s for sure.”
The 88th Masters also marked the end of an illustrious broadcasting career for Verne Lundquist, who spent more than a decade as the play-by-play man for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s and 1980s and turned it into a national career full of iconic moments. He made his final call on the 16th hole on Sunday, the sight of his famous call of a Tiger Woods chip-in in 2005.
“Why not? Why not get in the hole?” Lundquist said as Scheffler sank a birdie putt to increase his lead to four strokes heading to the final two holes of play. “Three birdies last four holes. … The hour belongs to Scottie Scheffler. A four-shot lead with two to play. There you are.”
With Scheffler’s win, 10 Texans have combined to win 16 Masters titles. The Dallas golf pipeline made its mark at Augusta this year, and it was only fitting that a local legend was on the call.
