Blog #125 March 18, 2024 Results The Players

Blog #125 March 18, 2024 Results The Players

Scottie Scheffler is the overall favorite based on RD4 last week.  He was #161 in putts going in but #5 at the Arnold Palmer tournament.  Rory is #1 off the tee but #151 in approach play.

ROUND 1 Weather 85* W 6/10 MPH, 10 balls in water on 17, #16 easiest hole only 7 bogies.

1 Rory McIlroy-7 65 Ten birdies, 6 of his 1st 8 holes, in the water on 18 bogie & on 7 DB.

1 Xander Schauffele-7 65 Starts on 10, birdies 7 of 1st 12 holes, bogie free RD.

1 Wyndham Clark-7 65 One bogie 8 birdies with 3 straight on 15,16,17.

4 Matt Fitzpatrick-6 66 Two bogies 1 birdie on 1st 3 holes, then one eagle on 16 and 5 birdies.

6 Ludvig Aberg-5 67Starts on 10 1 birdie, eagles 16/600 yards), then on 2.

6 Scottie Scheffler-5 67 Starts with bogie then birdies 2,3,4, 10,11, 16. 

6 Maverick McNealy-5 67 Bogie free RD with 5 birdies.

ROUND 2 Weather 86* W 1/4 MPH.  Five balls in water on 17, Beau Hossler hits the 1000th ball into water and misses the cut+2.  Attendance for RD2 65,000.

1 Wyndham Clark-14 65 1 bogie 8 birdies 6 on his back 9, similar RD as yesterday.  

2 Xander Schauffele-10 Strong back 9 except for DB on 11, eagles 16.

4 Matt Fitzpatrick- 9 69 One bogie 6 birdies DB on 4.

4 Maverick McNealy-9 68 One eagle on 16 3 birdies 2 bogies, misses 20’ putt on 18 by 1”.

6 Scottie Scheffler-8 69 Two bogies 5 birdies, had a neck issue from his 3rd hole.

14 Rory McIlroy-6 73/ 3  bogies 3 birdies on 1st 6 holes then 2 birdies 1 bogie & 1DB for 73.

10 Brian Harman-7 65 Up from #76 Wild RND 3 bogies 8 birdies, eagle on 16.

CUT-1 MISSED #65 Thomas+1, #76 Cole, & Spieth+2, #89 Rose+3, #97 Zalatoris+4.

ROUND 3 Weather same as RDs1&2. 

1 Xander Schauffele-17 65 Bogie free RD makes a 58’m putt on 14 to take the lead.

2 Wyndham Clark-16 70 Birdies 16 to tie but bogies 17 for his 2nd bogie, loses 5 strokes.

3 Brian Harman-15 64 +7 spots One bogie 10 birdies.

4 Matt Fitzpatrick-13 68 After +1 on front 9 he birdies 17&18 with 4 other birdies on back 9.

4 Maverick McNealy-132 68 Hanging in there with 3 very good RDs.

6 Scottie Scheffler-12 68 Still not physically right but birdies last 3 holes.

7 Hideki Matsuyama-7 +7 spots 4 birdies on his last 10 holes.

12 Ludvig Aberg-9+20 spots bogies 1st hole then 7 birdies on next 10 but bogies 18. 

FINAL ROUND Schauffele 3rd in putting this week was 151 going in.  Both he and Clark played great, should be a terrific final.  I pick Schauffele(1.3/1) to win, Clark(3/1) & Harman(5/1) are my 2nd picks, last Fitzpatrick(14/1).  I don’t think Scheffler can win due to his neck issue. 

1 Scottie Scheffler-20 64 Eagles 4 then 6 birdies the one on 16 gives him a 2 shot lead. $4.5M 

He goes final 31 holes without a bogie and at one time was 7 shots back in RD3.

2 Xander Schauffele-19 65 Bogies 14 & 15 and falls from tie for the lead. $1.9M

2 Brian Harman-19 Bogies 4 the 4 birdies plus 1 on 15 but can’t get another. $1.9M

2 Wyndham Clark-19 69 bogies 14 to fall 3 back, but birdies 16 &17 to get within 1. $1.9M

All 3 missed birdie putts on 18 which would have forced a playoff.

5 Mathew Fitzpatrick-16 Birdies last 4 holes to finish 5th. $1.0M

6 Hideki Matsuyama-15 Five birdies in a bogie free RD. $875K

Interesting finishes

8 Ludvig Aberg-14 67 RD4 1 eagle on 11 and 3 birdies, 73 on RD3 hurt his chances. $781K

9 Maverick McNealy-13 72 Big surprise started 350/1 to win, but shoots par in RD4. $706K

19 Rory McIlroy-9 72 Five balls in water, most of any player, 3 DB’s 11 bogies in 4 RDs. $286K

70 Rickie Fowler 3RDs over 70 for 290+2. $52K

Cut Ryan Fox Aces 17 on RD1 but misses cut+1. $0

W Tom Kim withdraws after being +5 over 8 holes in Rd 1, goes in water on 17 for a 6. $0