Scottie Scheffler reveals "unexpected" PGA Tour plan at WM Phoenix Open

Scottie Scheffler said "a lot of the to-go food" had gone ahead of WM Phoenix Open final round.

12 Feb 2024

Scottie Scheffler has revealed how the PGA Tour had not officially informed the players they were going to be sent straight back out in the same groups for the final round of the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday.

Players returned to TPC Scottsdale to complete their third rounds on Sunday morning at 8.45am local time following a 45-minute delay due to frost.

Scheffler resumed with 11 holes left to play of his third round.

He got off to a flyer with five straight birdies from the 9th before making a bogey on 14.

Scheffler then birdied the 16th and 17th but then incredibly putted his ball into a bunker on 18 for another bogey.

It left Scheffler two shots off the pace heading into the final round on 13-under par.

But according to Scheffler, what had not been made clear by the PGA Tour was whether there would be a quick re-draw or not.

He only found out once he had signed his scorecard following the third round.

On playing 29 straight holes, with about a 10-minute break in between, Scheffler said:

"Well, it was a bit unexpected. We turned, and they had told us this morning they were unsure whether or not they were going to re-pair. You get into scoring, and they're like, hey, you're on the box in 10 minutes, so go inside for food. A lot of the to-go food is gone because everybody has been doing the same thing, and try and eat something as quick as you can and get out there on the course. So it was a bit of an adjustment, but like I said, I got off to a good start this afternoon and gave myself a chance."

Scheffler hauled himself into a tie for the lead in the early stages of the back nine but his putter went cold once again this season.

The World No.1 was left to rue a costly three-putt par on the par-5 13th and he then followed that up two more short missed putts on 14 and 15.

Scheffler did nearly hole out for an ace at the Stadium Hole 16th but it was too little too late as he finished on 18-under par and three shots out of the playoff contested by eventual winner Nick Taylor and 47-year-old Charley Hoffman.

It was another tournament that Scheffler knows he let slip through his fingers.

Scheffler said after the tournament:

"Yeah, I'd say I'm a bit frustrated. I didn't really finish the way I wanted to, but I gave myself a good chance this week. Played a lot of solid golf, did a lot of good things. Obviously I'm a little bit frustrated I think with how I finished, but outside of that I gave myself a good chance, just wasn't able to close."

Scheffler starts tournament favourite at this week's Genesis Invitational, a Signature Event hosted by Tiger Woods, who makes his official PGA Tour return at famed Riviera.