This week we will celebrate our birthday together (for both of them fell last Thursday), triumph at the 2024 Travelers Championship on Sunday. Tom Kim will ask Scottie Scheffler out more oftenif these are the performances on the field. In the end, however, the undisputed No. 1 in the world always winswho gives the interview with his less than a month old son in his arms and continues to write the history of golf. For the American, sixth title of the season (already such an impressive number), but which arrives even before July. Only five in the past have succeeded in this feat: the last was Arnold Palmer in 1962.
After eighteen holes of pure emotions the Korean creates the masterpiece on the eighteenth: second perfect shot, bounce a hand’s breadth from the hole and spin that causes the ball to retreat two meters from the flag. The No. 1 in the world tries the putt from the edge of the green, the roll seems perfect but stops a round before going in. Then the Quran has the opportunity to force the playoff: center the hole and go on playingdespite the usual scabrous protest from a couple of spectators, who ‘invaded’ the last hole by throwing paint and smoke bombs. The two both closed the eighteen holes with an overall score of -22. For Tom Kim Sunday with 66 shots, for Scheffler third consecutive lap closed at -5 and a comeback completed by the three shots gap after the first day.
We walk back to the eighteenth tee, and the two tee shots are perfect. Kim’s is slightly longer, with Scheffler therefore first to play from the fairway. Scottie, in his moment of need, pulls out the champion’s shot: iron at the pole and all the pressure on the young Korean. The newly twenty-two year old suffers from it sending his second short into the bunker. Kim doesn’t manage the miraculous recovery like Jordan Spieth did a few years ago, he misses the exit and then also the putt for par, making everything too easy for the OWGR no.1. In fact, Scheffler doesn’t hole out the birdie, he approaches and closes raising his arms to the sky, with his family waiting for him.
On the magnificent par 70 course of TPC River Highlands third place tied for Sungjae Im and Tom Hoge, with an overall score of -20. A great Sunday for the American, who recovered nine positions with his 62-stroke lap. A crescendo finish for the Korean, however, who with four birdies in the last six holes achieved one of the best results of his career. Last seasonal Signature Event and only big names in the upper rankings, with a all-American quartet at -18 sharing fifth place with unquestionable talent: Patrick Cantlay (65), Justin Thomas (66), Tony Finau (66) e Akshay Bhatia (69).
Prominent names also completed the top-10 in Cromwell (Connecticut) such as those of Brian Harman (62), Wyndham Clark (63), Cameron Young (66, the double bogey on the 12th was decisive for him when he was just one shot away from the top) and Shane Lowry (97). For the three Americans and the Irishman, ninth place at -17, while close to the top ten two major champions finish tied as Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa. PGA Tour will return to the field next week with the Rocket Mortgage Classic, with Francesco Molinari also in the field, while all the other Italians will be on stage in the unmissable event with the Italian Open.
