World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler showcased his ability to handle chaos on the PGA Tour, winning the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, on Sunday. Scheffler secured the victory on the first playoff hole with a par, defeating South Korea’s Tom Kim.
The final round saw unexpected drama as five protesters interrupted play on the 18th green by setting off smoke grenades and spreading a powdered substance. The police quickly apprehended them, and play resumed after the green was cleaned.
Scheffler’s approach shot on the 18th landed on the fringe, and he two-putted from there. Kim’s approach was close but rolled back slightly, forcing him to make a crucial putt to extend the tournament. In the playoff, Scheffler’s solid par outlasted Kim, whose shot from a bunker missed the mark.
“I wish I would have had a bit more of a chance,” Kim remarked.
Despite the interruption, Scheffler continued his impressive run, marking his sixth PGA Tour win of the year. This victory follows his recent win at the Memorial Tournament and a challenging U.S. Open.
“It has been a great season,” Scheffler said. “I’ve been fortunate to come away with some wins, and it has been a lot of fun. Tom played his heart out today.”
Scheffler joined an elite group, becoming the fourth player in the past 40 years to achieve six or more tour wins in a single year. He also matched Arnold Palmer’s 1962 record of six wins before July. Scheffler and Kim both finished at 22-under-par 258, two strokes ahead of the field. Scheffler’s final round score was 5-under 65, while Kim finished with a 66, highlighted by a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole.
“Just to force a playoff, I felt like I was really digging deep,” Kim said.
Several golfers had strong showings, including Tom Hoge and South Korea’s Sungjae Im, who tied for third place at 20-under. Akshay Bhatia, playing in the final group, ended in fifth place at 18-under, along with Tony Finau, Patrick Cantlay, and Justin Thomas. Cameron Young, who shot an impressive 59 on Saturday, started strong but faced challenges on the back nine, tying for ninth place at 17-under with Shane Lowry, Brian Harman, and Wyndham Clark. Austria’s Sepp Straka posted the day’s best score with a 61, tying for 23rd at 12-under.
Despite the disruptions, the tournament concluded with thrilling performances and a testament to Scheffler’s resilience and skill.
