He made a 25-foot birdie shot that was just enough momentum to make it in.
Scheffler missed his putt and Cantlay missed a birdie attempt of 11 feet.
Scheffler birdied four holes of the last six for a 4-under score of 67. This was to match Cantlay’s 16-under 268 at TPC Scottsdale, on another sunny 80-degree day. Scheffler was playing ahead of Cantlay and had a bogeyless 67.
Scheffler made it through his 71st PGA Tour debut. The 25-year-old former University of Texas student star had his biggest professional achievements before Sunday. He beat Jon Rahm in September’s United States Ryder Cup win at Whistling Straits. He also shot a 59 in 2020 Northern Trust.
Scheffler and Cantlay were matched at par on the two extra trips down 18. Both players hit the fairway and green first, and then scrambled to save par the second time.
Scheffler missed an opportunity to end the match in regulation after his 5 1/2-foot birdie attempt went wrong. Scheffler missed a par-3 hole at the stadium. He was 2 inches too short.
Scheffler, nine strokes behind the leader Sahith Theegala when he entered the weekend, shot a 62 Saturday to be within two strokes and make it into the last group. Scheffler played 12 holes at even par Sunday with four birdies, four bogeys and one retort.
Fourth-ranked Cantlay was making a debut in the event. He added it to his calendar because he thought it would be easier for him to play three weeks straight instead of driving back and forth between his two favorite California events.
FedEx Cup champion, he almost won with his third win in six starts. He missed a birdie putt of 9 feet on the 18th regulation.
Theegala, the rookie who led into the day, fell to third with a bogey at the par-4 17th. He had driven left into the water and lost a part of the top spot. Brooks Koepka (69), and Xander Schauffele 68 tied for third at 15 over.
Theegala was unable to be the first player to win on a sponsor exclusion since Martin Laird at the 2020 Shriners Children’s Open.
Koepka was also the 2015 winner. He closed with birdies on 17-18
Alex Noren (68), Billy Horschel (66), and Alex Noren (88) were both 14 under. Justin Thomas (66), a two-time winner, was another stroke back, as was Hideki Matsuyama (69).
Rahm tied for 10th with a 67. Only a few miles away from the course is Arizona State’s former star, who was ranked No. 1.
Rahm stated that the only time he felt confident in his golf swing was during the first 18 holes and last nine. That’s all. All the rest, there was some doubt in a lot swings.
Carlos Ortiz was just getting started and brought the wild 16th green to life with his second hole-in one in two days.
The 8-iron shot he took on the hole at 178 yards landed in front the pin. It rolled in and caught the left edge. Sam Ryder’s hole-out from 124 yards sent the stadium crowd in a frenzy. The rowdy fans poured bottles and cans onto the turf to celebrate, delaying play.
Ortiz stated, “You have to be careful about your head. I was actually nailed on my back with a beer bottle on the back.” “After that, I just tried to avoid as many cans as possible.”
The 11th position at No. Since 1997, the tournament has moved to the course. Two aces on 16 were last seen in 1997, when Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker did it in round three.
Ortiz started on the back nine and followed it with a 13-foot eagle putt at the par-4 17th. He became the first player to have consecutive eagles this season. Ortiz finished with a tie for 33rd at 7 over with a 67.
Play was again delayed for a long cleanup on 16. About an hour later Harry Higgs celebrated his par by raising his shirt. Joel Dahmen, his playing partner, took his shirt off and swung the shirt over his head. Both were out of contention.
After Thomas hit a 40-foot pitch off the back green, the fans continued throwing garbage. Cantlay’s 16-foot birdie putt, which he jumped up after hitting the green mark, left him with a 4-footer.
DIVOTS: Five of the top 10 players in the world finished within the top 10. 1 Rahm, No. 4 Cantlay, No. 7 Thomas, No. 8 Schauffele and No. 10 Matsuyama. No. 3 Viktor Hovland did not make it to the final cut. Ryder tied for 23rd at 9 over with a 68.
