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Scottie Scheffler Triumphs in Bahamas
This week saw Scottie Scheffler triumph in the Bahamas, Dean Burmester secure his home open in South Africa, Joaquin Niemann clinch the Australian Open title, and Ashleigh Buhai defend her Australian Open crown
Jack Middlebrook
December 04, 2023
Winnerโs Circle
Hero World Challenge
Golf Nippon Series JT Cup
South African Open Championship
ISPS Handa Australian Open - Men
ISPS Handa Australian Open - Women
Taifong Open
PGA Tour - Hero World Challenge
Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler on winning #HeroWorldChallenge. Thank you to @HeroMotoCorp, every TOUR player and fan who helped support this yearโs event, benefitting @TGRFound.
โ Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods)
11:54 PM โข Dec 3, 2023
Scottie Scheffler shines bright in Nassau, claiming the title at the Hero World Challenge with a stellar performance, especially on the greens. The number one in the world finished three shots ahead of Sepp Straka in the 20-person field.
Scheffler, who has been working with putting guru Phil Kenyon, struck gold with his new balanced approach. Ranked 161st in Strokes Gained: Putting this season, he turned the tables in the Bahamas, ranking sixth in the same category and notching the win without a single three-putt โ a remarkable turnaround indeed!
Scheffler heads into The Sentry in a month as the likely favorite. If he has indeed found a consistent fix for the putting, Schefflerโs name will likely be at the top of the leaderboard a lot in 2024.
Tiger Woods may not have topped the leaderboard at the Hero World Challenge, finishing at even par for the week, but his outing was a win in its own right. He managed to make it through all 72 holes, making 19 birdies and still showing speed with the driver.
DP World Tour - South African Open Championship
Dean Burmester completed back-to-back wins in South Africa with a final-round 68 to claim the South African Open Championship.
It's two wins in two weeks for Dean Burmester ๐๐
#InvestecSAOpen
โ DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour)
2:31 PM โข Dec 3, 2023
After a Saturday 65, Burmester entered Sunday two strokes behind the leaders and quickly closed the gap with birdies at the first and fifth. With the third round leaders, Jayden Schaper and Ryan van Velzen, falling back Burmester closed the door with birdies at the 16th and 17th to win by three shots.
Burmester's fourth DP World Tour title holds personal significance, achieving a childhood dream of winning the home Open. He now heads to the Alfred Dunhill Championship next week to see if he can make it a triple in South Africa.
DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia - ISPS Handa Australian Open - Men
Joaquin Niemann emerged as the first South American to hoist the Australian Open's Stonehaven Cup with a playoff win over Rikuya Hoshino. Niemann's seven-foot eagle putt was the decider on the second extra hole against Japan's Hoshino at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney.
Starting the day four shots back, Niemann's put on a stellar final round with six birdies and a single bogey to shoot 66. Hoshino, the overnight co-leader, joined him with a one under 70, leading to a playoff on the 18th hole. After matching birdies on the first playoff hole, the pair headed back to the 18th with Niemann ending it with an eagle.
This victory marks Niemann's first DP World Tour win and places him as the second Chilean victor, following in Felipe Aguilar's footsteps. It was also the second LIV golfer to win on the European tour this week, to go along with Burmesterโs victory in South Africa.
The field continues to take shape.
Joaquin Niemann, Rikuya Hoshino and Adam Scott have all qualified for The 152nd Open, courtesy of their finishes in the ISPS Handa Australian Open.
โ The Open (@TheOpen)
9:00 AM โข Dec 3, 2023
In the heart of the action, Australia's Min Woo Lee narrowly missed joining an elite group to win both the Australian PGA and Australian Open in the same year, finishing third.
Australian icon Adam Scott tied for fourth with Grant Forrest and Laurie Canter after an impressive closing 68, also securing one of the final Open spots.
PGA Tour of Australasia - ISPS Handa Australian Open - Women
Ashleigh Buhai secured her second consecutive Australian Open title, narrowly edging out world number 5 Minjee Lee by a single stroke. The South African Buhai overcame struggles on the final day at The Australian shooting 3-over 75, but did just enough to come out with the victory.
Back-to-back! ๐๐
Congratulations to Ashleigh Buhai on winning the @AusOpenGolf for a second consecutive year ๐ฆ๐บ
#RaiseOurGame | #AusOpenGolf
โ Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf)
11:39 AM โข Dec 3, 2023
Despite Buhai's setback on the 17th finding the water, she recovered with a crucial bogey, setting the stage for a decisive 18th hole. Lee, still within grasp of victory, could only make par on the last after landing in a fairway bunker, while Buhai's strategic layup and wedge to 10 feet allowed her two putts to clinch the win.
Korea's Jenny Shin and Jiyai Shin, who both finished strong, tied for third place at 4-under.
Australians Hannah Green and Stephanie Kyriacou showed their mettle, finishing tied for fifth, while local amateur Caitlin Peirce distinguished herself in tied-seventh.