Golf Jul 07, 2026

Travelers Championship: Viktor Hovland beats Scottie Scheffler in play-off as world No 1 botches short birdie putt

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Travelers Championship: Viktor Hovland beats Scottie Scheffler in play-off as world No 1 botches short birdie putt

Viktor Hovland beat Scottie Scheffler in a Monday play-off at the Travelers Championship as the world No 1 fluffed a short birdie putt on the first extra hole.

Scheffler had tied with Hovland on 21 under par across the regulation 72 holes at TPC River Highlands after a nine-foot par save at the 18th on Sunday followed the Norwegian missing a 25-foot birdie putt for the victory.

Organisers decided that there was not enough daylight to commence the sudden-death play-off that evening, so the players returned at 9am local time the following morning in Connecticut.

Hovland drained a birdie from seven feet and secured his eighth PGA Tour title - and first since the Valspar Championship in March 2025 - when Scheffler then botched a putt from around three feet.

Hovland's mum, Galina, was in attendance to watch her son win live for the first time.

Both players had produced terrific approaches to the green after landing their tee shots virtually adjacent on the fairway.

Hovland said: "It has been stressful but it was unbelievable, especially after Scottie hit it so close.

"I knew I had to bring my best to have a chance of beating him. He certainly brought it out of me and I couldn't be happier."

"I know how good I can get. I keep pushing myself and I keep wanting to get better. When I fall short, it really p****s me off but I did a really good job.

"I didn't get off to a great start on Thursday but I didn't let it bother me as much. It was a blast.

"My dad still hasn't watched me win but my mum is here and we get to share this moment together."

Scheffler missed out on a second win at the Travelers - he defeated Tom Kim in a play-off at the 2024 event - and a second in 2026 after his triumph at The American Express in January, leaving him on 20 PGA Tour titles.

He said of the bungled birdie putt: "I hit it on-line, it was just a little bit firm. It was one of those putts you had to make. It was disappointing, especially with the putts I made last night to stay in the tournament."

Scheffler added: "I played solid over the course of four days. There were obviously some shots I would like back but overall it was a good, solid week.

"I am disappointed with the finish but feel my game is in a good spot. I struck the ball really nicely. It was a week where I was close but not quite good enough."

The 30-year-old will aim to successfully defend the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale from July 16-19, live on Your Site, after his win at Royal Portrush in the 2025 edition.

Watch the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic, live on Your Site Golf from 5pm, Thursday. There is also coverage on Your Site Golf and Your Site Main Event from 10pm.

Tags:

golf news

Share this article

Related Posts

PGA Tour: Brian Rolapp likens format shake-up to English Premier League, as top players endorse promotion and relegation system

PGA Tour: Brian Rolapp likens format shake-up to English Premier League, as top players endorse promotion and relegation system

Incumbent PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp has likened the circuit's new two-tier promotion and relegation system to the structure in place in the E...

Women's Amateur Championship: Valentine Delon secures big major invites with career-changing win over Andrea Revuelta at Muirfield

Women's Amateur Championship: Valentine Delon secures big major invites with career-changing win over Andrea Revuelta at Muirfield

Valentine Delon secured invites to four of the next five majors with an impressive 3&1 victory over Andrea Revuelta in the Women’s Amateur Champio...

The Open: Former Premier League stars Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie fall short in bid to qualify for men's golf major

The Open: Former Premier League stars Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie fall short in bid to qualify for men's golf major

Former Premier League footballers Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie have both fallen short in their ambitious attempts to qualify for The Open via Re...

US Open golf: How Wyndham Clark completed major redemption and overcame negativity by closing out Shinnecock Hills win

US Open golf: How Wyndham Clark completed major redemption and overcame negativity by closing out Shinnecock Hills win

Code of contact is a hot topic right now in the men's game and Wyndham Clark is a good example of when boundaries are put in place, good can come from...

PGA Tour: Format shake-up featuring promotion and relegation in two-series structure revealed for 2028 season

PGA Tour: Format shake-up featuring promotion and relegation in two-series structure revealed for 2028 season

The PGA Tour will feature promotion and relegation from the 2028 season as part of a two-tier series format after a major shake-up of its structure wa...

Ryder Cup: Former Open champion Francesco Molinari appointed as vice captain for Team Europe for third time

Ryder Cup: Former Open champion Francesco Molinari appointed as vice captain for Team Europe for third time

Former Open champion Francesco Molinari has been named as one of Luke Donald's vice-captains for a third consecutive Ryder Cup.The Italian joins his b...