Honestly, if you turned off the TV when Scottie Scheffler was dealing with that neck injury earlier in the week, nobody would've blamed you. He looked human. For a minute, the 2024 players championship leaderboard felt like it was wide open for anyone—Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, maybe even a Brian Harman charge. But then Sunday happened.
Golf is a weird game. One day you’re getting worked on by a physio behind the 14th tee, and the next, you’re becoming the first person in history to go back-to-back at TPC Sawgrass. Scottie fired a clinical, almost scary 8-under 64 on Sunday to snatch the trophy. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. He ended up at 20-under par, finishing exactly one stroke ahead of a trio of guys who will probably be seeing that 18th green in their nightmares for a while.
Breaking Down the 2024 players championship leaderboard
When the dust settled on Sunday afternoon, the top of the board was a logjam of world-class talent. It’s rare to see three golfers tie for second at a tournament this big, but that’s exactly what we got.
Scottie Scheffler took the top spot at -20. Behind him, it was a three-way tie for second place at -19 involving Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, and Xander Schauffele.
The scoring was aggressive. Schauffele had the lead going into the final round, but Sawgrass is a place where leads go to die if you play "safe" golf. He shot a 70 on Sunday, which isn't bad, but when the world number one is posting a 64, a 70 feels like a 80. Brian Harman was arguably the most consistent of the chasing pack, firing a 68 on Sunday to post that -19 clubhouse lead.
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Then there was Wyndham Clark. That final putt on 18? Brutal. It looked like it was halfway down the cup before it performed a 360-degree lip-out. If that drops, we’re headed to a playoff, and the energy at TPC Sawgrass probably blows the roof off the clubhouse. Instead, he had to settle for a share of second and a very large, albeit slightly disappointing, paycheck.
The Top 10 Finishers and Payouts
The money at The Players is always ridiculous. We’re talking about a $25 million purse. Scottie walked away with $4.5 million, which is more than most people make in a lifetime, just for four days of work.
- 1st Place: Scottie Scheffler (-20) – $4,500,000
- T2: Wyndham Clark (-19) – $1,891,667
- T2: Brian Harman (-19) – $1,891,667
- T2: Xander Schauffele (-19) – $1,891,667
- 5th Place: Matt Fitzpatrick (-16) – $1,025,000
- T6: Si Woo Kim (-15) – $875,000
- T6: Hideki Matsuyama (-15) – $875,000
- 8th: Ludvig Åberg (-14) – $781,250
- T9: Maverick McNealy (-13) – $706,250
- T9: Sahith Theegala (-13) – $706,250
Matt Fitzpatrick hanging around at 5th was a quiet storyline. He stayed out of the spotlight mostly but played incredibly disciplined golf. Meanwhile, Ludvig Åberg continuing his rise with a solo 8th just proves the kid is the real deal. He doesn't seem to have a "rookie" phase; he just shows up and contends.
Why This Leaderboard Was Historic
We have to talk about the "back-to-back" thing. People have been trying to defend their title at The Players since 1974. Jack Nicklaus couldn't do it. Tiger Woods couldn't do it. It took 50 years for someone to finally pull it off. Scottie’s win wasn't just about the 2024 players championship leaderboard; it was about the legacy of the tournament.
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The Island Green at 17 did its usual thing. It ate golf balls for breakfast. But interestingly, the guys at the top of the leaderboard mostly survived it on Sunday. The drama was more about the grinding par saves and the mid-range birdies that Scottie seemed to pour in from everywhere.
The stats are even crazier. Scottie led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (again) and somehow found a way to make the putts when they mattered. His 64 was the lowest final round by a winner in the history of the event. Think about that. In the biggest moments, under the most pressure, he played the best golf of his life.
Beyond the Top 10: Notables who stumbled
It wasn't all sunshine and birdies. Rory McIlroy started the week with a share of the lead after a 65, but he couldn't keep the momentum. He finished T19 at -9. A decent week, sure, but not what he was looking for. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth actually missed the cut entirely. It’s a reminder that TPC Sawgrass doesn't care about your resume. If you’re off by two percent, you’re going home on Friday.
What to take away from the results
If you're a fan or a bettor looking at these results for future insight, there are a few clear patterns. First, Scottie Scheffler is currently playing a different game than everyone else. His ball-striking is so superior that even a "bad" putting week usually results in a top 5. Second, Wyndham Clark has officially entered the tier of "Big Game Hunters." Winning the U.S. Open wasn't a fluke; he's a consistent threat on the hardest courses.
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For those tracking the FedEx Cup, this win basically cemented Scottie's lead. The gap between him and the field became a chasm after this weekend. If you want to dive deeper into the technicals, look at the Strokes Gained data from Sunday. Scottie wasn't just hitting it close; he was avoiding the "big miss" that plagued Schauffele on a few key holes.
Keep an eye on the younger guys like Sahith Theegala and Maverick McNealy. They hung around the top 10 all week. In a field this deep, staying in the mix through 72 holes at Sawgrass is usually a precursor to a win later in the season.
The 2024 Players will be remembered for the lip-out and the repeat. It showed that while the "Fifth Major" is unpredictable, excellence usually finds a way to the top. Scottie didn't just win; he conquered a course that is designed to be unconquerable.
If you're looking to improve your own game based on what happened here, pay attention to the scrambling stats of the top 5. They didn't hit every green, but when they missed, they didn't make double. At a place like Sawgrass, a bogey is fine—a double is a death sentence. That’s the real secret to why the leaderboard ended up looking the way it did.