Scottie Scheffler’s bid to win three straight PGA Tour titles ends with sitter at Houston Open

Scottie Scheffler’s attempt to win three straight PGA titles ended with an agonizing loss at the Houston Open as he failed to convert a five-foot birdie putt to force a playoff against Stephen Jaeger, giving the German his first title. on tour.

Trying to become the first player in seven years to win three consecutive starts on the PGA Tour on Sunday, Scheffler two-putted for birdie from 20 feet on the par-5 16th and missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 17th.

His 5-foot birdie putt to force a playoff missed to the left as Jaeger couldn’t look. The ruling meant Scheffler, 27, had to settle for a 68 and a second-place finish.

Jaeger, a 34-year-old from Munich who came to Tennessee in high school at age 16, earned his first trip to the Masters with the victory. He won his first PGA Tour event in his 135th attempt, closing with nine straight pars for a 3-under 67.

He’s also in this season’s four remaining $20 million events.

Scottie Scheffler couldn’t force a playoff against Stephen Jaeger in Houston because he missed a five-foot birdie putt right at the end of the PGA Tour event.

Jaeger won his first PGA Tour title in his 135th attempt, closing with nine straight pars for a 3-under 67 in Houston.

Alejandro Tosti had a chance to become the fourth PGA Tour rookie to win earlier in the year. He was tied for the lead until he hit too hard on the 18th hole and missed the 18-foot par putt for a 68.

There was a five-player tie for the lead at the start, the largest on tour since 2009, and eight players held at least a share of the lead at some point during the round.

Jaeger was always in the mix, taking the lead with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 ninth hole at Memorial Park. That was his last birdie of the day and no one could beat him.

“I was just (sic) trying to stay within myself,” Jaeger said. ‘The birdies escaped me on the back nine. But this golf course is difficult, especially when you are in the lead. I’m super happy.”

Thomas Detry, David Skinns and Taylor Moore all made mistakes down the stretch.

Scheffler after winning the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on March 17.

Scheffler, golf’s number one, as well as winner of a major championship and a Masters, was just one stroke behind when he missed the green on the par-3 15th and failed to save par on an 8-foot putt, leaving him two strokes behind. with three to play. He got one back with his birdie on the downwind 16th hole, where Jaeger had to lay up and settle for par.

Scheffler and Jaeger missed good birdie opportunities on the 17th, and Scheffler had one last chance on the 18th.

Jaeger finished with a 12-under 268 and moves into the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time.

Defending champion Tony Finau closed with two consecutive birdies for a 66 and joined Scheffler, Tosti, Detry and Moore in a tie for second place.

This was the last week for players to move into the top 50 and earn an invite to the Masters, and no one outside the top 50 (Mackenzie Hughes and Tom Hoge had the best chances) did well enough to earn a spot.