Scottie Scheffler’s Journey at the Travelers Championship

To many professional golfers, a five-month gap between victories on the PGA Tour might not seem significant. However, for world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, it raises questions. The Travelers Championship served to challenge that perception, especially since Scheffler will have to wait until Monday morning to see if his streak without a win will conclude.

On Sunday, at TPC River Highlands, Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland ended regulation in a tie at 21-under. This led to a rare Monday playoff at the tournament, as weather and darkness led to a delay in deciding the outcome. The playoff is set to commence at 9 a.m. ET on the par-4 18th hole, operating under a sudden death format. This means that the player with the lower score on a playoff hole will win. Should Scheffler and Hovland tie on a hole, they will continue until a winner emerges.

For Scottie Scheffler, this means his streak of not winning remains unbroken for now. For Viktor Hovland, it presents another opportunity to defeat the world’s top golfer after preventing Scheffler from gaining a definitive lead in the tight, rain-delayed final round.

Despite having secured just one victory in 2026, Scottie Scheffler has not been underperforming. He is the top player worldwide and has notched eight top-five finishes in his first 13 starts. These include his win at The American Express and runner-up finishes at esteemed events like the Masters, RBC Heritage, and Cadillac Championship. He also claimed third at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and tied for fourth at the U.S. Open recently.

Heading into the Travelers, Scheffler was one shot behind Hovland after an eventful first three days in Connecticut. He started with a 64, almost hit 59 on Friday before closing at 60, and then achieved a 67 on Saturday, placing second behind Hovland.

Scottie Scheffler had 18 holes left to secure another trophy but encountered challenges from Hovland. Viktor Hovland, who performed strongly on Saturday with a 64, played a steadfast game to defend his position against Scheffler in the final round.

Initially, Scheffler had a quiet front nine, maintaining par with one birdie and one bogey. Hovland’s early bogey led to a tie between the players, with other competitors entering the fray. Collin Morikawa set a clubhouse lead with a final round of 61, reaching 20-under ahead of Scheffler and Hovland’s conclusion. It seemed Morikawa might be the contender to beat.

But Hovland made his move, and after Scheffler birdied Nos. 10 and 13 to secure a lead, a rain delay further intensified the round. Following the delay, Hovland birdied at Nos. 14 and 15, reclaiming a share of the lead. Scheffler, known for his resilience, missed a birdie on No. 17, keeping the match tied as they approached the 72nd hole.

On No. 18, both executed commendable approach shots, with Scheffler leaving himself a challenging putt for par. Hovland’s attempt for birdie narrowly missed, mandating Scheffler to make his putt to enter a playoff. Scheffler succeeded, setting the stage for Monday’s playoff.

This marks the first PGA Tour Monday playoff since Rory McIlroy’s win against J.J. Spaun in 2025. Scheffler, accustomed to playoffs, won at TPC River Highlands in 2024. He has steadily transformed his performance at this venue over the years, currently vying for another win.

Whether or not Scheffler ends his winless period on Monday, it’s evident he remains a top-tier competitor. He consistently excels, frequently finishing among the top contenders in major golf events. The high standards set for performance make his successful runs look like mere stepping stones.

Dan Zaksheske covers this for OutKick.