Scottie Scheffler wins Arnold Palmer Invitational for second time in three years

Scottie Scheffler stormed to a commanding five-stroke victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at famed Bay Hill. 

Scheffler, 27, carded a flawless final-round 66 to finish the week on 15-under par and five shots clear over reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark (71).

Ireland's Shane Lowry (72) finished in solo third place on 9-under par. 

Scheffler switched to a TaylorMade Spider X mallet putter at the start of the week, and it paid instant reward with a seventh PGA Tour title.

The win marks Scheffler's second in three years at the Arnold Palmer Invitational having also won it in 2022. 

That came just a month before he won his maiden major title at The Masters. 

Scheffler also becomes the eighth player to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational multiple times. 

The World No.1 made the decision to change putter after enduring some of the worst putting stats of his career. 

He also decided to remove a line on his golf ball for the first time. 

Rory McIlroy admitted Scheffler should consider using a mallet when he joined NBC in the commentary box at the Genesis Invitational last month.

McIlroy is perhaps now wondering why he gave Scheffler such useful advice. 

Scheffler certainly listened as he picked up the same model of putter as McIlroy. 

Mallet putters are considered much more forgiving than blade putters, which Scheffler has typically favoured throughout his career. 

Instead of ranking down the bottom for Strokes-Gained Putting as had been the case in recent tournaments for Scheffler, he finished the week inside the top five. 

He also led the field for SG Putting in the final round. 

Will Zalatoris and Russell Henley rounded out the top five on 7-under par following rounds of 72. 

Scheffler will now bid to defend The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass next week. 

It was a final round to forget for McIlroy, who started the day four shots behind Scheffler and Lowry. 

McIlroy, who smashed a tee box marker in the third round, was 6-over par thru 11 holes in the final round.

The Northern Irishman recovered two shots coming home but it all added up to a 4-over 76 and he finished T21.

Arnold Palmer Invitational Final Leaderboard

-15 S Scheffler (US) 

-10 W Clark (US)

-9 S Lowry (Ire)

-7 R Henley, W Zalatoris (US)

VIEW FULL SCORES HERE

What did you make of Scottie Scheffler's performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational? Why did he take so long to switch to a mallet putter?! Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

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