Scheffler holds off Canada's Taylor to repeat as WM Phoenix Open champion

Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his WM Phoenix Open title Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to regain the No. 1 spot in the world.

Scheffler closed with a 6-under 65 to beat Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., by two strokes in breezy conditions on the firm and fast Stadium Course. The 26-year-old Texan will jump from second to first in the world rankings, taking the top spot from Rory McIlroy with his fifth PGA Tour victory.

Scheffler made a 22-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th to break a tie with Taylor, then took a two-shot lead on the par-3 16th with a 15-footer for par after hitting his tee shot far left on the stadium hole.

Scheffler birdied the short par-4 17th and closed with a par to finish at 19-under 265.

"I hit some wild shots off the tee that were pretty uncharacteristic for how I usually shape the ball," Scheffler said. "I was just able to grind it out, make a lot of putts. I think I only had two bogeys this week, which is really, really good around this golf course."

He earned $3.6 million US from the $20 million purse in the second of the PGA Tour's new designated events, created in response to LIV Golf to bring the top tour players together more often.

"There were a lot of guys up there," Scheffler said. "I knew it was going to take a great round. Nobody was going to give this golf tournament to me. I had to go out and earn it."

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Last year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff for his first tour title. He added victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Match Play and the Masters and was the PGA Tour's player of the year.

"I love the environment here," Scheffler said. "It's a lot of fun to play. I think the firmness of the golf course