Scheffler wins Match Play and goes to No. 1

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Winning by now should be old hat for Scottie Scheffler. Sunday in the Dell Technologies Match Play was special for so many reasons, and the new No. 1 player in the world couldn't hide it.

Moments after Scheffler closed out Kevin Kisner on the 15th hole to win for the third time in five starts, the 25-year-old Texan was overcome by tears and hugs, from his wife to his parents and sisters and pretty much everyone who could get a piece of him at Austin Country Club.

From a top junior in Dallas to four years as a Texas Longhorn to his time outside the ropes at the Match Play watching the world's best, all Scheffler wanted to do was play alongside them.

And now he's the one everyone is chasing as No. 1 in the world.

“I never really got that far in my dreams,” Scheffler said at the trophy presentation, choking up and wiping away more tears. “I just love to play golf. I love competing. I'm happy to be out here, you know?”

The hottest player in golf now has the ranking to prove it.

One year after losing in the championship match, Scheffler never trailed against Kevin Kisner, building a 3-up lead through six holes and giving him no chance to catch up. Scheffler closed him out with a par on the 15th for a 4-and-3 victory.

Scheffler led the whole way in his 3-and-1 semifinal win over Dustin Johnson, either — he went the final 57 holes in Country Club without trailing — and he was so solid in the championship match that Kisner didn't win a hole.

“I don't know if anybody is playing better than he is,” said Kisner, who joined Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy as the only players to reach the championship match at least three times. Kisner won the Match Play three years ago.

So much was going Scheffler's way that on the