Scottie Scheffler backed up last month's Phoenix Open triumph by taking out the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke after a final round of 72 at Bay Hill on Sunday.
Scheffler carded an even-par round with three birdies and three bogeys to finish five under and one shot ahead of Viktor Hovland, Billy Horschel and Tyrrell Hatton – who stormed 10 places up the leaderboard with a final-day 69 to earn a tie of second.
The 25-year-old Scheffler made his move on the third day, with a five-under 68 launching him into contention. American Scheffler will now move up to fifth on the official world rankings.
Joint overnight leaders Horschel and Talor Gooch lost their grip on top spot, with the former making three bogeys and a double bogey on his final-day front nine before finishing with a three-over 75.
Gooch ended up two further strokes back with a five-over 77 after four bogeys and two double bogeys on his front nine.
Norwegian world number four Hovland loomed as the likely player to capitalise on their misfortune, as he assumed the lead.
But five bogeys in Hovland's closing 11 holes left the door open for Scheffler, who held his nerve, notably making an excellent long putt to save par on the 15th hole.
"It feels great, especially to win on such a difficult golf course and the way it finished," Scheffler told Sky Sports.
"I didn't play my best stuff, I just kept grinding and made some key putts down the stretch, and it was really just a fight all day."
First-round leader Rory McIlroy never threatened on Sunday, with a four-over-76 meaning he finished back at one over after 72 holes.
World number one Jon Rahm was one stroke behind the Northern Irishman after a final-round 74.
Scheffler on matching Woods' record: "There's only one Tiger"
Scottie Scheffler has shied away from comparisons to Tiger Woods after becoming the second man to win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award in three consecutive years.
Woods was the only other player to achieve that feat when he scooped the prize five times in a row between 1999 and 2003, and another three times on the bounce between 2005 and 2007.
Scheffler received 91% of the vote to claim the gong this year but insisted he cannot be compared to Woods.
He said: "We're always looking to compare somebody to Tiger Woods.
"I saw it a lot growing up but there's really only one Tiger."
Scheffler won a record-equalling nine titles in 2024, including the Masters and Olympic gold, and it was his efforts at the Paris games that he remembers most fondly.
He said: "I would say the nine holes that stick out to me the most would be the back nine at the Olympics.
"The way that Teddy [Scott, caddie] and I finished off that tournament was pretty cool."
Woods credits Scheffler's consistency for historic 2024
Tiger Woods claims consistency has been the key to Scottie Scheffler's superb 2024.
Scheffler is the first man since Woods himself in 2009 to begin and finish a calendar year as world number one and equalled the record for most wins in a year by retaining the Hero World Challenge title this weekend.
The American carded a final round of 63 to seal the title and Woods was full of praise for his compatriot.
The 15-time major winner said: "He [Scheffler] doesn't really do anything wrong.
"If you stand behind him and watch the ball flight it is very tight either way.
"Yes, he's making a significant number of birdies, but he's not making any mistakes. No doubles, no loose bogeys here and there.
"He can do it either way. He's got amazing feel."
The Masters and the Olympic gold were among Scheffler's nine triumphs in 2024 as he equalled Woods (2000) and Vijay Singh (2004) for the annual record.
Woods added: "You can see it around his short game and trajectory control into greens.
"If he has consistency on the greens he's going to finish top 10 every week and pick off a lot (of wins)."
Scheffler caps 'fun year' by retaining Hero World Challenge title
Scottie Scheffler says it was "very satisfying" to equal the record for the most wins in a single year after retaining the Hero World Challenge.
The American hit a superb nine-under 63 in the final round to win the tournament, finishing on 25 under, six shots ahead of South Korea's Tom Kim.
His bogey-free round clinched him a record-equalling ninth title of 2024 as he birdied three of the first four holes and four of the final six to storm to victory in the 20-man invitational event at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
With the Masters and the Olympic gold medal among his accolades this year, Scheffler tied Tiger Woods (2000) and Vijay Singh (2004) for the most wins in a single season since 1950.
"[It was] very satisfying," he said. "I did a lot of good stuff today on the course.
"It feels nice to take a break and come back and continue to play some really solid golf."
Kim carded a 68 to finish 19-under as he struggled to stay close to Scheffler, while overnight leader Justin Thomas, who remains without a win since the 2022 PGA Championship, finished a shot further back in third.
That allowed Scheffler to edge into a lead which he held onto to become just the third player to win back-to-back editions of the tournament after Woods and Viktor Hovland.
"It has been a great year and a fun year," added Scheffler.
"I have had a little bit of time to reflect, but I am not really sure how to assess it. It has just been pretty surreal, a lot of fun, and I am just really grateful."
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