Scottie Scheffler becomes Masters champion to claim first major title

American golfer Scottie Scheffler became the 2022 Masters champion and claimed his first ever major title at Augusta National on Sunday.

Scheffler tussled it out with Australian Cameron Smith, before surviving a late charge from Rory McIlroy.

The world number one had to get up and down from the back of the green to save par on the first hole, as Smith followed a 15-foot birdie at the first by taking advantage of the par-five next to cut the deficit to one.

Photo by Leigh Patrick

The overnight advantage was restored at the third as a two-shot swing saw Smith make bogey and Scheffler chip in from off the green for birdie, with Smith dropping another shot at the par-three next when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

Both players pulled further clear from the chasing pack with birdies at the 7th but no one took advantage at the par-five 8th.

McIlroy began to make ground on the duo by birdieing the 10th and rolling in a 10-foot eagle at the par-five 13th.

Despite being four clear heading into the final nine, Scheffler started with a bogey, while Smith birdied the 11th, but the Australian found the water on the par three 12th and picked up a tournament ending triple bogey.

McIlroy almost set a record-low round but was forced to settle for par after finding the trees at the 15th, although he held a sensational bunker shot at the par-four 18th to set the target at seven under.

Scheffler made it back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th to move five clear. Nerves at the end played their part for the 26-year-old as he four-putted the final hole for double bogey, but it didn't prevent him from earning his first green jacket and tightening his grip at the top of the world rankings.