Full Breakdown
Viktor Hovland Wins Travelers Championship in Playoff; Scottie Scheffler Looks Ahead to The Open as Dustin Johnson Skips Qualifying
7/2/2026, 2:46:36 PM
The Sudden-Death Playoff at TPC River Highlands
Viktor Hovland and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished the 2024 Travelers Championship tied at 21-under after 72 holes. Weather delays forced a sudden-death playoff to be played the following morning. On the first extra hole, both players hit the fairway and hit attractive approaches; Hovland sank a seven-foot birdie putt, while Scheffler missed a four-foot attempt, handing the title to Hovland.
Road to The Open: Stakes for Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler’s runner-up finish earned £1.6 million, leaving him £1.36 million behind Matt Fitzpatrick on the PGA Tour money list despite his two-time Masters victory and current world-ranking lead. He will skip the non-signature John Deere Classic and focus on the Scottish Open before the season-ending major, The Open, at Royal Birkdale.
Key Players: Scheffler, Hovland, and Dustin Johnson
- Scottie Scheffler – American, two-time Masters champion, world No. 1, leading the PGA Tour money race.
- Viktor Hovland – Norwegian, Ryder Cup star, secured his second PGA Tour victory with a £2.7 million winner’s share.
- Dustin Johnson – Former Masters champion, currently ranked No. 210, has competed in every Open since 2009 but will not attempt Final Qualifying this year.
Numbers That Matter: Scores, Prize Money, Rankings
- Final scores: Hovland 21-under, Scheffler 21-under (playoff).
- Purse: £15 million total; winner’s share £2.7 million, second place £1.6 million.
- Money list: Scheffler leads by a healthy margin but is within £1.36 million of second-place Fitzpatrick.
Official Statements & Tour Reactions
Scheffler praised Hovland’s talent and work ethic, noting the difficulty of competing in back-to-back weeks of contention. He also emphasized using the momentum from his recent performances to fuel the remainder of the season. The PGA Tour confirmed Johnson’s removal from the Final Qualifying field, citing his world ranking of 210, which removed his automatic entry.
Criticism & Fan Reactions to Johnson’s Absence
Fans expressed disappointment that the former Masters champion will not appear at Royal Birkdale, ending a 16-year streak of participation in the Open.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I've been playing golf with Viktor for a long time,” — Scottie Scheffler, Professional Golfer
- “He's a guy that has a lot of talent and works really hard. Those are the types of guys you like to see have success.” — Scottie Scheffler
- “It's been two really, really long weeks.” — Scottie Scheffler
- “But I felt like I did some really nice things this week, which I'll use that momentum going into the rest of the season.” — Scottie Scheffler
Looking Ahead: The Scottish Open and The Open
Scheffler is slated to compete in the Scottish Open, aiming to regain form before The Open at Royal Birkdale. Hovland’s victory positions him as a strong contender, while Johnson’s absence reshapes the field dynamics for the final major of the season.
