Scottie Scheffler has confirmed his number 1 world ranking with a runaway win at the 2026 American Express at La Qunita, California. It was Scheffler’s first start of the 2026 PGA season and he won comfortably by four strokes (261, -27). Australia’s Jason Day finished in a four way tie for second, with a great final round 64 (-8). Ryan Gerald, Matt McCarty and Andrew Putnam all finished on 265 (-23).
Scheffler earned his 20th win in his 151st start at the age of 29 years, 7 months and his 20th PGA TOUR win notes saw him become the 40th player to reach 20 wins on the PGA TOUR and moves to T36 on the all-time wins list. He’s also the first player since Tiger Woods to earn 20 PGA TOUR wins under the age of 30; Woods’ 20th win came at the 2000 U.S. Open/24 years, 5 months. The victory also marks the second-fewest starts (151 starts) to reach 20 wins, only behind Tiger Woods (95 starts)
By reaching 20 wins on the PGA TOUR, Scheffler is eligible to be a Life Member; the Life Member category is below Tournament Winners on the Priority Ranking, so Scheffler would not compete out of the Life Member category for at least the next five years.
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Fastest to 20 career PGA TOUR wins (since 1970) |
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Player |
# of starts |
20th win |
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Tiger Woods |
95 |
2000 U.S. Open |
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Scottie Scheffler |
151 |
2026 American Express |
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Rory McIlroy |
205 |
2021 CJ CUP in South Carolina |
|
Lee Trevino |
214 |
1975 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard |
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Tom Watson |
223 |
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Scheffler Led the field with 32 birdies this week (next most: 29, Ricky Castillo/T44), his first career win when making season debut. Since the start of the 2024 season, has earned 14 PGA TOUR titles (next most: Rory McIlroy, 5 wins)
Jason Day (T2/-23) played his final 47 holes of the event bogey free and earned his 100th career top-10 finish, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green (3.856) and Stroked Gained: Putting (5.827)
Ryan Gerard (T2/-23) finishes runner-up for the second straight week after finishing solo second at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii
Matt McCarty (T2/-23) finishes birdie-par-birdie on Nos. 16-18 to claim his second-best finish on TOUR in his 33rd start (won the 2024 Bank of Utah Championship)
Andrew Putnam (T2/-23) records his best finish on TOUR since the 2022 Baycurrent Classic (T2); played the second and third rounds bogey free and 19-under par (60-65).
54-hole leader Si Woo Kim (T6/-22) carded a final-round 72 to claim his third top-10 finish in nine career starts at The American Express (2016/T9, 2021/Won, 2026/T6)
18-year-old sponsor exemption Blades Brown (T18/-19) entered the day one stroke behind the lead and carded a final-round 74; records his best finish in a PGA TOUR event in his 10th career start (previous: T26/2024 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic)
Final Leaderboard
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Pos. |
Player |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
Total |
|
1 |
Scottie Scheffler |
63 LQ |
64 NT |
68 SC |
66 SC |
261 (-27) |
|
T2 |
Jason Day |
63 SC |
71 LQ |
67 NT |
64 SC |
265 (-23) |
|
|
Ryan Gerard |
70 SC |
66 LQ |
64 NT |
65 SC |
265 (-23) |
|
|
Matt McCarty |
63 LQ |
66 NT |
68 SC |
68 SC |
265 (-23) |
|
|
Andrew Putnam |
72 SC |
60 LQ |
65 NT |
68 SC |
265 (-23) |