ORLANDO, Fla. — Scottie Scheffler’s Sunday stroll at the Arnold Palmer Invitational ended a nearly year-long drought, secured his spot atop the world rankings and validated a recent putter change.

Scheffler’s 5-shot victory also turned an event known for final-round fireworks into a dud.

A closing 6-under-par 66 was the day’s low score — the only bogey-free round — and served notice entering the heat of the PGA Tour season. Scheffler’s 2022 win at Bay Hill began a four-week run with three victories, culminating with the Masters and moving him to No. 1 for the first time.

The 27-year-old now rides a wave of momentum into this week’s Player Championship, the PGA Tour’s showcase event and site of Scheffler’s last official win.

“This one’s pretty special,” he said. “It had been awhile since I won. There had been a lot of chatter about my game and the state of where it was at, and so it was nice to kind of come in here with a good mental attitude and to perform well under pressure.

“Today’s round was really special for me going forward.”

Scheffler ended the week at Bay Hill 15-under par 273 total, the lowest score since Rory McIlroy’s 2018 win.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark finished second. Shane Lowry, the co-leader after each of the first three rounds, righted the ship after a bogey-bogey start to card an even-par 72 and finish third after getting into the event on a sponsor’s exemption.

“I was just disappointed I didn’t put any pressure on him early,” Lowry said. “I was a little bit shaken after those early bogeys.”

Meanwhile, Scheffler was in total control of his game on a day when just three other players shots in the 60s and the scoring average was 73.155, the highest of the week.

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