Scheffler's Costly Travelers Miss
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler Laments Missed Putt, Loses $3 Million at Travelers Championship
Viktor Hovland won the 2026 Travelers Championship on Monday morning after Scottie Scheffler — the world's No. 1 golfer — missed a 2-foot, 4-inch birdie putt on the first playoff hole, handing the Norwegian his eighth PGA Tour title and $3.6 million in prize money. Golf Channel reported the miss was Scheffler's second playoff loss of the 2026 season, pushing his playoff record to 0-2.
The stunning finish capped a tournament that stretched into Monday after an 83-minute rain delay Sunday evening at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Scheffler had drained an 8-foot par putt in near darkness just to force the playoff. One short putt later, it was Hovland's trophy.
Scheffler's Heartbreak on a 28-Inch Putt
Scottie Scheffler has been the world's No. 1 golfer for three straight years. He came to Cromwell in dominant form, shooting a 10-under 60 on Friday — narrowly missing a historic sub-60 round, according to Sportsnet. But on Monday morning, all that brilliance came down to a 2-foot, 4-inch putt. He missed it.
Scheffler did not hide his disappointment. "The putt on 18 hurts a little bit," he told Golf Channel. "It was a speed putt. One you have to make." Columnist Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant wrote that despite Scheffler's three years of dominance, this one will be "one he laments" for a long time.
Hovland Beats the Best Player in the World
Viktor Hovland, 28, had entered the final round one shot ahead of Scheffler after shooting a 6-under 64 on Saturday, per MySA. The two played the final round together, with Hovland matching Scheffler blow for blow. After the delay pushed play into Monday, Hovland made a 7-foot birdie on the playoff hole to set the target.
Scheffler could not answer. Hovland called the win deeply satisfying. "Winning in the playoff against Scottie — best player in the world — that was pretty satisfying," he told the Associated Press. Hovland earned 700 FedExCup points, vaulting him back into the top 5 of the season standings. He then flew straight to Dallas to watch Norway play in the World Cup.
NBC Dumps Yankees-Red Sox to Stay with Golf
Sunday's 83-minute rain delay created a broadcasting crisis. When play resumed at 7:20 PM, NBC Sports chose to keep golf on the air instead of switching to the scheduled Yankees-Red Sox national game, according to the Associated Press. Baseball fans were moved to Peacock and digital platforms. The decision split audiences sharply.
Baseball fans were furious. Golf analysts argued that the world's No. 1 athlete in sudden-death play justified the call, per Front Office Sports. The conflict highlighted a growing divide: PGA Tour Signature Events — which carry elevated $20 million purses — are now competing directly with baseball's most storied rivalries for prime broadcast real estate.
Red Sox Sweep Yankees in Wild Extra-Innings Finish
While golf dominated TV, baseball had its own drama. Sonny Gray took a no-hitter into the 8th inning against the Yankees on Sunday night, reaching 2,000 career strikeouts in the process, according to The Washington Post. The Red Sox won 5-4 in 10 innings on a Jarren Duran walk-off single to complete a four-game sweep.
"I am sure a bunch of people counted us out," Duran said. "Nobody in this clubhouse gave up." The sweep dropped the Yankees behind Tampa Bay in the AL East. The Red Sox, who had been in last place, climbed back into Wild Card contention — a storyline that millions of fans missed because they were watching Scheffler miss a 28-inch putt.
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