Scottie Scheffler secured his third major championship on Sunday with a dominant five-shot victory at the US PGA Championship held at Quail Hollow. The commanding margin understates the drama, as the world’s top-ranked player had to stave off a strong charge from Jon Rahm to clinch the Wanamaker Trophy.
The Decisive Round
Scheffler entered the final day with a three-shot lead, fueling expectations of a routine finish. However, inconsistent play over the front nine saw Jon Rahm catch up, tying the lead midway through the round. A sequence of pivotal birdies by Scheffler—most notably on holes 10, 14, and 15—regained his advantage and applied pressure on his closest rival.
Key Moments
- Rahm rallied with birdies around the turn but faltered late, bogeying the 16th, hitting water on 17 for a double bogey, and dropping another shot on the last hole.
- Bryson DeChambeau, Davis Riley, and Harris English tied for second at six-under but didn’t seriously challenge on Sunday.
- Rory McIlroy struggled, finishing tied for 47th, while defending champion Xander Schauffele’s final round 68 earned him only a top-30 spot.
Scheffler’s Place in History
Winning three majors in only 14 attempts puts Scheffler in elite company, alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, for speed to 15 PGA Tour titles since 1950. Scheffler reflected emotionally on his journey: “Finishing off a major championship is always difficult and I did a good job of staying patient on the front nine.”
Jon Rahm’s Perspective
Despite a disappointing finish, Rahm’s strong showing signals renewed promise as he continues his career post-LIV. He commented: “There’s a lot of good happening this week and a lot of positive feelings to take for the rest of the year.”
Looking Forward
- Scheffler’s dominance raises the bar for the field as the season progresses.
- The pack of contenders, hungry for a breakthrough, must now rise to meet new standards of excellence.
Find more about the event at the original source: BBC Sport.
