Chasing American pack five shots behind in PGA
The World Number One Scottie Scheffler was looking rather shaky during the first nine holes of the final day of the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA (15-18 May). The 28-year old was in search of his third Major title but somehow the super-relaxed American did manage to keep his cool despite numerous drives being pulled to the left. And despite challenges from Spain’s Jon Rahm. Scottie Scheffler scooped his third Major in splendid style on 11-under which was a huge 5-shot victory over fellow-Americans Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau and Davis Riley.
Scheffler was playing with the Swedish golfer Alex Noren on the final day. The 42-year old was three shots behind Scheffler on 8-under. Both players dropped a shot on the opening hole after landing in the greenside bunkers which gave a glimmer of hope for the chasing pack. However, Scheffler bounced back with a birdie at the second hole to return to 11-under.
Applause for English
A short while later American Harris English carded a tremendous round of 65 with five birdies on the back nine to become leader in the clubhouse on 6-under par.
Scheffler nearly holed his bunker shot at the third hole. He tapped in a putt of about 10 cms for his par. Noren bogeyed the 4th hole giving Scheffler the honour of a 5-shot lead. On the next, Scheffler holed an enormous putt to save par. Amazingly whatever shot Scheffler hits, he seems to make a miraculous recovery and then still makes par or birdie. The World Number One has a 5-shot lead over Jon Rahm, Davis Riley, Adam Scott, Harris English and Alex Noren.
Bryson DeChambeau made a birdie at the 9th to also get to 6-under par and share second spot with six other players. Surprisingly Jhonattan Vegas, the player from Venezuela who lead the PGA on the first two days, was in this mix and finally finished the tournament at a very promising 5-under for a share of 5th.
Then, rather out of character for Scheffler, he made a bogey at the 6th hole to slip back to 10-under par.
A very determined-looking Jon Rahm then birdied the 8th and 10th to seize second spot on his own on 8-under. Then Scheffler made an unexpected third bogey of the day at the 9th which left him with just a one stroke advantage over Rahm going into the second nine. Yes, the PGA Championship at the glorious Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte was about to get rather exciting.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele shot a closing round of 3-under par to shoot 21 places up the leaderboard for a share of tie 28th on 1-under. Masters Champion Rory McIlroy had to be content with a 3-over par for a share of 47th after rounds of 74, 69, 70 and 72.
Rahm made another birdie at the 11th hole but Scheffler reacted immediately with a birdie at the 597-yard par-5 10th to take ultimate control again of the Major.
Disastrous finish for Rahm
Sadly Rahm finished his round disastrously making a bogey at the 16th, and double-bogeys at the 17th and 18th to take an enormous dip down the leaderboard to a share of 8th spot on 4-over par with seven other players including England’s Matt Fitzpatrick.
Scheffler then birdied the 14th and 15th before succumbing to a bogey 5 at the 504-yard par-4 18th where his drive soared to the right into the trees. The American chipped out and then played onto the green where he two-putted for the ultimate glory of winning his third Major, the PGA Championship on 11-under par by five clear shots with rounds of 69, 68, 65 and 71. In 2022 and 2024 he won the Masters at Augusta National. With this PGA victory, the World Number One player, who only turned professional in 2018, takes a handsome sum of 3,420,000 US dollars home to Texas.
Well, Scottie Scheffler, 2025 PGA Champion – terrific, we are absolutely delighted for you!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: A truly remarkable 2025 PGA Champion, Scottie Scheffler. MINIS (l-r): Scottie Scheffler, Scottie Scheffler and caddie, Jon Rahm and Alex Noren.