Scottie Scheffler sets record at PGA Championship, third career major
For the tenth consecutive year, the PGA Championship speaks American. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Scottie Scheffler celebrated, in his 23rd start, his third success in a Major after already making The Masters his own twice, in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
On the Quail Hollow Club course (par 71), the world No. 1 triumphed with a score of 273 (69 68 65 71, -11), edging out his compatriots Bryson DeChambeau (of Liv Golf), Davis Riley and Harris English, all 2/i with 278 (-6), by five strokes. Flying into the lead at the end of the third round, in the first nine holes of the fourth Scheffler struggled by making only one birdie, with three bogeys. Then, he found three birdies and had the luxury of ‘scoring’ a bogey on 18, the last of the tournament. Also paving the way for him was Jon Rahm. The Arab Superleague ace, as was the case at the Paris Olympics, collapsed in the final round, ending the event in 8th place with 280 (-4) along with eight other players, including Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, also of the LIV.
The LIV’s Joaquin Niemann was also a member of the LIV.
First fifteen holes of the final round were unblemished for the Spaniard, who after making three birdies gave up in the final round losing five strokes (two double bogeys and one bogey). And just like at the Games, it was Scheffler who ultimately prevailed. Now also at the top of the FedEx Cup, at the age of 28 years, 10 months and 27 days, the champion from Ridgewood (New Jersey) celebrated, in his 140th round, his 15th victory (a figure that includes, precisely, three majors) on the PGA Tour. Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, in golf’s most modern era, had achieved this feat before the age of 29. Nicklaus, between 1962 and 1965, took 3 years and 45 days compared to Woods’ 3 years and 32 days (1996-1999). Between 2022 and 2025, Scheffler needed 3 years and 94 days. The 15th player to win both the Masters and the PGA Championship, he is now the first-since Severiano Ballesteros between 1979 and 1983-to win three majors by a margin of three or more strokes.
Continuing to collect firsts, Scheffler, who after THE CJ Cup Byron Nelson dropped his encore of consecutive wins on the PGA Tour. The exploit earned him $3,420,000 against a total prize pool of $19,000,000, allowing him to bring his career earnings to $81,924,784. “What I can say is that this was certainly the toughest event I’ve played so far. It’s nice and exciting to be here enjoying this trophy, but it wasn’t easy,” the American’s satisfaction. While he finished no higher than 47th, with 287 (+3), Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman, who last April completed the Grand Slam by triumphing at The Masters, disappointed expectations. Good performance for Jhonattan Vegas. The Venezuelan, leader at the halfway point, finished 5th with 279 (-5) as did Canadian Taylor Pendrith and American James Tyree Poston. No match for Xander Schauffele. Winner of the PGA Championship in 2024, the Californian, 28th with 283 (-1), broke a streak of 12 consecutive top-20 results.
