Scottie Scheffler claimed his third major title Sunday at the 107th PGA Championship, finishing at 11-under 273 to win by five strokes at Quail Hollow Club.
The world No. 1 pulled away with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, securing a triumphant walk up the 18th fairway in the North Carolina twilight.
Scheffler opened with rounds of 69-68, then seized control Saturday with a 65, highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 14th and three birdies in his final four holes. Despite a shaky front nine Sunday, turning in 2-over 37 and briefly sharing the lead with Jon Rahm, Scheffler rallied.
“I’m just really proud of the way we fought this week,” he said. “I was battling my swing for the first couple days. … It was a real team effort this week.”
The victory adds to Scheffler’s remarkable year, which saw him win nine times globally in 2024, including the Masters and now the Wanamaker Trophy. At 28, he joins Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the third player to win three majors and 15 PGA Tour titles before 29.
“I felt like this was as hard as I battled for a tournament in my career,” Scheffler said, per Golfweek. “I can tell you it’s very sweet sitting here with the trophy this year.”
Scheffler overcame early setbacks this season, including hand surgery in January after a Christmas Day ravioli-making accident, and a controversial arrest in Louisville last year during the PGA Championship—charges later dropped.
“Nobody could’ve handled that better,” said his college coach at the University of Texas, John Fields. “Maybe Jesus Christ.”
This week, Scheffler faced challenges like a non-conforming driver, ruled out by the USGA on Tuesday, and over 4 inches of rain, with the PGA denying preferred lies.
After a mud ball led to a double bogey on the 16th in the first round, he voiced frustration: “I understand how a golf purist would be, ‘Oh, play it as it lies.’ But I don’t think they understand what it’s like literally working your entire life to learn how to hit a golf ball and control it and hit shots and control distance, and all of a sudden due to a rules decision that is completely taken away from us by chance.”
Despite swirling winds and firm greens, Scheffler’s resilience shone.
“It’s like he’s got a time machine and he goes forward in time and knows exactly what the wind is doing and lands the ball just right,” said Brian Harman, according to Golfweek.
His caddie, Ted Scott, helped him adjust after errant drives, saying, “There he is,” after a fairway hit on the 10th.
Scheffler birdied the 10th, while Rahm faltered, finishing with consecutive double bogeys on 17 and 18 for a 73.
“I was fully aware that was a Scottie birdie,” Rahm said of the cheer on 10.
Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley tied for second at 6-under, with English posting a final-round 65.
“Green Mile did it to me yesterday and kind of did it to me again today, and that’s golf, man,” DeChambeau said of Quail Hollow’s brutal closing stretch, per Sports Illustrated.
Scheffler played the Green Mile at 9-under for the week, best in the field.
“Sometimes he makes the competition look like he’s just playing around with us, you know what I mean, which isn’t easy to do,” said former No. 1 Jason Day, per Golfweek.
Scheffler’s ability to rebound—making birdie or eagle after a bogey or worse six out of 10 times—sealed his victory.