Scottie Scheffler Triumphs at Quail Hollow, Secures Third Major Victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Exactly one year and a day after his mugshot from the PGA Championship made headlines, Scottie Scheffler hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy triumphantly at Quail Hollow Club, proving why he holds the title of the world’s No. 1 golfer. Scheffler clinched his third major championship with a steady even-par 71 in the final round of the 107th PGA Championship, securing a commanding five-shot victory over Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, and Davis Riley. The day began with expectations of inevitable triumph; however, as Scheffler finished the front nine, he found himself neck-and-neck with Spain’s Jon Rahm on a hot, sticky day in North Carolina.

Then, as he’s done so often, Scheffler pushed the pedal to the metal on the back nine, just as Rahm faltered through Quail Hollow’s daunting “Green Mile” finish. After sinking the final putt, Scheffler wildly celebrated by throwing his arms up as fans cheered his name, tossing his hat onto the green. He reunited with his wife, Meredith, and son, Bennett. His father, Scott, emotionally remarked, “Words can’t capture what just happened. You are incredibly resilient. We couldn’t be prouder.”

In merely 366 days, Scheffler’s narrative morphed from the confines of a police car to clinching the Wanamaker Trophy, adding to a career already highlighted by two Masters titles. Scheffler shares a remarkable achievement with Seve Ballesteros as the only golfers in the last century to claim their first three majors by more than three strokes. He secured the 2002 Masters by three strokes over Rory McIlroy and the 2024 Masters by four over Ludvig Åberg.

Scheffler’s triumph marked his 15th PGA Tour victory at the age of 28. Since the end of World War II, only legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have accumulated 15 victories and three majors before turning 29. After letting an initial three-shot lead slip away, Scheffler regained control with a critical 9-foot birdie on the 10th hole. He increased his lead with a 7-footer on 14, and Rahm’s bogey on 16 further solidified his advantage. Scheffler’s birdie on the 15th provided a comfortable four-stroke cushion entering the notorious “Green Mile,” with his lead swelling to five before reaching the 16th green.

Scheffler’s margin of victory at Quail Hollow was tied for the fourth-largest in PGA Championship history. Although Rahm was level with Scheffler at 9 under after the 12th hole, his missed opportunities on the 13th and 14th proved costly. Facing a bogey on the 16th after a stray drive, followed by a double-bogey on the 17th and another painful double on the 18th, Rahm finished his round by making five over on the final three holes, settling for eighth place at 4 under. Scheffler, who began the day leading by three shots, saw his advantage shrink to a single stroke after a 2-over 37 on the front nine as Rahm rallied with birdies on the 8th and 10th.

Starting the final round five shots behind, Rahm clawed back to share the lead with another birdie on the 11th hole. Despite a shaky start, hitting only two of the first 10 fairways, Rahm demonstrated tenacity by using just 13 putts over the initial 11 holes and showcased remarkable short-game skill to avoid early bogeys.