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Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Epoch Times
Golf's Order Restored: ‘Sheriff' Scheffler Captures PGA Championship in 3rd Major Victory
Commentary CHARLOTTE, NC.—When Scottie Scheffler reached the back nine at Quail Hollow on Sunday, the three-shot lead that started his round had completely evaporated. Jon Rahm started the day five shots behind, and the gap between the two was gone when the Spaniard birdied the 11th hole. What had been viewed by many as a routine win for Scheffler was now transformed into a meaningful tussle between two titans in the sport. Scheffler's front nine total was the only time he scored over par for any of the nines played during the championship. The world-ranked No. 1 player seemed to be on the verge of teetering with Rahm's momentum escalating just ahead of him. Scheffler started the final nine holes with a birdie at the par-five 10th. That birdie pushed him back into a lead he would never relinquish. Other birdies would follow at the 14th and 15th holes. Rahm could not convert key birdie opportunities at the short par-four 14th and the uphill par-five 15th. At the start of Quail Hollow's famed 'Green Mile' trio of closing holes, Rahm submerged his tee shot at the par-three 17th, and his opportunity to overcome Scheffler vanished permanently. Related Stories 5/18/2025 5/17/2025 A bogey at the closing hole by Scheffler was merely an afterthought as the championship was well in hand by then. How important was the play of Scheffler and Rahm on the critical 14th and 15th holes for the totality of the championship? Scheffler played the two holes in a cumulative total of nine-under-par—the best of all players in the field. Rahm's success in comparison was limited to a three-under-par total. The reestablishment of 'Sheriff' Scheffler at the top of golf's pecking order was jump-started when he placed the green jacket on the shoulders of the newest Masters champion—Rory McIlroy—just over a month ago. Scottie Scheffler plays a shot from a 14th-hole bunker during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., on May 18, 2025. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images Scheffler showcased his intent in getting back into form when winning the CJ Cup in his adopted hometown of Dallas just a few weeks ago. He tied the all-time PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record with a 253 total and a resounding eight-stroke win. Even with that win, coming into Quail Hollow, the favorite's role leaned toward McIlroy given his four past wins at the Charlotte-based club. Scheffler was paired the first two rounds with the Northern Irishman and the two-time major winner and defending PGA Champion Xander Schauffele. Scheffler outplayed them both. The Sheriff was intent on proving his supremacy in a sport he has dominated as top player for 103 consecutive weeks. Scheffler now joins Seve Ballesteros as the only golfers in the past 100 years to win each of their first three majors by three or more strokes. He captured the 2022 Masters by three over McIlroy and in 2024 at Augusta by four over Ludvig Aberg. The triumph in the PGA Championship marks his 15th PGA Tour victory. Since World War II, only two other golfers have won 15 times on tour and captured three majors before age 29—Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. To have one's name placed alongside such heavyweight champions is proof of Scheffler's considerable talents. Scottie Scheffler celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., on May 18, 2025. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Scheffler acknowledged the need to buckle down and stay focused as the final nine holes unfolded. 'Overall, I was proud of how I stepped up on the back nine and hit the shots I needed to. It was a big birdie I hit on 10. Hit quality shots on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 really, and was able to build up a lead and play pretty conservative the last three holes. Two nice up-and-downs there on 16 and 17, and I was able to kind of slap it around there on 18,' he told reporters. Only a select few players have won at least three major championships. Scheffler's success comes from handling the mental grind. 'You know, I always try to lean as much as I can on my mind. I think that's probably my greatest strength. You know, like today and this week I really just feel like I did just such a good job of staying patient when I wasn't swinging it my best, but I hit the shots when I needed to,' said Scheffler. 'I hit the important shots well this week, and that's why I'm walking away with the trophy. The shots on the golf course that are most important, those are the ones I feel like I did my best at this week and maybe at times out there, some of the easier ones maybe I lost a bit of focus or something but overall when I needed to, I feel like I hit the shots.' Scheffler's four-round total of 273 provided a five-shot margin over several players—Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley. Attention now turns to the next major event—the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania on June 12–15. Scheffler celebrates with wife Meredith and son Bennett after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, competitive spirit was tested when he arrived at Quail Hollow's back nine. The wherewithal to hold matters together and outplay all his rivals bodes well for him going forward. Patience is often talked about by all players. However, doing it when it matters most in stemming a potential free fall into oblivion is the ultimate proving ground. The outcome from Quail Hollow certainly sends a loud and clear message to all his rivals. Taking down Scheffler will require a level of play that is nothing short of brilliant. A year ago, at the PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, Scheffler was arrested for disobeying instructions from a police officer when entering that property. The charges were later dismissed because of what he called a clear 'misunderstanding.' What's clear is that when Scheffler arrives at the golf course, he is not taking any prisoners. There's also no misunderstanding of one clear reality—'Sheriff' Scheffler remains golf's top gun. The win at Quail Hollow showed that the likelihood of future major championship victories appears as certain as the sun rising in the morning. Oakmont and the U.S. Open now await in June.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Scottie Scheffler: Where He Ranks All-Time after PGA Championship Win
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scottie Scheffler entered this week's PGA Championship in search of his third career major championship. Scheffler has already won two Green Jackets, winning the Masters in 2022 and 2024. After not having his best stuff at the Quail Hollow Club the first two rounds, he turned it on Saturday. Scheffler's epic finish, going 5-under over his final five holes, included the daunting 'Green Mile' stretch of 16 through 18. That built him a three-shot lead entering Sunday's final round. Midway through his final 18, Scheffler was struggling. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm had clawed his way back into a tie for the lead. It appeared as though golf fans were going to be treated to a dramatic finish. Instead, Rahm faltered down the stretch while Scheffler went back to work. He ultimately won by five shots, ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, Davis Riley and Harris English. At just 28 years old, Scheffler now has three major titles and is halfway to the career grand slam. But his prowess on the golf course goes well beyond Augusta National and Quail Hollow. So, with this win in his pocket, it had us wondering where he should rank historically? NASSAU, BAHAMAS - DECEMBER 08: Tiger Woods of the United States congratulates Scottie Scheffler of the United States after the final round of the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course on December 08,... NASSAU, BAHAMAS - DECEMBER 08: Tiger Woods of the United States congratulates Scottie Scheffler of the United States after the final round of the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course on December 08, 2024 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) More Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Scottie Scheffler Legend Continues to Grow Let's be clear from the start. The arrow is pointing up and he has the chance to go down in history as one of the greatest golfers ever. But right now, it would be blasphemy to even contemplate placing Scheffler anywhere near the top. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are atop nearly everyone's list. You can pick the order you want. Then there is obviously a host of others that are currently above reproach. Namely, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Bobby Jones, Gary Player, and Seve Ballesteros. There is even another group of golfers that are still undoubtedly a cut above, including Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, and even Phil Mickelson. I know, I know, I have Lefty pretty high. But let's not forget that before his controversial move to LIV Golf, Mickelson won six majors and is the oldest to ever win a major. So, that is 13 players that you cannot make a serious argument that Scheffler belongs above, yet. But from there, it is game on. CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy, wife, Meredith Scheffler, and son, Bennett Scheffler, after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club... CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy, wife, Meredith Scheffler, and son, Bennett Scheffler, after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) More Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Scheffler Might Sneak Inside Top 15 Among active players, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka have five majors. Ernie Els has four. There are others in that area. But when we are at this point in the list, you have to look at much more than just major championships. Consistency is key, and that is where Scheffler excels. The Ridgewood, New Jersey native moved to the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings exactly two years ago, on May 23, 2023. Since that time, he has remained atop the OWGR for 104 consecutive weeks. Only Tiger Woods has a longer streak in history. Well technically he did it twice, with one stretch lasting 281 weeks and another at 264. But that's Tiger, who is obviously in another stratosphere. Nevertheless, Scheffler's accomplishment stands on its own. Last year, he had one of the most dominant seasons on the PGA Tour anyone has ever seen. He made all 19 cuts on Tour, finishing in the top 10 in 16 of them. Of those, he won seven against stacked fields. AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo... AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by) More Getty Images/Andrew Redington He wasn't winning the John Doe championship against unfamiliar competition. He won the Arnold Palmer, the PLAYERS, the Masters, RBC Heritage, and the Memorial. All of those are Signature Events with elite competition. He added an Olympic Gold Medal and the Tour Championship, then topped it off with a victory at Hero World Challenge. That is enough for a player to make a Hall of Fame career on, and he did it in one year. Even the numbers back up his greatness. The previous season, Scheffler averaged 2.614 strokes gained tee-to-green, which ranked second all-time behind Woods' 2006 season (2.982). He is already considered one of the best ball-strikers the game has ever seen. The PGA Tour recently dropped a video of Tiger Woods fawning over Scheffler's game. Game recognizes game. All of this to say that I have Scottie Scheffler sneaking inside my top 15 players of all-time. More Golf: Bryson DeChambeau's 7-Words for Scottie Scheffler at PGA Championship, Revealed
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jon Rahm and wife's moment immediately after he lost £1.1m caught on camera
Jon Rahm's bid to win the US PGA Championship came crashing down on Sunday as he squandered £1.1million in prize money in the final three holes to finish in a tie for eighth place Jon Rahm's wife, Kelley Cahill, showed her unwavering support by sharing a touching moment with the LIV Golf star immediately after he missed out on a £1.1million prize at the US PGA Championship. The Spaniard was closely pursuing Scottie Scheffler for most of the final day but suffered a crushing end to the final round of the US PGA. Rahm had made three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn to briefly pull level with the eventual winner. However, the 30-year-old on Sunday dropped five shots over the infamous 'Green Mile' closing three-hole stretch. He bogeyed 16 before double-bogeying 17 and 18 to fall out of contention and hand the advantage back to Scheffler. World No. 1 Scheffler ultimately won the Wanamaker Trophy by five strokes, while Rahm had to settle for a nine-way tie for eighth in the second major of the year. His meltdown at the end didn't just land a blow to his professional pride, but also prevented him from becoming the third Spaniard to win three majors while taking a hefty chunk of around £1.1m ($1.5m) out of his potential earnings. He would have pocketed a staggering £1.49m ($2m) if he had managed to hold onto solo second place but ultimately had to settle for T8 and £309,503 ($415,262) in prize money. And he shared a heart-warming moment with his wife following the devastating conclusion at Quail Hollow, which showcased the strength of their relationship. In footage shared on CBS' social media channels, Rahm – who hasn't clinched a major title since his move to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series at the end of 2023 – can be seen walking up to Kelley, who opened her arms to embrace him as he rested his head on her shoulder after carding a fourth-round 2-over 73 to finish with a 4-under total. Kelley has been at his side through the ups and the downs over the last few years, having shared a tearful embrace following his Masters triumph in April 2023. The romance between them began in their college days at Arizona State University where they crossed paths at a Halloween party and have remained together ever since, marrying in 2019. Their family includes two boys, Kepa and Eneko, along with their daughter Alaia. She supported Rahm through his highly controversial decision to join LIV in 2013, which caused a huge stir in the golfing community after he had vowed to stay with the PGA Tour. The switch reportedly came with a staggering offer of around £240m for Rahm to join the breakaway league, which will go some way towards softening the blow of his recent disappointment, at least in financial terms. Yet, Rahm expressed his agony after Sunday's disappointment, admitting: "The last three holes... it's a tough pill to swallow right now." "A lot of positives to take from this week, but pretty fresh wound right now. But there's been a lot of good happening this week and a lot of positive feelings to take for the rest of the year.' Before his move to LIV, Rahm had secured a place in the top 10 in 12 out of his previous 22 major appearances (approximately 55%). However, since the switch, he has only managed the feat once in four major tournaments, and his streak of 18 consecutive major cuts has ended. Apart from a T7 at last year's Open, the Ryder Cup star, who won the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters, had a disappointing 2024 in the majors. And only a Sunday surge at the Masters saw him finish T14 at Augusta last month.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
This Week in Golf: All eyes on Charlotte as stars chase glory in 107th PGA Championship
Golf's grand stage heads to North Carolina this week for one of the year's biggest showdowns — the 107th PGA Championship. With major glory, history, and $18.5 million on the line, all eyes are locked on Charlotte's Quail Hollow Club. It marks the fourth time the major has been played in the Tar Heel State. But unlike previous visits to Pinehurst (1936) and Tanglewood Park (1974), this year's host is a familiar beast. Quail Hollow isn't new to the big stage. A regular PGA TOUR venue and host of the 2017 PGA Championship, it's a course that many in the 156-player field know intimately — except, perhaps, the 20 club professionals earning their shot through the PGA Professional Championship. With $18.5 million up for grabs (based on the 2024 purse) and Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau all in red-hot form, this is shaping up to be one of the most compelling majors in years. The PGA's mix of big names, major storylines, and underdog club pros always delivers drama — and Quail Hollow's famously brutal 'Green Mile' finish should guarantee a thrilling Sunday. May 15 – 18 PGA Tour US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N. Carolina, USA
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PGA Championship: Scottie Scheffler is now chasing history
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There's something anticlimactic about rolling a tap-in to win a tournament, especially when you've just missed a makeable putt that would have brought the grandstands down. The gallery at Quail Hollow — perfectly congratulatory when Scottie Scheffler tapped in to win the PGA Championship — was still antsy for a reason to explode. So Scheffler gave it to them in an unexpected way. 'F*** yeah!' he bellowed, spiking his white Nike hat onto the pristine 18th green and slapping palms with caddie Ted Scott. 'That's what I'm talking about!' And that tore the roofs off the surrounding luxury boxes. This is something new from Scheffler, who spent most of his first two years as a Tour champion going about his business with all the verve and flair of ChatGPT. There were moments — his tears after a Ryder Cup loss, his rage earlier this week at the local rules which, as it turned out, didn't hurt him at all — but for the most part, Scheffler showed up, won, gave a little fist pump or two, took the trophy and went on home. Advertisement He clearly cares deeply about winning — you don't amass three majors and rise to the top of your profession without a competitive streak that verges on sociopathic — but he hasn't always shown that on the course. In a social media-driven world that thrives on exuberant displays of emotion, he was no Bryson DeChambeau, bellowing to the heavens, or Rory McIlroy, collapsing to the turf. But he approaches winning in a methodical sort of way. 'Winning is a lot of fun, and I think winning as often as I can is a lot of fun. Each week you're playing in a tournament, and you want to try to give yourself a chance to win," Scheffler said. "When I stepped on the tee on Thursday, I'm not thinking about what's going to happen on Sunday. I'm preparing for a 72-hole event. That's what I tell myself on the 1st tee: It's 72 holes. That's a lot of time. That's a lot of holes. That's a lot of shots.' So why the 72nd-hole spike? Maybe it was the rollercoaster of starting with a three-stroke lead, losing every bit of that lead at the turn, and then rebounding with three birdies over the back nine to seize control of the tournament before he even reached the Green Mile. Maybe it was the release of winning a major outside of Augusta, Georgia, and stomping out one of the few remaining 'Yeah, but…' narratives around his career. Hell, maybe it was revenge for the chaos that the Louisville police caused him a year ago at this time. Advertisement 'Just a lot of happiness,' Scheffler said after the round when asked about the hat-spike. 'I think, you know, just maybe thankful as well. It was a long week. I felt like this was as hard as I battled for a tournament in my career. This was a pretty challenging week.' (He did laugh when he said 'I definitely have a few jokes that I want to say that I'm probably going to keep to myself' about Louisville.) Whatever the reason, Scheffler's release was a cathartic one, both for himself and for the sport. He's firmly established himself as the sport's alpha dog now. Consider: he's won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the last three-plus years, and only two players have taken less time to win their first 15 tournaments: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Scottie Scheffler celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy and son, Bennett Scheffler, after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) (Jared C. Tilton via Getty Images) On a micro level, he's in elite territory as well. For instance, he's the only player besides Woods to win consecutive tournaments by at least five strokes. He's the only player other than Seve Ballesteros to win his first three majors by three strokes. Advertisement What does all this mean? Scheffler is rapidly approaching the point where he won't be competing with the players on the leaderboard, he'll be competing against the players in record books. Yes, McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, and — if you want to be technical about it — Woods and Phil Mickelson still have more majors than Scheffler among active players. But no one currently combines willpower, resilience, skill, touch and step-on-your-throat competitiveness quite like Scheffler. In an era of giants — virtually every major winner in the 2020s is a multiple-major winner — he's standing the tallest. And he's having fun doing it … which ought to scare the hell out of the rest of the field. 'I've prepared my entire life to become somewhat decent at this game, and to have a chance to win a tournament that I dreamed about as a kid is a pretty cool feeling,' he said. 'When you step out on the 1st tee, it's pretty dang cool. There's definitely stress. It's definitely challenging, but at the same time, I mean, it's a lot of fun.' And speaking of kids … Sunday evening, as he left the scorer's room after his round, Scheffler held his young son Bennett. When Scheffler went to pass off Bennett to his mother Meredith — so that Scheffler could go claim the Wanamaker Trophy — Bennett began crying and clutching at Scheffler's collar. Everybody else in the Scheffler entourage was all smiles … and might be for a long, long time.
