CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WE) — Scottie Scheffler delivered another masterclass in composure and control, capturing his third major title at the PGA Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. His even-par 71 in the final round at Quail Hollow Club secured a five-shot victory, once again reaffirming his place as the world’s No. 1 golfer.
Despite the scoreline, it was anything but easy. Scheffler began the back nine tied for the lead after a rollercoaster front nine, where early bogeys and Jon Rahm surging with three birdies created high drama. But the 28-year-old Texan responded with near-perfect execution under pressure, reasserting his dominance down the stretch.
“This back nine will be one that I remember for a long time,” Scheffler said. “It was a grind out there. I had a solid lead at one point, but making the turn tied for the lead, I knew I had to step up. That’s something I’ll remember for a while.”
Scheffler’s final bogey on 18 was irrelevant—his five-shot cushion gave him room to breathe. It marked his 15th PGA Tour win in just six years, putting him behind only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in speed to reach that number since 1950. His major resume now features the 2022 and 2024 Masters and this year’s PGA Championship. Impressively, he’s the first player since Seve Ballesteros to win his first three majors by three shots or more.
The victory also came just one month after Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters. McIlroy, however, never threatened this week. He made the cut on the number, posted two 72s over the weekend, and finished in a tie for 47th—his worst major result in four years. He declined all interview requests during the tournament.
Scheffler’s Sunday started well, with a five-shot lead by the sixth tee. But after wayward drives and two bogeys, Rahm closed the gap. When Scheffler stepped onto the 10th tee, the two were tied. That’s when the World No. 1 dialed in. He hit fairways, found greens, and waited as competitors crumbled.
Rahm was the most dangerous threat. The two-time major champion had his opportunities on the back nine. At the short par-4 14th, his 5-wood missed by just a yard and landed in a bunker. A weak splash-out and a missed 7-footer for birdie stalled his momentum. Then on the par-5 15th, Rahm launched a 345-yard drive and reached the green in two, but his eagle attempt rolled 12 feet past. The birdie try also missed.
From there, things unraveled. On the 16th, he went from rough to bunker and made bogey. At 17, a misjudged shot bounded over the sunbaked green into the water, leading to double bogey. Another double came at 18 after his tee shot rolled into a stream. Rahm, who started the day five shots back, closed with a 73 and tied for eighth.
“The last three holes—tough pill to swallow,” Rahm admitted. “I’ll get over it. There are more positives than negatives this week. I was in contention and hopefully can build on this for the U.S. Open.”
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau made a run of his own. Birdies at 14 and 15 brought him within two shots, but he couldn’t find another birdie chance. A bogey at 18 capped a round of 70. He tied for second with Harris English, who fired a tournament-best 65, and Davis Riley, who recovered from a triple bogey at the 7th to shoot 72.
“I’m baffled right now,” DeChambeau said. “Felt like things didn’t go my way. I drove it great. Just didn’t catch the breaks.”
English, already back at the airport by the time Scheffler holed out on 18, joked about chasing down the leader. “I don’t see him slipping a whole lot. I see myself catching my flight,” he quipped with a grin.
J.T. Poston, a North Carolina native and fan favorite, also flirted with contention. But bogeys on the final two holes led to a closing 73 and a tie for fifth.
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Scheffler struggled early. He hit only two fairways on the front nine and failed to capitalize on birdie chances at both the par-5 seventh and the reachable par-4 eighth. His misses were mostly left. He reached the turn having lost his cushion, with the leaderboard packed behind him.
But as he’s done repeatedly, Scheffler wore down the field with patience and consistency. He hit fairways and greens, kept his composure, and watched as rivals cracked under pressure. When it counted most, he executed.
“I hit the important shots well this week,” Scheffler said. “That’s why I’m walking away with the trophy.”
He finished at 11-under-par 273, extending a dominant run. This win comes on the heels of his eight-shot victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last month. With back-to-back wins by five or more strokes, Scheffler became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to do so in the same PGA Tour season.
The PGA Championship lacked the high-stakes drama of the Masters but delivered a clear message: Scheffler is in a league of his own. He’s held the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for two years straight. And based on recent form, there’s no clear contender ready to replace him.
The win also builds on an already glittering résumé. In less than six full seasons on the PGA Tour, Scheffler has risen from a promising rookie to a generational star. His quiet demeanor masks a killer instinct that’s becoming as feared as it is respected. While Woods and Nicklaus achieved their early milestones slightly faster, Scheffler’s consistency is reminiscent of both legends.
As the 2025 golf season rolls on, eyes will turn to the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. But if anyone hopes to challenge Scheffler’s reign, they’ll need more than birdies and boldness. They’ll need nerves of steel and a game as complete as his.
Because right now, Scottie Scheffler isn’t just winning. He’s redefining dominance.
