Scottie Scheffler has won the Wanamaker Trophy to claim his third major championship.
Scheffler shot an even-par 70 in Sunday’s final round of The PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer finished five strokes ahead of Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, and Davis Riley.
With Lafayette’s very own Ted Scott on the bag, Scheffler joined Seve Ballesteros as the only golfers to win each of his first three majors by more than three strokes. He defeated Rory McIlory by three strokes at the 2022 Masters and Ludvig Aberg by three at the 2024 Masters.
It wasn’t easy for Scheffler.
The day began with a three-stroke lead, but that went away as the course fought back against the field, including Scheffler. He had multiple tee shots land in the rough to the left on the front nine. Scheffler carded three bogeys, one birdie, and five pars on the front nine.
That opened the door for John Rahm to charge up the leaderboard.
After making par on the first seven holes, Rahm made birdie on No. 8 and then added birdies on No. 10 and 11, which tied him for the lead with Scheffler. He would slow down with pars on the next four-hour holes before disaster struck on the final three holes at Quail Hollow, better known as “Green Mile.”
Rahm would bogey No. 16, and then double both No. 17 and No. 18. He would finish shooting two-over on Sunday and finish tied for eighth place.
Scheffler got back on track on the back nine with a birdie on No. 10, No. 14, and 15. He handled “Green Mile” better than Rahm as he carded pars on No. 16, 17 before giving a stroke back on No. 18.
The PGA Championship victory is also the 15th PGA Tour victory for the 28-year-old Texan. That puts Scheffler in exclusive company. The only two other golfers since World War II who have won 15 times on tour and claimed three major championships before 29 are Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.