Scottie Scheffler cruised to his third career major title with a five-shot victory at the 2025 PGA Championship.
A year removed from the bizarre events that saw him briefly detained ahead of his final round at this same event, the world No.1 returned to the top in emphatic style at Quail Hollow.
Scheffler, who collected $3.4 million in prize money, finished Sunday’s final round with a 71 to close out the tournament at 12-under-par. Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, and Davis Riley shared second place, five shots back.
Quail Hollow, a familiar stop on the PGA Tour, has drawn criticism for lacking the unique atmosphere typically associated with majors. That didn’t seem to phase Scheffler, who has now racked up 15 professional wins since early 2022. A brief winless stretch from last autumn until his Byron Nelson triumph this month seemed long by his lofty standards.
Scheffler entered the final day with a three-shot cushion and quickly extended that margin to five within the opening five holes.
But Jon Rahm tried to change the script. A pair of birdies on the 8th and 10th narrowed the gap to just two. The Spaniard, now competing under the LIV Golf banner, had extra motivation to prove his decision hadn’t dulled his edge – and he was also eyeing a historic first PGA Championship win for Spain.
2025 PGA Champion Scottie Scheffler 🏆#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/9Ho50XI4Mp
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 18, 2025
As Scheffler bogeyed the 9th and Rahm birdied the 11th, the two were suddenly level. Rahm had needed just 13 putts through 11 holes, while Scheffler was struggling, having found only four greens in regulation on the front nine.
Scheffler, however, responded with the poise that has become his trademark. Birdies at the 10th and 14th holes gave him back control, while Rahm failed to capitalise on a makeable opportunity at the latter.
His challenge unravelled further down the stretch. Rahm found the water after dropping a shot at 16. The final blow came at the 18th, where Rahm again splashed down scored a 73, finishing seven behind the champion.
English, meanwhile, surged on Sunday with a sizzling 31 on the back nine, carding a 65 and surging up the leaderboard – a performance that strengthens his bid for a Ryder Cup spot.
Rory McIlroy wrapped up a relatively subdued tournament with a 72, finishing three-over-par. After his emotional Masters win, a post-Augusta reset may be in order. Sergio Garcia’s 69 was not enough to put him in Ryder Cup contention – at least for now.
