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So, it turns out that the 2025 PGA Championship really was won on the back nine on Saturday.
Scottie Scheffler covered the final five holes of the third round at Quail Hollow Club in five under par that enabled him to create separation from the field. He held a three-stroke lead and the psychological high ground as the No. 1 player in the world who had converted his last five 54-hole leads into victories.
Many figured the late flash of brilliance would carry over to Sunday and ignite a closing burst to the Wanamaker Trophy. Instead, it provided a needed buffer for Scheffler to weather a shaky front nine and a challenge from Jon Rahm to claim his third career major title. Despite being largely out of sorts, Scheffler scrapped his way to an even-par 71 on a sunny and breezy afternoon in Charlotte and ended up winning by a deceptively large five shots.
Scheffler, 28, compiled an 11-under 273 aggregate score to win his 15th career PGA Tour title and collect $3.42 million from a record purse of $19 million. He became the first player since Seve Ballesteros in 1983 to win each of his first three majors by three or more strokes.
“I did a good job of staying patient on the front nine. You know, I didn’t have my best stuff, but I kept myself in it,” Scheffler said. “I stepped up on the back nine and had a really good nine holes, and that’s about it.”
Bryson DeChambeau, Davis Riley and Harris English tied for second at six-under 278. The reigning U.S. Open champion, DeChambeau has finished sixth or better in five of the last six majors. He shot 70, while Riley closed with a 72. English had the low round of the day with a 65, two shots better than anyone else.
It was so much harder for Scheffler, twice a Masters champion, than the final margin suggests. Blame LIV Golf League’s Rahm, who showed signs of resurgence before a shocking retreat.
Beginning the day five shots in arrears, Rahm, a two-time major winner, managed to forge a tie with Scheffler at nine under par when he rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 11th hole. Scheffler did his part in the equation by going out in two-over 37 on the opening nine holes as he fought his driver and hit only two fairways.
But as he seems to do so often, Scheffler gathered himself, reclaiming the solo lead at the par-5 10th hole with a 12-foot birdie putt. Then he went two ahead with a seven-footer for birdie at the short 14th while Rahm let good birdie looks go asking at holes 12-15.
Things unravelled for Rahm at the vaunted Green Mile. He bogeyed the 16th from a greenside bunker and then found the water at the par-3 17th that led to a double bogey. In between, Scheffler tapped in for birdie the par-5 12th and suddenly his lead was five strokes—a margin he had built after four holes despite even-par golf. The Texan simply cruised in from there.
He bogeyed the last and hugged his caddie Ted Scott in a long embrace. After a moment, Scheffler raised his arms to the cheering gallery and then slammed his cap emphatically into the turf on the 18th green and screamed, “F— yeah!” as he clapped his hands before hugging Scott again. The show of emotion—a rarity for Scheffler—was an indication of just how difficult and draining the day was.
Scheffler became the 48th player in golf history to win at least three majors. With his second win in as many starts, he joins Masters winner Rory McIlroy and Sepp Straka has multiple winners on tour this year. Scheffler has won multiple titles in four straight seasons.
Rahm completed a disastrous finish with another double bogey on the home hole to drop into a tie for eighth. Incredibly, the Spaniard lost seven shots to Scheffler on his final seven holes as his two-over 73 left him at 4-under 280.
McIlroy, who had won four tour events at Quail Hollow in his career, was never in sync after his driver was found to be nonconforming before the start of the championship and ended up T-47 at 287.
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