Scottie Scheffler dominates field to win PGA Championship by five strokes

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the end, Scottie Scheffler was just toying with his competition Sunday at the PGA Championship.

During a final round at the season’s second major that began as a coronation, was interrupted mid-round by an interlude of competition and ended with an exclamation point, the world’s best golfer proved he is in a league of his own.

“I felt like this was as hard as I battled for a tournament in my career. This was a pretty challenging week,” Scheffler said after the win. “The first two days I did not swing it my best, and I was able to post a score somehow. Outside of the last five holes yesterday, that’s where I really kind of put myself ahead in the tournament.

“Finishing off a major championship is always difficult, and I did a good job of staying patient on the front nine. I didn’t have my best stuff, but I kept myself in it, and I stepped up on the back nine.”

For the second straight day, Scheffler found his ultimate form on the difficult back nine at Quail Hollow over a stretch of holes that had the rest of the field holding on for dear life. Sunday’s brilliance earned the 28-year-old his third major championship in dominating fashion, a five-stroke victory and his first major win away from Augusta National.

Scheffler confirmed a report that his driver failed USGA testing earlier in the week and that he won the tournament with a backup driver.

“I hit the important shots well this week, and that’s why I’m walking away with the trophy,” he said. “The shots on the golf course that are most important, those are the ones I feel like I did my best at this week.

Coming off tying the PGA Tour’s scoring record by lapping the field at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in his home state of Texas two weeks ago, Scheffler became the second player since 1985 to win consecutive starts by five shots or more. Tiger Woods is the other.

It’s the 15th win of Scheffler’s career and comes just three years and 94 days after his first PGA Tour victory. Woods achieved the feat in three years and 32 days. Jack Nicklaus did it in three years and 45 days. And next is Scheffler.

For years it has been taboo — and laughable — to compare any next great player to Woods, but golf hasn’t seen anyone play at this level since Woods in his prime.

“I always try to lean as much as I can on my mind. I think that’s probably my greatest strength,” Scheffler said. “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.”

Little to no drama was expected on Sunday as Scheffler teed off with a three-shot lead over Sweden’s Alex Noren, but a three-bogey front nine of 37 from the leader suddenly appeared to bring numerous chasers back into the mix.

First among them was two-time major champion Jon Rahm. Playing holes ahead of the final group, Rahm birdied hole Nos. 8, 10 and 11 to surge into a tie with the seemingly struggling front man.

It turned out to be a mirage, as Scheffler regained his form with birdies at the 10th, 14th and 15th holes, while Rahm’s charge died a watery death over the difficult closing stretch known as Quail Hollow’s Green Mile, which the Spaniard played bogey-double bogey-bogey.

The result was a six-shot lead for Scheffler as he played the 72nd hole. After tapping in for bogey, the PGA Championship that seemed over before Sunday began had a historic champion.

But Scheffler is not concerned with history at this point in his career.

“I love coming out here and trying to compete and win golf tournaments, and that’s what I’m focused on,” he said. “After this week, I’m going to go home and get ready for next week’s tournament, and the show goes on. If I show up and miss the cut next week, I’m going to have to answer questions of what went wrong and just start over again on Thursday.

“It’s an endless pursuit, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s definitely one of the great joys of my life to be able to compete out here.”

Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English and Davis Riley finished tied for second at 6 under par.

Canadian Taylor Pendrith notched his best finish at a major championship, tying for fifth at 5-under along with 36-hole leader Jhonattan Vegas and J.T Poston.