Scheffler Wins PGA Championship, Earns Third Major Title

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — World number one Scottie Scheffler captured his third career major title on Sunday, outdueling Spain’s Jon Rahm to win the 2025 PGA Championship by five strokes at Quail Hollow Country Club.

Scheffler, 28, carded an even-par 71 in the final round to finish at 11-under 273, pulling ahead with birdies on the back nine to secure his first PGA Championship and his first major victory outside of Augusta National.

“I knew it was going to be a challenging day,” Scheffler said. “Finishing off a major championship is always difficult.”

The Texan added, “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.”

The win earned Scheffler PHP 199 million (US$3.42 million) from a record purse of US$19 million, bringing his career PGA Tour title count to 15 — a feat accomplished in just three years and 94 days.

Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods reached that milestone faster in the modern era.

Scheffler became the 10th consecutive American to win the PGA Championship and matched Spanish great Seve Ballesteros as the only players in the last 100 years to win their first three majors by at least three shots.

Scheffler, who suffered a right-hand injury last December, had only returned to top form earlier this month with a win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Rahm, a two-time major champion and reigning LIV Golf season champion, faltered late with a bogey at 16 followed by double bogeys on 17 and 18, closing with a 73 and tying for eighth at 280.

“Pretty fresh wound right now,” Rahm said. “But there have been a lot of good happening this week and a lot of positive feelings to take for the rest of the year.”

Scheffler began the day with a three-shot lead and extended it to five before Rahm rallied with birdies on 8, 10, and 11 to tie for the lead.

“I just kept hitting it left,” Scheffler admitted about his front-nine struggles.

After making a critical birdie at the par-five 10th, Scheffler surged ahead again.

He found a bunker at 14 but blasted out to seven feet and drained the putt, then birdied 15 as Rahm bogeyed 16, securing the Wanamaker Trophy.

“This back nine will be one that I remember for a long time,” Scheffler said. “To step up when I needed to the most, I’ll remember that for a while.”

Xander Schauffele finished with a 68 and a share of fifth at 283, while Rory McIlroy, fresh off a career Grand Slam after winning last month’s Masters, posted a final-round 72 to finish at 287.

McIlroy, a four-time winner at Quail Hollow and course record holder, did not speak to media throughout the tournament.