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| Xander Schauffele celebrates with the trophy after winning the US PGA at Valhalla Golf Club. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images |
It seemed fitting that this year's US PGA Championship unfolded in Muhammad Ali's hometown. Viktor Hovland swung and missed at Xander Schauffele all afternoon. Bryson DeChambeau, with his characteristic force, did likewise. Schauffele, often considered golf’s nearly man, is no longer. He withstood immense pressure to claim the Wanamaker Trophy.
Bare statistics mask the epic sporting drama that quickly evolved into a three-horse race. Schauffele, finishing at 21 under par, edged out DeChambeau by one stroke, breaking the record score to par in majors by the same margin. Hovland, an integral part of the Valhalla narrative, closed at 18 under.
The Golf and the Drama
The level of golf and excitement were extraordinary. Neither Schauffele, Hovland, nor DeChambeau dropped a shot until the 10th hole. There, Schauffele needlessly used a wood from a fairway bunker and struggled to play himself back into position. His response was impressive, making birdies at the 11th and 12th.
Hovland and DeChambeau played the front nine in 32. Schauffele beat that by one. On a course set up for a birdie-fest, the drama was relentless. Pars were not enough in this environment.
DeChambeau’s light should have gone out on the 16th. Instead, a wayward drive clattered into trees and rebounded into the middle of the fairway. Within 10 minutes, DeChambeau was tapping in for an unlikely birdie. Despite this, he still trailed Schauffele by one.
Hovland’s situation was similar, hence his visible frustration after missing a great opportunity on the penultimate hole. The Norwegian could have reached 20 under at the last but under-borrowed. Hovland, clearly distressed, missed his short par attempt as well. And then there were two.
The Final Moments
DeChambeau bounded from the final green, offering fist pumps and roars to the Valhalla galleries. He had not tied the lead at all on Sunday before his last birdie putt just—only just—reached the hole. This was the final of DeChambeau's 64 shots.
The ball was now firmly in Schauffele's court. At the 17th, he found a bunker off the tee. The 30-year-old missed the green but rescued par. A birdie at the 72nd hole would secure a precious victory. To achieve that, Schauffele had to navigate an uneven lie caused by striking his drive to the edge of a fairway bunker on the par five. He advanced the ball to within 35 yards of the cup, leaving a 6-foot putt for the tournament. The emotional scene as Schauffele holed out demonstrated his years of frustration. DeChambeau’s playoff dream was crushed, but to his credit, he made a point of congratulating the champion.
Other Contenders
Shane Lowry's challenge seemed to falter on the 1st green. Sahith Theegala, playing alongside Lowry, sank a birdie putt from 50 feet. Lowry missed a much shorter putt, and his putting, which had been excellent for three days, suddenly showed signs of weakness. Although he collected shots at the 3rd and 4th, by the time he made his next birdie on the 14th, Schauffele, DeChambeau, and Hovland had pulled well clear.
Collin Morikawa missed chance after chance. A run of 14 straight pars was broken by a bogey at the 15th. The two-time major champion had to settle for a close-up view of Schauffele’s triumph. The European challenge was generally strong, though Justin Rose finished with two bogeys to tie with Lowry for sixth. Belgium’s Thomas Detry joined Morikawa in fourth at 14 under.
Scottie Scheffler's Tumultuous Week
Scottie Scheffler ended a tumultuous week with a 65, earning a tie for eighth. Scheffler remains charged with four offenses, including assaulting a police officer, after a bizarre incident on Friday morning at Valhalla. There is widespread speculation in Kentucky that Scheffler’s charges will be dropped, but he appears uncertain. The lingering image of this major will involve Scheffler in an orange jumpsuit.
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