15 players were in five shots of lead starting Sunday and a race to the finish as Schauffele beats LIV Tour star DeChambeau to win PGA Championship
2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa -15 shot a third round of 67 and played in Sunday’s final group with joint leader Xander Schauffele. Shane Lowry -13 shot a sensational Saturday round equalling Schauffele’s Thursday score of 62 and played in Sunday’s second last group with -14 Sahith Theegala. Theegala got off to a quick start with a birdie at the first hole to make it a three-way tie on -15. Schauffele drained a long-range birdie putt at the first hole to take outright lead on -16. Bryson DeChambeau -13 played in Sunday’s third last group with Viktor Hovland and 2020 US Open champion took advantage of a 341 yard drive at two to reach -14.
Lowry achieved his first birdie of day four at the third hole to get within two shots of -16 leader Schauffele. The Offaly native got up and down for birdie at four to draw alongside second on -15. 2023 FedEx Cup champion birdie drought of day four came to an end at five to reach -14. DeChambeau becomes the third player to advance -15 due to destroying 461 yard five with a big drive and a short iron shot. Schauffele stretched his lead to two at top of leaderboard due to a birdie at four.
Theegala followed up his birdie at one with bogeys at the second and fifth hole to drop four shots behind Schauffele. DeChambeau held an extraordinary birdie putt at six to reach -16 and move within one shot of -17 leader Schauffele. At the start of week Hovland considered not playing and thankfully he didn’t do that especially with making three birdies in a row at seven to reach -16. 2021 Olympic Gold Medallist achieved a fantastic up and down at the seventh hole to go two shots clear of DeChambeau & Hovland. The fireworks started to come from DeChambeau & Hovland as they both achieved birdies at 10 to get within one shot of leader.
Returning to former coach Joe Mayo was crucial in a timely confidence boost for Hovland especially in holing his birdie putt to reach -18 and draw alongside Schauffele. Justin Rose -12 had a Saturday to remember shooting a round of 64 and achieved four birdies in five holes to reach -16. Hovland continued to impress as a birdie at 13 was good enough to take the lead on -19. DeChambeau’s decision to lay up at 13 was a good one especially in holing his birdie putt to reach -18. It was becoming a shootout with a brillant response by Schauffele at 11 and Hovland -19 had company at the top of leaderboard.
Lowry returned to -15 and four shots behind leaders due to a birdie at 14. A sensational shot from 206 yards at 12 as Schauffele goes one ahead of Hovland. DeChambeau was extremely lucky that his tee shot at 16 bounced out of trees, an outstanding second shot and held his birdie putt to draw alongside -19 playing partner Hovland. DeChambeau held a short-range putt at 18 to shoot an incredible round of 64 and set a clubhouse target of -20. Schauffele was forced to lay up at 18 due to a bad stance but managed a sensational up & down to shoot 66 and win the PGA Championship.
A wire to wire win was Schauffele’s first major win earning $3.3 million and first victory since 2022 Genesis Scottish Open. 2020 US Open champion had to settle for a runner-up finish earning $1,998,000. Hovland returning to good form in third -18 earning $1.2 million. Morikawa struggled on the greens as his first birdie of day four was at 18 but a round of level par was good enough to finish -15 tied fourth with Thomas Detry. Lowry and Rose finished tied sixth -14 and both received a nice check of $639,400.
Scottie Scheffler started Saturday meeting his lawyer was without his caddie Ted Scott and Friday caught up with the American as his 41 straight under par rounds came to an end. Normal service returned on Sunday as Scheffler shot an incredible round of 65 to finish -13 and tied eight. Local Kentucky native Justin Thomas delighted the crowds with a round of 68 including a held bunker shot at three to tie Scheffler on -13. Billy Horschel and Robert MacIntyre make it a four-way tie on -13 resulting in been exempt for 2025 PGA Championship. Rory McIlroy started Saturday -5 and seven shots behind halfway leader Schauffele. McIlroy shot a solid third round of 68 and headed into Sunday trailing joint leaders by seven shots. McIlroy shot a round of 68 finishing tied 12th.