Scottie Scheffler`s precise execution was on full display as his tee shot on the 14th hole sailed through the air and settled perfectly on the green, just under three feet from the pin. This 304-yard shot led to an easy eagle putt, bringing him to 8-under and tying him for the lead. It served as a clear signal of a truth that has defined professional golf over the past two years: Scottie Scheffler is an unstoppable force.
The first two days of the PGA Championship saw an unexpected mix of names near the top of the leaderboard. However, Scheffler`s dominant finish on Saturday, featuring an eagle on 14 and birdies on 15, 17, and 18, propelled him to 11-under. This gave him a comfortable three-shot lead after 54 holes, bringing a sense of inevitability back to the tournament, which had felt uniquely unpredictable for the first three rounds.
Scheffler described his approach, stating he focuses intently on executing his shots and accepts there are factors beyond his control, such as the performance of other players, wind conditions, or how the ball reacts on the green. He emphasized the importance of simply trying to hit the intended shot, acknowledging that success varies from day to day.
As Scheffler built his lead, several contenders began to stumble. The challenging Green Mile stretch at Quail Hollow proved difficult, costing Jon Rahm a bogey on the 17th and Bryson DeChambeau a double bogey on the same hole.
Reflecting on his position after his round, DeChambeau stated he couldn`t complain about being three shots behind heading into the final day of a major championship.
Two-time major winner Rahm commented that being at least one shot back (before Scheffler finished his round) was still a “great position” to be in on a Saturday at a major.
However, the world No. 1 still had holes left and successfully navigated the difficult Green Mile stretch in 2-under. Consequently, Rahm would start Sunday five shots adrift, while DeChambeau faced a six-shot deficit.
Three players were closer to Scheffler heading into the final round than Rahm: 42-year-old Alex Noren, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, sat three shots back and was paired with Scheffler. Noren`s previous week resulted in a tie for 51st place. Davis Riley and J.T. Poston were both at 7-under. Riley`s season includes two top-10 finishes alongside five missed cuts and he has missed the cut in majors more times than he has made it. Poston, meanwhile, has never finished better than 30th in a major championship.
This means that Scheffler`s immediate pursuers heading into Sunday were not the sport`s most formidable current players. Despite their larger deficits, Rahm and DeChambeau arguably remained Scheffler`s most capable potential rivals, both aiming for their third major title.
For Rahm, this tournament marked his first significant contention in a major since joining LIV Golf, offering a chance to add to his major wins. A victory at the PGA Championship would be his third major and position him to potentially complete the career Grand Slam at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, a feat recently achieved by Rory McIlroy.
Rahm expressed his intense desire for a major, saying he was “about as hungry as anybody can be” in his current situation and was very happy to be in contention again.
DeChambeau`s third round prevented him from starting Sunday just one or two shots behind, a position he`s been in at other recent majors. While the course`s layout suits his driving game (which has been strong), his approach play (ranked 54th this week), similar to his struggles at Augusta, could potentially cost him a shot at his third major title.
DeChambeau stated his intention to focus solely on controlling his own game and attempting to shoot a low score, like 6 or 7 under, while acknowledging that whether that would be enough remains uncertain.
Leading up to the tournament, much of the discussion focused on Rory McIlroy, who had just achieved a historic Grand Slam with his Masters victory. However, Scheffler, having recently won his last tournament by eight shots, was still considered a co-favorite and remained the consistent standard in professional golf.
Scheffler`s opening rounds of 69 and 68 didn`t particularly stand out because his ability to shoot under par even without his peak performance has become routine. The benchmark he has set for himself is so high that the only surprising outcome is if he doesn`t finish inside the top 10 in an event. Even with six top-10 finishes this season, there was some discussion about his game until his decisive win at the Byron Nelson two weeks prior. While he has shown moments of frustration on the course, he has consistently preached the importance of patience.
Scheffler contrasted golf with sports like football or basketball, where outcomes can sometimes be forced through physical aggression or adrenaline. He explained that golf requires a more patient approach, believing players must “let the scores come to you,” particularly over the course of a 72-hole tournament.
This week, Scheffler has performed like the world`s top player, ranking highly in strokes gained categories for driving, approach shots, and around the green. Significantly, his putting has been adequate (36th in the field), and his renowned mental resilience, including the ability to recover from mistakes, appears to be in excellent form. This combination is precisely the recipe that has led to his two Masters victories.
Scheffler reiterated his focus on maximizing his own performance and challenging the golf course, stating that thinking about what others are doing would be detrimental to his own game.
Entering the final round on Sunday, Scheffler holds the advantage of being able to concentrate purely on his own play. While his challengers expressed similar intentions to focus on what they can control, they undoubtedly understand that their realistic path to winning the Wanamaker Trophy requires the sport`s most consistent force to falter.
