Hard-fought PGA Championship win won’t spark future Major talk for Scottie Scheffler

CHARLOTTE – Scottie Scheffler is not one to talk about the meaning of a first Major triumph outside Augusta National or his goals when it comes to winning more titles.

The 28-year-old American captured his third career Major on May 18, seizing command on the back nine to take the PGA Championship by five strokes at Quail Hollow.

“I felt like this was as hard as I battled for a tournament in my career. This was a pretty challenging week,” Scheffler said.

Career goals are not a big topic for him.

“Not really. I don’t focus on that kind of stuff. I love coming out here and trying to compete and win golf tournaments, and that’s what I’m focused on,” he said.

While June’s US Open at Oakmont or the British Open at Portrush in July are looming into view, Scheffler said he is looking no further than this week’s PGA Tour stop at Colonial (Charles Schwab Challenge).

“After this week, I’m going to go home and get ready for next week’s tournament. The show goes on. 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,” he said.

The world No. 1 began May 18 with a seemingly comfortable three-shot lead but what many felt was an inevitable victory turned into a back-nine tussle, as he struggled off the tee early and Jon Rahm mounted a charge.

But like a true champion, the unflappable Scheffler did not panic and found his stride on the homeward stretch while Rahm, playing two groups ahead, endured a stunning collapse that robbed the final holes of any drama.

The American’s even-par 71 saw him end on 11-under 273. His five-stroke win is the largest at the PGA Championship since Rory McIlroy won by eight in 2012.

After finishing with a bogey and two double-bogeys in his final three holes, Spaniard Rahm finished joint-eighth on two-over 73 for a four-under 280 total.

Americans Harris English (65), Bryson DeChambeau (70) and Davis Riley (72) tied for second on 278.

After winning the 2022 and 2024 Masters Green Jackets, asking about winning Majors outside Augusta brings a discussion about styles of courses where Scheffler has won, not what the future might hold at the US and British Opens.

“I’ve won on some different types of tracts. This is a golf course where it was a big course. This would be a golf course that would lean more towards a bomber. I’m not necessarily a bomber... I did a good job this week of staying patient and hitting the important shots really well,” he said.

His next big challenge will not be finding a place for his new trophy. Scheffler said: “Where’s it going to go? I have a room in my house called ‘The Golf Room’ and that’s where all my crap goes.

“It’s just a room full of all my golf junk. I’ve got some trophies in there as well and that’s probably where this one will go. I’d like to say that it’s nicely presented, but it’s not.”

Scheffler did note his driver failed a test before the tournament at Quail Hollow and was found to be non-conforming, but he was prepared for the issue and said when it came to hitting tee shots left on May 18, “I think that was my fault”.

“My driver did fail me this week. We had a feeling that it was going to be coming because I’ve used that driver for over a year. With the amount of practice that I do, I felt like I was fortunate for it to last that long. It wasn’t that big of a deal. We were prepared,” he said.

One thing you can count on from the 2024 FedExCup champion and Paris Olympic gold medallist in the future is a lot of practice.

“When I can be by myself and I can just practise, it’s one of the most fun things for me. It’s so peaceful, and I love the pursuit of trying to figure something out,” Scheffler said. AFP, REUTERS