CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As his tee shot soared through the air, Scottie Scheffler stood motionless, watching the ball`s trajectory. It landed perfectly, just short of the 14th green, then rolled onto the putting surface like a simple putt.
From 304 yards away, Scheffler placed the ball a mere 2 feet, 9 inches from the cup. The subsequent eagle putt was a mere formality, drawing him into a tie for the lead at 8-under. More significantly, it served as a powerful statement across Quail Hollow Country Club, reinforcing a truth evident in professional golf over the past two years: Scottie Scheffler is unavoidable.
For the first two days of the PGA Championship, the leaderboard featured a variety of unexpected contenders. However, when Scheffler eagled the 14th on Saturday and followed it with birdies on 15, 17, and 18, reaching 11-under and establishing a three-shot lead after 54 holes, it felt like golf`s natural order was restored. Even this major, which had been unpredictable and challenging for the first 36-plus holes, ultimately gravitated towards its expected center.
“I try to concentrate fully on executing my shot,” Scheffler stated. “There are factors outside my control. I can`t influence other players` performance, unpredictable wind gusts, or how the ball will react upon landing on the green. My sole focus is attempting to hit the shot I intend to. That`s what I concentrate on out there. Some days yield better results than others.”
While Scheffler surged into the lead, his commanding position was underscored by the struggles of others. Quail Hollow`s notoriously difficult Green Mile stretch challenged several contenders. Jon Rahm bogeyed the 17th, while Bryson DeChambeau suffered a double bogey on the same hole.
“I`m trailing by three shots with one round left in a major championship,” DeChambeau commented after finishing his round. “So, I have little to complain about.”
“I anticipate starting tomorrow at least one shot behind,” two-time major winner Rahm said after reaching 6-under on Saturday. “But that`s a strong position to be in.”
The challenge for them was that the world`s top-ranked player still had holes to play, and Scheffler navigated the Green Mile masterfully, finishing it at 2-under. Heading into Sunday, Rahm was five shots behind Scheffler, while DeChambeau faced a six-shot deficit.
Only three players were closer to Scheffler entering Sunday than Rahm. Alex Noren, 42, recovering from a hamstring tendon tear, was three shots back and scheduled to play alongside Scheffler. Noren had finished tied for 51st in the previous week`s tournament. Davis Riley and J.T. Poston, both at 7-under, were in the group behind. Riley has achieved two top-10 finishes this season but also has five missed cuts, and more missed cuts than made cuts in his major championship career. Poston, meanwhile, has never finished better than 30th in a major.
In essence, Scheffler wasn`t being immediately pursued by the world`s elite players. This is why, despite their larger deficits, Rahm and DeChambeau were arguably Scheffler`s most formidable potential challengers. Both Rahm and DeChambeau were aiming for their third major victory.
This marked the first time since joining LIV Golf that Rahm had genuinely contended in a major with a real opportunity to add to his tally. Winning a PGA Championship would not only give him a third major title but would also mean he would arrive at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland with the chance to emulate Rory McIlroy`s recent achievement: completing the career Grand Slam.
“It`s difficult to articulate how much I desire a major; probably as much as anyone in this situation,” a smiling Rahm remarked. “I`m very pleased to be in contention again.”
Rahm`s play this week has been consistent. He leads the field in strokes gained off the tee and ranks 20th in approach play, although he has lost nearly a full stroke around the green. It represents perhaps his most complete performance in a major since his 2023 Masters win, but it might still lack the necessary firepower to catch Scheffler.
DeChambeau`s third round halted what seemed to be a trend of him heading into Sunday at a major just a stroke or two off the lead. This course`s layout was expected to suit DeChambeau, given his strong driving. However, similar to Augusta, his approach game (ranking 54th in the field this week) could once again prevent him from securing a genuine chance at his third major title.
“All I can do is control what`s within my power,” DeChambeau stated, “and if I go out and shoot 6- or 7-under, that`s my goal.” He added an important caveat: “Not that that will guarantee it, but you never know.”
In the lead-up to Quail Hollow, much attention was understandably on McIlroy, fresh off a historic, career-defining Masters victory that secured his long-sought Grand Slam. However, Scheffler, who had just won his most recent tournament by eight shots, was still considered a co-favorite and remained the true benchmark in the sport.
During the initial two days, Scheffler posted composed rounds of 69 and 68. These scores felt almost unremarkable because his ability to shoot under par even without his absolute best game has become second nature. The standard he has set for himself is so exceptionally high that the only surprising outcome would be if he finished outside the top 10 in a tournament. Even then, that might not be enough to raise concern. He had six top-10 finishes earlier this season, but because he hadn`t won until the Byron Nelson two weeks prior, there were questions about the state of his game. Scheffler has displayed some frustration on the course but has consistently emphasized the importance of patience.
“Golf isn`t really a sport where you can force outcomes,” Scheffler explained. “In sports like football or basketball, you can use adrenaline or physical presence to force situations. In golf, I feel like you have to be much more patient, letting the scores materialize, especially over the course of a 72-hole event.”
This week, Scheffler has played like the world`s best player, ranking within the top 10 in strokes gained off the tee, approach, and around the green. Crucially, his putting has been more than adequate (36th in the field), and his remarkable mental fortitude, his ability to recover from poor shots or holes, appears to be in peak condition. This combination is precisely the formula that has earned him two green jackets.
“I`m focused on performing my best and challenging the golf course,” Scheffler said. “Ultimately, that`s my sole concentration. If I start thinking about what anyone else is doing out there, it won`t benefit me.”
On Sunday, Scheffler had the advantage of focusing solely on his own game. His competitors might claim they will only concentrate on what they can control, but deep down, they understood: For any of them to have a realistic chance of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy, the sport`s most seemingly inevitable force would have to falter.
