CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Jon Rahm walked the 16th fairway at Quail Hollow, head down, the sound from the 14th green across the water made his fate clear. Scottie Scheffler had just birdied, extending his lead to two shots in the major championship.
“Even if you don`t want to look at leaderboards,” Rahm noted, “the crowd lets you know.”
For a moment, Rahm seemed poised for the improbable comeback, challenging the world`s top-ranked player who had started Sunday five shots ahead. After Scheffler`s unusual 2-over front nine, Rahm had tied the lead on the 11th hole, seizing momentum and appearing ready to claim the Wanamaker Trophy.
However, defeating Scheffler requires more than just a good run of holes. The now three-time major winner`s strength lies in his unwavering consistency and remarkable ability to remain composed despite errors. He pressures opponents inherently; his game is so solid that challenging him demands Herculean effort.
Scheffler`s eventual triumph felt inevitable throughout Sunday in the humid Charlotte air. By the time Rahm bogeyed the 16th and Scheffler played holes 14 and 15 in 2 under, the Spaniard felt compelled to take risks. His tee shot on the par-3 17th found the water, ending his challenge.
“This back nine will be one that I remember for a long time,” Scheffler commented. “To step up when I needed to the most, I`ll remember that for a while.”
Luke Donald witnessed a similar scenario 19 years prior at the 2006 PGA Championship. Donald, then world No. 10, shared the 36-hole lead and shot a 66 to reach 14 under on Saturday at Medinah. His challenge? Tiger Woods shot a course-record 65 that day, tying Donald for the lead. Woods was undefeated (11-0) in majors where he held or shared the 54-hole lead.
“Tiger had this sort of aura that you just feel like you need to do more than you need to really elevate your game to beat him,” Donald reflected Sunday after his final round at Quail Hollow. “And I think he understood that.”
In 2006, Woods and Donald played together in the final group. Woods shot 68, securing his 12th major victory by five shots over second place. On Sunday in Charlotte, Scheffler, now 3-0 when leading a major after 54 holes, won by the same five-stroke margin.
“He just sort of played his game, didn`t make too many mistakes and wore you down, and I certainly experienced that in 2006,” Donald said of Woods, drawing a parallel. “I think Scottie is a similar kind of player when he gets the lead.”
A lot has happened since Scheffler won the 2024 Masters and cemented his position at the sport`s pinnacle. Xander Schauffele has claimed two majors, Bryson DeChambeau reached two major finals, and Rory McIlroy finally completed his career Grand Slam with a green jacket.
Scheffler remained prominent during this time, winning six tour events and securing three more major top-10s, but a subtle question emerged: When would Scheffler win a major other than the Masters?
Rahm serving as Scheffler`s main competitor on Sunday felt appropriate. They have exchanged green jackets, and both entered the tournament with two major titles. Scheffler`s win now elevates him above Rahm, DeChambeau, Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas. He is the leading player of his era, with others striving to catch up.
“There were times where I feel like I pressed,” stated Bryson DeChambeau, who tied for second place. “I`ve got to be more precise and fix what I can fix to make myself more consistent and get up there, the likes of what Scottie is doing right now.”
Over the past two years, Scheffler has received unparalleled praise from his peers, who often express admiration while trying to articulate his exceptional skill.
“I`ve played a lot of golf with him, and it seems like every shot has a magnitude of force and just finds its way up there,” observed Sam Burns.
With Scheffler, things rarely seem chaotic. Even after three bogeys on the front nine and struggling with a left miss in his swing, he appeared unfazed. He had been working with coach Randy Smith on improving his hip movement. For a moment, old habits seemed to resurface. But then, on the 10th tee, Scheffler adjusted his aim right based on caddie Ted Scott`s suggestion, focused on a full body turn, and hit a perfect shot. Something clicked. Three more birdies through 15 holes followed, and Scheffler`s victory once again felt unstoppable.
“I felt like this was as hard as I battled for a tournament in my career,” said Scheffler, who also had to switch drivers before the tournament due to testing. “Finishing off a major championship is always difficult. I didn`t have my best stuff, but I kept myself in it. I was battling my swing the first couple days.”
Scheffler`s elite ballstriking has already drawn comparisons to prime Woods over the past two seasons. His ability to win even when not at his best, and win decisively when he is, further strengthens this parallel.
“He just doesn`t get too high or low, but his game speaks for himself,” Donald noted. “And he hates to lose.”
As Scheffler has won more and become a major figure in the sport, he has shown more emotion about his competitive drive. At the 2024 Masters, he spoke about his nervousness and how much he wanted to win. On Sunday, Scheffler wiped away tears on the 18th fairway before throwing his hat in celebration after the final putt. He is now not just a two-time Masters champion, but a three-time major winner at age 27, halfway to completing the career Grand Slam.
“Sometimes I wish I didn`t care as much as I did — or as I do,” Scheffler repeated after his final round. “It would be a lot easier if I could show up and be like, eh, win or lose, I`m still going to go home and do whatever. Sometimes I feel that way. But at the end of the day, this means a lot to me.”
“He wants to win every time he goes out here, regardless if it`s golf, pickleball, whatever it is, he wants to win,” said coach Randy Smith. “I keep equating it to other sports. You got the basketball guy, you always know who it is on a team, who wants the ball with one second left, and that`s the way he is.”
If Rory McIlroy`s emotional Masters victory earlier this year concluded one significant storyline, Scheffler`s win at Quail Hollow served as a powerful reaffirmation of the dominant narrative. McIlroy might be having an exceptional year, but the title of the world`s best golfer still unequivocally belongs to Scottie Scheffler.
