Scottie Scheffler looks inevitable at the PGA Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As the golf ball soared through the air, Scottie Scheffler`s feet remained rooted in place. He watched his high tee shot reach its peak trajectory before descending perfectly – landing just shy of the 14th green, bouncing forward, and then rolling onto the surface as if it were a putt.

From a remarkable 304 yards away, Scheffler had positioned the ball merely 2 feet, 9 inches from the hole. The subsequent eagle putt was a mere formality that elevated him to a tie for the lead at 8-under par. However, it served as a clear declaration across Quail Hollow Country Club, echoing a truth frequently observed in professional golf over the past two years: Scottie Scheffler is unstoppable.

Throughout the first two days of the PGA Championship, the leaderboard presented an interesting mix of unexpected names. Yet, when Scheffler achieved an eagle on the 14th hole on Saturday, following it up with birdies on the 15th, 17th, and 18th to reach 11-under and secure an outright three-shot lead after 54 holes, it felt as though the natural order of things had been restored. Even this major, as unpredictable and challenging as it was through the initial 36-plus holes, eventually centered itself around the sport`s dominant figure.

“I try to concentrate as much as possible on executing the shot, and there are factors beyond my control,” Scheffler commented. “I can`t control what other players are doing. I can`t control getting caught in bad wind gusts. I can`t control how the ball will behave after hitting the green. All I can focus on is attempting to hit the shot I intend to hit. That`s my sole focus out there. Some days, it works out better than others.”

While Scheffler was building his lead, his perceived inevitability was amplified by the fact that many competitors began to fade. Quail Hollow`s challenging final stretch, known as the Green Mile, claimed its share of contenders, resulting in a bogey for Jon Rahm on the 17th and a costly double bogey for Bryson DeChambeau on the same hole.

“I`m three shots back with one round remaining in a major championship,” DeChambeau stated upon finishing his round. “So, I can`t complain too much.”

“I`m assuming I`ll be at least one shot behind starting tomorrow,” said two-time major winner Rahm after reaching 6-under on Saturday. “But that`s a solid position.”

The catch was that the world`s No. 1 player still had holes left to play, and Scheffler navigated the treacherous Green Mile flawlessly, finishing it at 2-under par. Consequently, on Sunday, Rahm will commence play five shots adrift of Scheffler, while DeChambeau faces a six-shot deficit.

Heading into Sunday, three players are positioned closer to Scheffler than Rahm. Alex Noren, age 42, who is recovering from a hamstring tendon tear, is three shots back and will play alongside Scheffler in the final group. Noren finished in a tie for 51st at the previous week`s Truist Championship. Following them will be Davis Riley and J.T. Poston, both at 7-under. Riley has secured two top-10 finishes this season but also has five missed cuts and has missed more cuts in major championships throughout his career than he has made. Poston, meanwhile, has never finished better than 30th in a major championship.

In essence, Scheffler`s immediate pursuers are not exactly the world`s elite players. This fact suggests that despite their current deficits, Rahm and DeChambeau might still represent Scheffler`s most formidable challengers. Both Rahm and DeChambeau are aiming for their third major victory.

This week marks the first time since joining LIV Golf that Rahm has genuinely contended in a major championship with a realistic chance 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 an opportunity to achieve what Rory McIlroy recently did: complete the career Grand Slam.

“It`s difficult to articulate how much I crave a major right now, probably as much as anyone in this situation,” a smiling Rahm remarked. “I`m extremely happy to be in contention again.”

Rahm has played consistently well this week. He leads the field in strokes gained off the tee and ranks 20th in approach play, though he has lost nearly a full stroke around the greens. It`s arguably his most complete performance in a major since his 2023 Masters victory, but it may still lack the necessary firepower to overtake Scheffler.

DeChambeau`s third round stalled what seemed like another Sunday at a major where he would be just one or two strokes shy of the lead. It`s not surprising that this course suits DeChambeau`s game, given his strong driving performance. However, similar to Augusta, his approach play (ranking 54th in the field this week) might once again hinder his prospects for a third major title.

“All I can do is control what`s within my control, and if I go out and shoot 6- or 7-under, that`s what I`m focused on,” DeChambeau said, adding a crucial caveat. “Not that it guarantees anything, but you never know.”

In the lead-up to Quail Hollow, much of the attention understandably centered on McIlroy, fresh off a historic, sport-defining victory at the Masters that completed his long-awaited Grand Slam. Nevertheless, Scheffler, who had just won his most recent tournament by eight shots, was still considered a co-favorite and remained the sport`s undisputed benchmark.

During the opening two rounds, Scheffler posted rounds of 69 and 68. None of this felt particularly remarkable because his ability to shoot under par even without his best game has become routine. The standard he has set for himself is so exceptionally high that the only way he could surprise is by *not* finishing inside the top 10 in a tournament. Even that, however, isn`t sufficient; he had six top-10 finishes this season, but because he hadn`t won until the Byron Nelson two weeks prior, there was some concern regarding the state of his game. Scheffler has shown occasional frustration on the course but has consistently emphasized patience.

“Golf isn`t really a sport where you can force things. In sports like football or basketball, you can rely on adrenaline or physically pushing opponents around,” Scheffler explained. “Golf, I feel, is more about letting the scores develop naturally; you need significantly more patience in this sport than in others, especially over a 72-hole competition.”

This week, Scheffler has performed like the world`s premier player again, ranking within the top 10 for strokes gained off the tee, on approach shots, and around the green. Crucially, his putting has been more than adequate (ranking 36th in the field), and his exceptional mental resilience, his ability to recover from poor shots or holes, appears to be in top form. This combination is precisely the formula that has earned him two green jackets.

“I`m out there to maximize my own potential and try to conquer the golf course, and ultimately, that`s what occupies my thoughts,” Scheffler stated. “If I`m preoccupied with what someone else is doing out there, that`s detrimental to my own game.”

On Sunday, Scheffler will have the luxury of focusing solely on himself. While his challengers might claim they will only control what they can, deep down, they understand the reality: For them to have any chance of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy, golf`s most inevitable force must somehow falter.