PGA Championship: Golf’s ‘almost man’ Xander Schauffele in first main win | Golf Information

Schauffele outdueled Bryson DeChambeau to win the PGA Championship, capturing it with the bottom rating in main historical past.

Xander Schauffele lastly added some elusive silverware to his Olympic gold, shedding the title of golf’s almost man with a dramatic birdie on the ultimate gap to win the PGA Championship and hoist the huge Wanamaker Trophy.

Every week after squandering a two-shot lead within the ultimate spherical on the Wells Fargo, Schauffele took the identical benefit onto the again 9 on the Valhalla Golf Membership however this time wouldn’t fold, holding his nerve and claiming his maiden main title with a pressure-packed six-foot putt.

“I used to be fairly nervous,” admitted Schauffele after the win on Sunday.

“I stored studying it, stored type of panning. I assumed, oh, my gosh, this isn’t what I would like for a successful putt.

“I ended up taking part in it straight. Simply a lot aid.

“I don’t actually bear in mind it lipping in, I simply heard everybody roaring and I simply regarded as much as the sky in aid.”

X marks a serious spot on his resume 🏆@XSchauffele has gained the @PGAChampionship! pic.twitter.com/GLfpqkv95U

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 19, 2024

That birdie earned Schauffele a one-shot determination over Bryson DeChambeau and his first win because the 2022 Scottish Open.

With an Olympic title, seven PGA Tour victories and ranked quantity three on the earth, Schauffele has lengthy been rated amongst golf’s perfect.

However regardless of his immense expertise the 30-year-old had, till Sunday, been unable to shut the deal on the majors, posting 12 top-10 outcomes, together with runner-up finishes on the Masters and British Open.

“I’ve turn out to be very affected person not knocking off any wins within the final couple years,” stated Schauffele. “The folks closest to me understand how cussed I could be.

“That is superior. It’s tremendous candy.

“However once I break it down, I’m actually pleased with how I dealt with sure moments on the course immediately, completely different from the previous.”

And that features the latest previous.

After occurring to lose to Rory McIlroy by 5 photographs on the Wells Fargo this month, Schauffele performed like a person on a mission in Louisville, posting a wire-to-wire win that started with a gap spherical 62 that equalled the bottom rating ever at a serious.

With the win, Schauffele will transfer as much as quantity two on the earth rankings however stated the climb to the summit goes on.

“All of us are climbing this large mountain,” stated Schauffele.

“On the prime of the mountain is Scottie Scheffler. I gained this immediately, however I’m nonetheless not that near Scottie Scheffler within the massive scheme of issues.

“I acquired one good hook up there within the mountain up on that cliff, and I’m nonetheless climbing.”