Scottie Scheffler outlasted Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and several other top players at the PGA Championship on Sunday.
Scheffler headed into the final round at Quail Hollow with a three-shot lead over Alex Noren, so he was the clear favorite to win the Wanamaker Trophy.
But, rather uncharacteristically, the American looked out of sorts on the opening nine and gave hope to the chasing pack.
Rahm looked inspired for the first 15 holes of his final round, even drawing level with the 28-year-old at one point, until it all went horribly wrong.
The Spaniard made a bogey and two double bogeys in his last three holes at the PGA Championship to effectively hand the victory to Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler speaks about Jon Rahm after winning the PGA Championship
While one of Scheffler’s many fantastic traits is focusing on his own game, Rahm’s final-round surge definitely caught his attention.
The world number one admitted that he checked the leaderboards a few times on the golf course to see where he was in relation to the LIV Golf star.
Fortunately for Scheffler, Rahm fell away and didn’t make it difficult for him in the closing stages. Yet, the three-time major champion was still so complimentary of his rival in his press conference.
“I didn’t really relax until I got the ball over the water on 17,” explained Scheffler about his final round experience. “I felt like after that, I could kind of limp on 18 with the lead that I had.
“With this closing stretch, you can never be complacent with your game. I had seen that Jon and I were tied. I was playing No. 10, maybe. I think he birdied 10 and 11. I think he was at 9-under. Is that right? Then I was able to birdie 10, which gave me a one-shot lead at the time.
“But the leaderboards from 10 through… basically through 14, didn’t really show me what I was hoping they would show me. They were kind of… like at Augusta, the leaderboard is kind of always up there. These leaderboards were changing, like, to different groups. If I looked over, it would be like he was in 25th place.
“I’m looking at the leaderboard, like, come on, guys, show me what’s going on at the top. If people want to know who’s in 30th, look at your phone. I need to know what’s going on at the top of the leaderboard.
“So I didn’t really see much on those holes. I just prepared for Jon to go out and have a back nine. He’s a great player and a great champion, and he does a really good job of stepping up in the big moments. I was fully expecting him to have a great back nine as well.
“I did my best to keep executing shots and stay in my little bubble. When I was walking down 15, I had just birdied 14 to get to 11-under, and I saw him in the bunker right on 16, and he didn’t get it up-and-down.
“So the conversation I had with myself, like, if he was at 9… I think I saw a leaderboard on 13 green. That’s what it was. Finally, I saw one on 13 green. He was at 9. I was at 10. And he was playing 15. The best he could be was bogey there, because I didn’t hear crazy roars, was 9 under. If I birdie here, it’s going to go a long way.
“Then, as I was walking down 16, I saw that he was only at maybe 8, and I was at 12. So in my head, I told myself, I can’t control what these other guys do; if I make three pars, the golf tournament’s mine, and that’s what I was focused on.”
Scottie Scheffler says what it’s like to play in front of a big crowd
Scheffler might seem quiet on the outside, but there can be no doubt about the fierce competitiveness that brings the best out of him.
The two-time Masters winner often performs at his best when the lights are brightest, as he doesn’t let anything distract him.
One thing which certainly doesn’t put him off is the huge crowds at major championships, even though “you can hear” them.
“I think inevitably you can hear when they’re right there shouting at you,” Scheffler added. “It’s a bit of a weird deal.
“I don’t know why people need to yell at you when they’re that close. But at the end of the day, I’m focused on the task at hand, and I’ve got to execute.”
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
