Ewan Murray was at Valhalla, and his report is in. Thanks for reading this blog. Nighty night.
-21: Schauffele
-20: DeChambeau
-18: Hovland
-15: Detry, Morikawa
-14: Rose, Lowry
-13: Horschel, Scheffler, Thomas, MacIntyre
-12: Noren, McIlroy, Moore, Burmester, Hodges, Theegala
Shane Lowry’s turn to talk to Sky. “I got off to an unbelievable start … literally didn’t miss a shot for the first eight holes … but I played the middle portion really badly and that was my tournament done and dusted … a tough day … I’m obviously disappointed … I come here to win and not finish in the top ten … but a decent week … a lot of positives … I would have dearly loved to get another major trophy … I wanted it for everyone, not just for me … I probably wanted it a bit too much … I hope I can give it a good run again [at Pinehurst in the US Open].”
Bob MacIntyre, who finished his week with an eagle, talks to Sky. “It’s been a good week … I got my reward today on the last … I stayed disciplined and patient … nothing was happening … when the rescue wood [on 18] took off it was absolutely perfect … it’s my best club in the bag at the moment … it’s a big confidence boost, to be in with a chance going into Sunday.”
Bryson DeChambeau talks to NBC. “I didn’t have my best ball-striking week … even though the numbers looked pretty good I wasn’t as comfortable as I was when I shot 58 at Greenbrier … but man I am proud of the way I fought today … I was proud of the way I persevered … I’m happy with it, but I wanna win!”
Schauffele is one of only ten players to have led the PGA Championship wire-to-wire. Including co-leads, the list reads:
Bobby Nichols (1964)
Raymond Floyd (1969, 1982)
Jack Nicklaus (1971)
Hal Sutton (1983)
Nick Price (1994)
Tiger Woods (2000)
Phil Mickelson (2005)
Jimmy Walker (2016)
Brooks Koepka (2019)
Xander Schauffele (2024)
That’s some pretty decent company to be keeping, no?!
The new PGA champion speaks to CBS. “I was actually kinda emotional after the putt lipped in … it’s been a while since I’ve won … I just needed to stay in my lane … man was it hard to stay in my lane today … I just tried to keep focus … I had some weird breaks coming into the house but it’s all good now … I’d be less of a patient person if that putt didn’t lip in … I really didn’t want to go into a play-off with Bryson … it would have been a lot of work … I told myself this is my opportunity, just capture it!”
The Wanamaker Trophy presentation. First up, Braden Shattuck gets his crystal for being the low club professional this year. Then it’s time for Xander Schauffele, who wanders over to pick up his spoils with a broad smile. The thing’s nearly as big as he is. So he doesn’t hoist it up for too long before carefully popping it back down onto its plinth. Then time for a quick chat with CBS!
Schauffele’s mark of -21 breaks the major-championship record of lowest winning score to par. That was previously jointly held by Jason Day (2015 PGA), Henrik Stenson (2016 Open), Dustin Johnson (2020 Masters) and Cameron Smith (2022 Open), all of whom shot -20.
Schauffele raises both arms in the air and smiles with a mixture of joy and relief. Some giggling; that’s definitely relief! At last he’s gotten over the line. After that opening round of 62, nobody deserved it more. Not even Bryson DeChambeau, who pushed him brilliantly today with that 64. But Xander shot a 65, and refused to back down with DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland coming at him hard. Collin Morikawa warmly congratulates him … as does Bryson, who comes over from the range to offer his best, despite his obvious disappointment. What a fine day of major-championship golf. What a deserving victor!
-21: Schauffele (F)
-20: DeChambeau (F)
-18: Hovland (F)
-15: Detry (F), Morikawa (F)
Xander Schauffele is the 2024 PGA champion!
The putt’s not quite dead on line. But it catches the left-side of the cup, curls around the back, and drops! At long last, a major for the brilliant Californian!
Updated
It’s Morikawa to go first. He curls in his first birdie of the day (!) and that’s a level-par 71 and a share of fourth at -15. Over to Xander. More prowling. Much discussion of line with his caddie. This is it! He steps up, and …
Schauffele prowls the scene. As he thinks about his chip, Morikawa knocks his third close. Back over to Schauffele, who takes a few practice swipes, stops to wipe the sweat from his hands, and goes for it. He clips crisply to six feet. He’ll have an uphill putt for the title. Over on the range, Bryson watches the play on a big screen. He can’t do any more. He goes back to hitting balls.
Xander Schauffele has to stand in the bunker and grip down the shaft. A 4-iron. He takes a lash and aims for the bunker Rory McIlroy found himself in, ten years ago. Wheech! He likes it, giving his club a little twirl. The ball doesn’t reach the bunker, but stops short and that’s a great lay-up in the circumstances. A chip and a putt and a major championship is his at last! In the heat of battle, though, that is easier said than done. He walks up the fairway with a very determined look on his face. The shots of his life coming up.
The penultimate group reaches the 18th green. Sahith Theegala drains a birdie putt and throws his arms aloft in ironic triumph; it hasn’t happened for him today. A 73 and he finishes the week at -12. Par for Shane Lowry and a 70; he’s -14. He’ll always have that 62.
Schauffele hits his tee shot at 18 towards the bunker DeChambeau found down the left. But his ball doesn’t go in. However, unlike Hovland before him, he won’t have a stance. His feet will be in the bunker. All of a sudden, birdie looks like a job of work. A play-off looming a bit larger now!
Xander Schauffele is forced to step away from his chip as some eejit presses the shutter on a camera. He refocuses and clips a gentle wedge to two feet. That’s surely good enough to scramble his par. Yep, in it goes. Meanwhile Bryson DeChambeau wanders off to the practice range. Should he and Schauffele tie at -20 after 72 holes, there’ll be a three-hole play-off at 13, 17 and 18, followed by sudden-death holes if necessary.
-20: DeChambeau (F), Schauffele (17)
Updated
Bryson loves that 18th green! He chipped in for eagle last night; now he’s got up and down to post a serious total for Xander Schauffele to match. That suddenly looks quite the poser, because Schauffele’s second at 17, from the bunker to the left of the fairway, trundles off down a swale to the right of the green. Up and down for par far from certain!
Viktor Hovland has to make his putt now. He gives it a good rap, but it bobbles and is always curling off to the left. Once again last year’s runner-up comes up just short at the PGA. Overcome by disappointment, the remaining par putt lips out. A bogey to close and a 66. The small margins. Hovland walks off under a black cloud, while DeChambeau punches the air and screams positivity towards the crowd. He’s set a mark. Can Xander Schauffele better it?
-20: DeChambeau (F), Schauffele (16)
-18: Hovland (F)
DeChambeau in with a 64!
Schauffele sends his tee shot at 17 into a fairway bunker down the left. He looks concerned. He’ll be even more concerned when he hears the bedlam on 18, where DeChambeau tickles in his birdie putt. Just enough energy to drop. A clenched fist of triumph, and that’s a magnificent final round of 64!
Another difficult hole out of the way for Xander Schauffele, with par at 16. But the real action’s up on the 18th, where Viktor Hovland wedges to eight feet. Not his best effort in the circumstances, but at least he’ll have a look at birdie. Over to Bryson DeChambeau, who chips up from the thick fringe, and though he gets onto the correct level of the undulating green, he leaves it 15 feet short. You’d think these chaps need to make these putts to put some proper pressure on Schauffele.
Viktor Hovland tries to fire a long iron into the heart of 18 … but sends a mishit up the fairway on the right. He’s got away with that, and will have a wedge in. Then Bryson DeChambeau, who has a decent lie in the bunker but a terrible stance, hoicks his second towards the gallery on the left. He calls fore, but the ball doesn’t get that far, stopping in the fringe. But that’s a long-distance up-and-down. Hovland’s wedge from the fairway, though further out, may be the easier shot.
Bob MacIntyre makes his eagle! A final round of 70 which will disappoint right now, but it ensures a top-ten finish and an invitation to next year’s championship. Oban’s finest ends the week at -13.
Bryson DeChambeau’s drive at 18 finds sand down the left. Not ideal. Viktor Hovland’s nearly finds the same bunker, but stays in the semi-rough beside, and he should probably get a stance. Up the hole, Bob MacIntyre nearly holes out from distance with his fairway wood; we’ve come close to an albatross on a few occasions this week. And back on 16, the leader Xander Schauffele finds the fairway with his drive.
Viktor Hovland has a much better opportunity from ten feet … but he doesn’t quite commit to his putt either! It’s always squeaking apologetically to the left, and he’s annoyed with himself as well. Par for both when birdies are priceless. Meanwhile back on 15, Xander Schauffele makes a fuss-free par as this tournament careens towards a most unpredictable and entertaining end!
-20: Schauffele (15)
-19: DeChambeau (17), Hovland (17)
But yeah, sport is also about winning. Back out on the course, Hovland and DeChambeau both send their second into 17. DeChambeau had hit the better tee shot, so he’ll be disappointed that he’s twice the distance away than Hovland. So he’s putting first. An uphill 25-footer with a bit of left-to-right slide. But he hits a slightly nervy one, and it’s never getting there. He tides up from 12 inches and walks away chiding himself. He’s -19.
A touching interview with Justin Thomas on Sky Sports. It doesn’t really matter what he said; he was just overcome with emotion after playing in front of his home crowd. The pride oozing out of every pore. A few tears of joy seeping out too. Sport’s not just about winning. Just a lovely moment.
Up on 18, the local hero Justin Thomas birdies to sign for a 68. After struggling with his game for a fair while, it’s good to see the two-time winner back on song, helped along a little bit by the adoring Kentucky crowd. He’s -13 and will be finishing in the top ten.
Xander Schauffele can’t make his birdie putt at 14. Par will do for now. It certainly will for Collin Morikawa, who splashes out from the bunker to a couple of feet, and keeps that Faldoesque run of pars going. At -15 victory is out of his reach; a quirky last round of 18 pars would be something to talk about when the pain of missing out subsides.
Viktor Hovland lags up to kick-in distance, and that’s par. Bryson then rolls in his short birdie putt, and that’s how to take advantage of a big break! Meanwhile there’s a new clubhouse leader in Thomas Detry, who finishes an impressive week with a final round of 66.
-20: Schauffele (13)
-19: Hovland (16), DeChambeau (16)
-16: Rose (16)
-15: Detry (F), Lowry (14), Morikawa (13)
Shane Lowry rattles in a 20-footer for birdie on 14. File under too little, too late. Meanwhile at the par-three 14th, Xander Schauffele sends a gentle fade into the green and will have a birdie putt from 15 feet. Collin Morikawa dunks his tee shot into the bunker at the front, and his run of par at every hole is in serious danger.
Bryson DeChambeau takes advantage of his good fortune in sensational style! He sends his second from 220 yards to three feet! This is absurd! What carpe-diem brilliance! More exclamation marks! The gallery goes nuts. Viktor Hovland knocks his approach on the green, 25 feet away, a decent enough shot under any other context. But not this one! Wow. Bryson, dearie me.
A huge stroke of luck for Bryson DeChambeau on 16. He hooks his drive into the trees on the left. “Fore!” Goodness knows where it’ll end up … but where it’ll end up is in the centre of the fairway! A huge deflection off a branch. That’s some outrageous good fortune … but hey, even the best players need the odd stroke of luck to get over the line in a major. Viktor Hovland is in position A. A garden-variety par meanwhile for Xander Schauffele on 13.
Viktor Hovland can’t steer in his birdie putt on 15, the ball shaving the right-hand edge of the cup. Par … and it’s par for Bryson DeChambeau as well, as he gets up and down from the bunker thanks to a lovely splash to 18 inches. They remain -19 and -18 respectively.
Back on 12, Xander Schauffele sends a sensational second into 12. Pin high, five feet to the right. In goes the putt, confidently struck, and he’s responded marvellously to that dismal bogey six on the easiest hole on the course. Birdie-birdie!
-20: Schauffele (12)
-19: Hovland (14)
-18: DeChambeau (14)
-16: Rose (15)
DeChambeau is getting a little ragged all of a sudden. His tee shot at 15 flirts with trees on the right, and it’s also a bit high and not particularly handsome. He finds the fairway, but he’s further out than he’s used to, and sends his approach into greenside sand. Meanwhile Hovland gets on in regulation and will have an uphill look at birdie from 20 feet or so.
DeChambeau has a good lie in the bunker, but not much green to work with. He catches too much sand and leaves his ball six feet short. Then Hovland’s birdie putt never looks like dropping, but it’s an easy tap-in for par on the second-hardest hole on the course both today and this week. Finally DeChambeau rams in his par putt, and everyone moves on.
Viktor Hovland finds the green at the long par-three 14th. Bryson DeChambeau doesn’t, though, his 7-iron not enough, dunking in the bunker guarding the front. Meanwhile back on 12, Xander Schauffele splits the fairway. Good luck predicting who’s going to win this tournament … but whoever does may well break the record of lowest winning score to par in a major. That currently stands at -20 and is jointly held by Jason Day (2015 PGA), Henrik Stenson (2016 Open), Dustin Johnson (2020 Masters) and Cameron Smith (2022 Open). It’s within sight.
Viktor Hovland’s wedge into the island-green isn’t all that. Taking no chances, he finds the centre of the dancefloor. But he walks in the 15-foot putt anyway. That’s his third birdie in four holes, and it turns up the pressure on his partner Bryson DeChambeau, who has a putt from half the distance. Miss it, and it’d be a body blow. He doesn’t miss it, though. In it goes, a confident stroke followed by a gentle fist pump … and then over on 11, Xander Schauffele makes his birdie! Hovland had sole ownership of the lead for about 0.000000043 seconds, and this is becoming one heck of a shootout!
-19: Hovland (13), Schauffele (11)
-18: DeChambeau (13)
-16: Rose (13)
-15: Morikawa (11)
The majors start at the turn on Sunday, when the pressure’s cranked up. Not sure what Xander Schauffele was thinking on 10, taking a wood from the fairway bunker and finding the rough, instead of pitching out and ensuring he was on the short stuff. He’s got a reputation for getting jittery at the business end of the biggest tournaments. It’s not happening again, is it? Well, to be fair, he’s just responded to that careless bogey with a gorgeous 7-iron into the par-three 11th. He’ll have a good look at birdie from ten feet! “It’s shaping up to be a momentous back nine,” writes Simon McMahon. “We’re gonna have a great champion whatever happens, and I’d be more than happy for any of the current front runners to pick up the Wanamaker trophy, which I’m sure they’ll be relieved to hear, and if Bob makes the top 10, then even better. Plus we’ve had Li’l Tort. What a week.”
Li’l Tort! He loves you dearly. This is the start of his journey. He’s coming over to say hello!
Just taking in some Major Championship golf on a Friday afternoon. 🐢 pic.twitter.com/mmo0zMJ4GC
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 17, 2024
Updated
Justin Rose keeps on keepin’ on! He sends his wedge into 13 to six feet, then tidies up for his fourth birdie in five holes! He’s within three of Xander Schauffele … no, make that two, because the leader misreads his short par putt, the ball always staying out on the left, and that’s a bogey six on the easiest hole on the course!
-18: Hovland (12), Schauffele (10)
-17: DeChambeau (12)
-16: Rose (13)
-15: Morikawa (10)
-14: Detry (16), Lowry (11)
Ooh, Xander Schauffele doesn’t really commit to his chip and leaves his ball six feet short. Big par putt coming up. Meanwhile a birdie at the last and a 73 for Jordan Spieth, who ends the week at -6. The career-slam dream must wait another year.
Another birdie for Viktor Hovland! His fifth of the day, the latest reward for a lovely pin-high second into 12, and last year’s runner-up is one off the lead at -18 … and back on 10, Xander Schauffele, having driven into a fairway bunker then left his second in thick grass, can only send his third over the back of the green. Just off, but he’s got work to do to get up and down for his par.
Birdie for Rory McIlroy at the last. A final-day 67 and he ends another dispiriting week at the majors on -12. At least he ended his round in daylight this time.
A fine par scramble by Justin Rose at 12. Having sent his tee shot into the long stuff, he can’t reach the green with his second and faces a tough chip out of more filth. He flashes the ball to eight feet, though, the best he could do, then rolls in the par saver. He remains at -15. Meanwhile back on 10, more frustration for Shane Lowry, who nearly holes out from the back of the green for birdie but has to settle for a par. He remains at -14 but yesterday’s 62 suddenly seems an awfully long time ago.
Collin Morikawa’s putter started playing up on the last day at the Masters. It’s gone a bit cold on him today as well. Nine holes, nine pars, when he really needs a birdie or two. The latest missed opportunity a gentle left-to-right slider that’s always dying on the low side. And then Xander Schauffele rattles in his birdie putt. The lead is two again!
-19: Schauffele (9)
-17: DeChambeau (11), Hovland (11)
-15: Rose (11), Morikawa (9)
-14: Hodges (12), Lowry (9)
-13: Horschel (F), Scheffler (F), Detry (15), Theegala (9)
Xander Schauffele can suddenly feel the breath of the chasing pack on his neck. He’s out of position in the thick rough to the right of 9. The pin’s tucked behind a bunker. No matter (x3)! He whips an outrageous approach from 135 yards out of the cabbage, over the bunker, and over the flag. He’ll have a look at birdie from about ten feet!
Justin Rose makes his birdie putt on 11. That’s three in a row, and he raises his fist in delight before the ball drops. He’s -15. Meanwhile back on 10, Viktor Hovland gets up and down for his birdie, then Bryson takes two drama-free putts for birdie as well.
-18: Schauffele (8)
-17: DeChambeau (10), Hovland (10)
-15: Rose (11), Morikawa (8)
Justin Rose isn’t out of this yet. He arrows his second at the par-five 10th straight at the flag. Ten feet short. He doesn’t quite hit the eagle putt, but birdie moves him to -14 … and he could be heading closer after whisking his tee shot at 11 to eight feet. Big birdie putt coming up … and in the match behind, Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland take turns to fire missiles at the 10th. Hovland is unfortunate to topple into the fringe at the back, but DeChambeau will have a great look at eagle from 15 feet or so.
Par for Scottie Scheffler at the last. A final round of 65, and how he must wish he could have Friday morning all over again. Yesterday’s early round slump – four shots shipped in the first four holes, surely a delayed reaction to a Friday run on pure adrenaline – could end up being the difference between a high finish and another major. The big man smiles warmly and receives an ovation to match. He ends a surreal week at -13, currently in a share of the clubhouse lead with Billy Horschel.
DeChambeau gets up and down from the back of 9! That could be huge, and he turns in 32. He stomps off towards the next tee, having made a bit of a meal of the last three holes. But he’s hung on in there, and he’s two off Schauffele’s lead at -16.
Collin Morikawa attempts to respond to Schauffele’s birdie. Having splashed out from the same bunker, his putt from eight feet slingshots around the back of the cup and stays out. He covers his eyes in frustration. He’s beginning to lose ground on the leader … as is Shane Lowry, who three-putts the par-three 8th. Lowry’s clearly not of a mind to die wondering, but he was super-aggressive with the first two putts, and he’s paid the price.
-18: Schauffele (7)
-16: DeChambeau (8), Hovland (8)
-15: Morikawa (7)
Some trouble for Bryson at 9. His tee shot finds thick rough down the right; in powering out with his second, he sends his ball into more oomska beyond the green. With the leader Xander Schauffele getting up and down from a bunker at 7 to make his third birdie of the day, there’s a big up and down coming up for DeChambeau.
Bob MacIntyre scrambles a par in the Lowry style from the back of 9. He remains at -12, while his playing partner Justin Rose rakes in a 25-footer to rise to -13.
Shane Lowry starts to run hot at the par-five 7th. He misclubs and sends his second over the back of the green, then tries to get too cute with his chip and leaves it in the cabbage. But after stomping around in a fury for a while, and flinging his towel around like Linus Van Pelt on PCP, he simmers down and chips up to ten feet, before rolling in a par saver that could prove priceless by the end of the day. He remains at -15.
Another birdie for Scottie Scheffler. This one at 16, and the crowd are loving it. He’s -13, as is Thomas Detry, whose birdie at 12 keeps the Belgian’s slim hopes alive. Rory McIlroy gets back to -11 after the mini-disaster at the island-green 13th with birdie at 14.
This is a daft old tournament. Billy Horschel drains a 35-footer for eagle at the last, and he’s come back in 31 strokes! He signs for a 64 and is the new clubhouse leader at -13. For a player of the 2014 FedEx Cup winner’s ability, his record in the majors is appalling, a tie for fourth at the 2013 US Open the 37-year-old Floridian’s only top-ten finish. He’s currently tied for seventh at -13.
Bryson DeChambeau at the par-five 7th is a thundering disappointment. A slightly mishit drive. An approach sent into thick rubbish down the right, forcing a lob over a bunker into the heart of the green, nowhere near the flag. He nearly drains the long birdie putt, but that’s a disappointing par. Meanwhile a walk-in birdie putt for Viktor Hovland, who thought he’d passed up his opportunity for birdie with a thinned bunker shot. Over on 6, Xander Schauffele is happy to make par after only just getting his first putt up onto the green from the bottom of a swale, and suddenly things are bunching up real tight at the top!
-17: Schauffele (6)
-16: DeChambeau (7), Hovland (7)
-15: Lowry (6), Morikawa (6)
-14: Hodges (9)
Scottie Scheffler is going out in style! More birdies, at 13 and now 15, and the world number one is -12. Meanwhile another birdie for Lee Hodges! A third in a row, at 9, and he turns in 31! He’s -14 and celebrates by punching the air a few times in the come-on fashion. This is turning into a completely unpredictable tournament, and it’s wonderful.
He’s not getting much in the way of televised attention, because he’s not much of a name. Yet. But the 28-year-old Alabaman Lee Hodges has birdied 4, 7 and 8 to rise to -13. The PGA has thrown up plenty of leftfield winners in its time – Keegan Bradley, YE Yang, Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem and a 50-year-old Phil Mickelson since the turn of the century alone. Another wild story coming up?
Xander Schauffele sends a gap wedge from 140 yards (!) over the flag at 5 to six feet. A huge chance to lengthen his lead, but he prods conservatively at the birdie putt, and it’s always dying to the left and stopping short. Disappointing.
-17: Schauffele (5)
-16: DeChambeau (6)
-15: Hovland (6), Lowry (5), Morikawa (5)
You’d imagine Rory McIlroy, who needs a miracle to win, would go for the driveable island green at 13. He doesn’t, then mishits his chip in, the ball caroming off the island and into the drink. What a balls-up. He drops another rock and spins this one to kick-in distance, exactly the intention behind the first attempt. A bogey knocks him back to -10, and he looks sickened. Meanwhile up on 18, par for Alex Noren. A final round of 65 and he’s the new clubhouse leader at -12.
Bryson DeChambeau takes putter from the bottom of a swale at 6 … and rakes home the big right-to-left swinger! He then embarks on a brief sprint of celebration, clenched fist bobbing around in the summer breeze. Shades of his crowd-pleasing antics upon chipping in at 18 last night! He’s a showman all right. He’s followed in for birdie by his partner Viktor Hovland, reward for lovely arrow from 220 yards to four feet! They’re -16 and -15 respectively.
Sahith Theegala sends a wild drive down the left of 5. He’s always out of position and it eventually costs him another shot. He slips to -13. Theegala’s playing partner Shane Lowry overclubs with his approach and files both flag and green, but manages to get up and down from the back to scramble his par. He stays at -15. Birdie meanwhile for Rory McIlroy at 12 and he’s now -11. Regrets, he’ll have a few.
Collin Morikawa wedges his second at 4 from 80 yards to eight feet. His putter then lets him down. It’s a costly mistake, too, because Xander Schauffele, out of position in thick rough on the right, and with a downhill lie, could easily take a flyer through the green … but with an absurd mixture of power and precision, whooshes his club through the rough, lands his ball on the front of the green, and rolls it out to six feet. In goes the birdie putt, and that’s a proper matchplay-style blow delivered by Schauffele to Morikawa. Bogey meanwhile for Justin Rose at 6, punishment for carving an approach from the middle of the fairway into the gallery.
-17: Schauffele (4)
-15: DeChambeau (5), Lowry (4), Morikawa (4)
The easiest of birdies for Bryson DeChambeau at 5. A 350-yard drive. A wedge from 107 yards to four feet. In goes the putt. Well it sounds simple at least.
-16: Schauffele (3)
-15: DeChambeau (5), Lowry (4), Morikawa (3)
-14; Hovland (5), Theegala (4)
-13: Rose (5)
Alex Noren keeps things going by draining a long par saver on 17. He remains at -12. Meanwhile another long putt, this time for eagle by Russell Henley on 10, moves the 35-year-old Georgian to -11. And a rake across 5 for Viktor Hovland, and that’s his first birdie of the day. He’s right in this at -14!
Xander Schauffele fires a gorgeous dart at the par-three 3rd to six feet. But he pushes his birdie putt wide right, and the opportunity to extend his lead over Collin Morikawa to two is gone. Meanwhile another birdie for Scottie Scheffler, this time at 13. He’s -11, and we’re all starting to think about it, but no. Surely not. And then Shane Lowry’s chip from the front of 4 clatters into the flagstick but stubbornly refuses to drop. That was travelling a bit, so it’s up to you to call that lucky or unlucky. Perhaps something in the middle. He taps in for a second birdie in a row, and all of a sudden the 2019 Open champ is a shot off the lead!
-16: Schauffele (3)
-15: Lowry (4), Morikawa (3)
-14: DeChambeau (4), Theegala (4)
-13: Rose (5), Hovland (4)
You’d expect Bryson DeChambeau to take advantage of the drivable par-four 4th. But he flays his tee shot into the thick cabbage to the right of the green, and can’t get anywhere close with the swish out. Two putts later and that’s par, not exactly a disaster, but with the hole playing at an average of 3.6, he knows he’s given a little something back to the field. He remains at -14. Earlier on, Tony Finau had repaired the damage of that careless three-putt on 3 by threading his drive through the two bunkers guarding the front and making birdie. He’s now -10 through 6.
Alex Noren holes a long right-to-left swinger from the back of 16. Yet another birdie for the Swede, his sixth of the day, and he moves to -12. Meanwhile Shane Lowry, who missed an easy birdie putt on 1, makes no mistake on 3 after sending his tee shot to eight feet. He’s -14.
Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele take turns to yank their tee shots at 2 down the grassy bank to the left. Morikawa can only take a medicine-flavoured wedge back out onto the fairway … but then chips spectacularly from 90 yards to a couple of feet! Schauffele meanwhile is able to play the percentages and lash towards the bunker to the right of the green. He splashes – and nearly holes – out, and what we have here is a couple of wonder par scrambles by the leading duo!
Since describing Scottie Scheffler’s fourth round as underwhelming, he’s birdied 8, 10 and now 12 to rise to -10. Pulitzer, please! He’ll not be winning today, but a very respectable finish under these extreme circumstances is suddenly on. Someone who is very much in the mix, however, is Justin Rose, and his birdie at the short par-four 4th moves him into a share of fifth at -13.
-16: Schauffele (1)
-15: Morikawa (1)
-14: DeChambeau (3), Theegala (2)
-13: Rose (4), Hovland (3), Lowry (2)
Updated
It’s three birdies in a row for Rory McIlroy! This one comes at 9, and another futile belated Sunday charge up the leaderboard is on. He’s -10. He’s also turning into the modern Matt Kuchar. Meanwhile another par for Shane Lowry, at 2, but his playing partner Sahith Theegala hands back his birdie immediately, three-putting after leaving a long birdie effort a good 15 feet short. He’s -14 again.
Sahith Theegala is now seven under par through his last 11 holes of golf. It’s not a bad time to tap into a rich vein of form like that. Can the 26-year-old Californian keep it going for another 17? It’s quite the ask, but there it is. Coming behind, Collin Morikawa, whose second into 1 isn’t all that, and he’s left with a huge right-to-left putt that swings over the top of a greenside bunker. He lags it up sensationally and taps in for par … but even more sensationally, Xander Schauffele walks in a monster, like Theegala before him, and he’s back in the lead on his own! Birdie for Bryson at 2 meanwhile.
-16: Schauffele (1)
-15: Theegala (1), Morikawa (1)
-14: DeChambeau (2)
-13: Hovland (2), Lowry (1)
-12: Rose (3)
Rory McIlroy steers in a left-to-right slider on 8 for birdie. It follows birdie at 7, but he doesn’t bother celebrating the back-to-back achievement, wearing instead the look of a man who knows he’s let another good situation slip. He’s -9. A step backwards meanwhile for Bob MacIntyre, who takes three putts from just off the right of 2; he falls back to -11. But there are wild celebrations on 1, as Sahith Theegala drains a monster from downtown, having come up a club short with his approach. He punches the air, the gallery whoop, and the whole scene rattles Shane Lowry, who having sent his second from 186 yards to five feet, lets his birdie putt die weakly to the right. Just a par. We now have a three-way lead! Expect quite a bit to change along the way, with everyone so closely packed together.
-15: Theegala (1), Morikawa, Schauffele
-13: Hovland (1), DeChambeau (1), Lowry (1)
-12: Rose (2)
-11: Noren (14), Eckroat (5), Thomas (4), MacIntyre (2)
The final match of the 106th PGA Championship arrives at the 1st tee. Xander Schauffele is told by someone in the gallery to “light the gas”, so fires one into the semi-rough down the right. Collin Morikawa splits the fairway, and everyone’s now out and about, so here we go!
Updated
Alex Noren has been going along steadily all week. An opening 67 followed by a pair of 70s. He’s scampering up the standings this afternoon; a wedge to four feet at 13 leads to his fifth birdie of the day. No blemishes on his card so far, and the veteran Swede is -11. Another birdie for the aforementioned Kirt Kitayama, too, this time at 15. He’s -10. Such a shame about that near-albatross on 10, though. Had that ball not turned left at the last, Kitayama would have become only the fourth man to make an albatross at the PGA Championship, following Darrell Kestner at Inverness Club in 1993, Per-Ulrik Johansson at Riviera two years later, and Joey Sindelar at Medinah in 2006.
The penultimate pairing takes to the 1st tee. Sahith Theegala’s drive squeaks into the first cut down the right, but should be fine; yesterday’s Mr 62, Shane Lowry, splits the fairway. Further up the hole, a weak chip from the fringe looks to have done for Viktor Hovland, but he rams in the ten-footer that remains and stays put at -13. He’s happier with his par than Bryson DeChambeau, who clips his second to eight feet but misreads the putt. The 2020 US Open champ is -13 as well.
Local boy Justin Thomas has the entire gallery on his shoulder. He repays their extremely vocal support by holing out from sand at the par-three 3rd for birdie! A careless three-putt bogey for his playing partner Tony Finau, though, and the pair move in opposite directions, JT to -11, Finau to -9.
We’re getting to the final few matches now. Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland take turns to batter their opening drives down the middle. Further up the 1st hole, Justin Rose, having been forced to take his medicine after an errant drive, wedges his third from 60 yards to three feet. He’s really pleased with that scramble; it augurs well for a calm mind. A two-putt par for Rose’s playing partner Bob MacIntyre. England and Scotland’s finest remain at -12.
A final round of 74 for the Philly club pro Braden Shattuck. He ends the week at -1, seven shots ahead of Jeremy Wells, the only other one of the 21 PGA club pros who competed this week to make the cut. None of the drama provided by last year’s low club pro, but what happened to Michael Block 12 months ago was outrageous and quite special. (As if to illustrate, Block began his tournament this year bogey-quadruple bogey, and missed the cut. Golf!)
MICHAEL. BLOCK. ACE. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/YitD2QLDB7
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2023
Par down the last for Brooks Koepka, who ends the defence of his title with a staunch 66. He finishes the week at -9. Meanwhile a dismal start for Harris English, the Georgian sending his opening tee shot into thick rough on the left, from which he could only find more on the other side of the hole. After a visit to a bunker, a double-bogey was the inevitable result. He clatters down the standings to -8 in short order.
Another birdie for Keegan Bradley. This one thanks to a 30-foot rake across 4. The 2011 champion – still the last man to win a major on debut, and only the third in history behind Francis Ouimet (1913 US Open) and Ben Curtis (2003 Open) – moves up to -11. It’s probably time to get some leaderboard on.
-15: Morikawa, Schauffele
-14: Theegala
-13: Lowry, DeChambeau, Hovland
-12: Rose, MacIntyre
-11: Bradley (4), Burmester
-10: Detry (3), Eckroat (2), Finau (1), Thomas (1), Hodges
Looking back, it should have been pretty obvious that Scottie Scheffler wasn’t going to win after the surreal incident with the peelers on Friday morning. He got back to Valhalla in time to card a jaw-droppingly dogged 66, but the mental cost must have been immense, and yesterday’s 73 was a bit of a low-energy fiasco that could have been a whole lot worse. He’s not really shifting the needle today; bogey at 1, birdie at 5, and he remains where he started at -7 through seven underwhelming holes. Time to recharge the batteries by spending some time at home with the new arrival … and OK, I’ve not quite thought that through, but you get the general gist. He’ll be back and firing on all cylinders again soon enough. Watch out Pinehurst!
It wasn’t to be for poor old Rory this week (pt XXXVIII in an ongoing series). McIlroy takes a shy at the short par-four 4th from the tee, but ends up on a grassy knoll to the side of the green. He whips out, his ball sailing through the green and over the other side, into more thick stuff, where he finds himself shortsided. But then he stabs delightfully out to three feet, such a fine mixture of power and delicacy, and scrambles his par. He remains at -7, and thoughts will already be turning to Pinehurst next month.
A slight lull in the action as we wait for the leading players to hit the course. Time, then, to pay our respects to the week’s breakout star: Li’l Tort! Just look at him. He loves you. We love him. Natural history enthusiast Peter Alliss would have got at least 20 minutes of solid riffing out of this little dude. There’ll never be another, you know.
Just taking in some Major Championship golf on a Friday afternoon. 🐢 pic.twitter.com/mmo0zMJ4GC
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 17, 2024
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Tommy Fleetwood only just made the cut on Friday evening. A birdie on 16 and eagle on 18 meant he was through to the weekend by the skin of his teeth. Anyway, he’s taken advantage of the opportunity afforded to him by the last two rounds, following up yesterday’s 69 with a fantastic 65 today. He ends the week on -9. A fine effort, and he’s the new clubhouse leader. But that maiden victory in the USA, never mind at a major, still eludes him.
Updated
A fast start for the 2011 champion Keegan Bradley. He whistles his approach at 1 pin high, and strokes in a confident 12-footer for an opening birdie. He’s -10 and probably too far back … but then there’s certainly a very low score out there today, a fact Kurt Kitayama is currently demonstrating. Having just made four birdies in his previous six holes, the 34-year-old Californian, who tied for fourth last year, very nearly makes an albatross on the par-five 10th! He creams a fairway wood into the green, the ball seemingly rolling straight into the cup, only to turn a little to the left at the last. Wow. That would have been something else. Sadly the ball rolls eight feet past, and he can’t make the eagle putt coming back, but he’s still four under for his round today and -9 overall.
Rory McIlroy started the day with an extremely slim chance of storming to the top this afternoon. He’s now shifted into pipe-dream territory, having failed to get up and down from a bunker at 1 to slip back to -7. He’s been overtaken on the leaderboard by the defending champion Brooks Koepka, who is finishing the defence of his trophy in style; five birdies and just one bogey through 15, and he’s currently -8 for the week. Yesterday’s shoddy 74, and an uncharacteristically wild seven on the 10th on Friday, have cost him dear.
Yep, there should be some low scoring out there today. It’s warm and calm, and they’re happening on a course that’s been there for the taking pretty much all week. Grayson Murray, who yesterday came so close to making an albatross hole-in-one on the truncated par-four 4th, has finished his week with a 67; Dustin Johnson went one better by shooting 66. Both end the week at -6 overall.
Sunday weather forecast for PGA Championship pic.twitter.com/MNvIJExfM0
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) May 19, 2024
One of the highlights of Jordan Smith’s round was an eagle at 13. That came about by holing out from 111 yards. But it’s worth noting that they’ve moved the tee box up on that hole, making it a risk-reward par-four. Alejandro Tosti showed the rest of the field that fortune can favour the brave, driving the green in spectacular style to set up an eagle of his own. The 27-year-old Argentinian ended the day with a 68 and finishes his debut major at level par.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 19, 2024
Tosti hits the driver off the tee to 6 FEET on the 351 yard par 4 13th surrounded by water 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ENZymjOCpw
We’ve already had a couple of 62s this week. We’ve now had a second 64. Justin Rose shot one yesterday; this morning it’s another Englishman, Jordan Smith, who comes back in 31 strokes to post a round of seven under. He ends his week on -7 as well, and is the early clubhouse leader. The 31-year-old from Bath, who finished tied for ninth on his PGA Championship debut in 2017, won’t stay at the top of course, but that’s earned him a few extra pennies today. One of the rounds of the week!
Preamble
Going into the final round of the 1978 PGA Championship, John Mahaffey was seven shots back. He still managed to overhaul Tom Watson to lift the Wanamaker Trophy, still the greatest comeback in tournament history to date. Using that as a benchmark, all of the following players are in with a shout of victory at Valhalla this afternoon:
-15: Morikawa, Schauffele
-14: Theegala
-13: Lowry, DeChambeau, Hovland
-12: Rose, MacIntyre
-11: Burmester
-10: Detry, Eckroat, English, Finau, Thomas, Hodges
-9: Moore, Bradley, Herbert
-8: Matsuyama, Kim, McIlroy, Henley, Spieth
The outliers among them realistically have little chance … but then again there have already been two record-breaking 62s this week, so if someone posts low early doors, you just never know. In any case, it’s been a while since we’ve gone into the Sunday of a major with so many players in with a genuine shout. This promises to be a final round for the ages, maybe even with a play-off tacked onto the end of it. Note to all competitors: NO PROCESSION PLEASE. THANK YOU! Today’s starting times are here. It’s on!
