Scheffler moves into overdrive to lead PGA by three
Scottie Scheffler reacts to making his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)
Scottie Scheffler showed why he's the number one player in the world when he scorched home in 32 and made the Green Mile look like a walk in the park to take a three-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Championship.
On a day when a three-and-a-half-hour weather delay forced the PGA of America to send the players out in threesomes off two tees, what looked like a low-key major week burst into life on a gloriously sunny afternoon at Quail Hollow.
Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Alex Noren all shone brightly for much of the afternoon before Scheffler slammed his foot on the gas coming down the stretch and followed an eagle two at the 304-yard 14th with birdies at the 15th, 17th and 18th to shoot a six-under 65.
He leads by three shots on 11-under from 42-year-old Swede Noren, who shot 66 in just his seventh competitive round after seven months out with a hamstring injury.
Ominously for the rest, Scheffler has converted all seven of his career 54-hole leads into victory.
Even more ominously for unheralded PGA Tour winners JT Poston and Davis Riley, who are four shots behind in a tie for third, 13 of the last 14 PGA Championship winners were either leading or within two strokes of the lead entering the final round.
That's bad news for Rahm, who shot 67 to share fifth with Si Woo Kim and Jhonattan Vegas on six-under, five shots behind Scheffler.
DeChambeau got to eight-under-par with three holes to play before following a bogey at the 16th with a water ball and a double-bogey at the 17th to shoot 69 and trail by six.
"Birdieing the last two was definitely two extra shots," Scheffler said after rolling in an 18-footer at the 17th and a nine-footer at last after a brilliant approach from the edge of a divot.
"I mean, I would assume those holes are playing over par, and so I definitely stole a couple shots there, and it was nice momentum towards the end of the round."
Noren enjoyed his time off with his family as he nursed his injury and came back last week, finishing 51st in the Truist Championship in Philadelphia.
"It was a lot easier to have this break when I'm 42 than when I was younger," the Swede said. "As soon as I kind of could play, I thought I was in sort of the same form I was in before I got injured.
"But I'm still extremely -- not surprised, but I'm fortunate to be in this position this early."
Former Masters and US Open champion Rahm has struggled in the majors since going to LIV, but he denied his move to the Saudi-funded tour was to blame
"Me going to LIV and playing worse in majors had nothing to do with where I was playing golf," he said. "My swing was simply not at the level it had to be for me to compete.
"It's easier to post a score on non-major championship courses and venues, and I think when you get to the biggest stages like this one and these courses, those flaws are going to get exposed, and it did."
He's desperate to win a third different Major that would leave him needing just The Open to complete the career grand slam.,
"I mean, hard to express how hungry I may be for a major, about as hungry as anybody can be in this situation," the former US Open and Masters champion said.. "Very happy to be in position again."
DeChambeau is tied for eighth with Keegan Bradley, Tony Finau, Matthieu Pavon and Matt Fitzpatrick, but Scheffler is ready for a challenging Sunday.
"It would mean a lot (to win)," he said. "You know, these tournaments are very important to us, and you work your whole life to have a chance to win major tournaments, any tournament for that matter, and tomorrow, I have a good opportunity to go out there and try and win the golf tournament.
"But it's going to take another really good round. There's a lot of great players chasing me on the leaderboard, and someone is going to put up a great round, and it's up to me to go out there and have another really good round and finish off the tournament. Looking forward to the challenge."
Rory McIlroy shot 72 after another tough day from the tee, while Tom McKibbin struggled on the greens and shot 74 to leave them joint 49th on two-over.
McIlroy goes off at 9:50am (2:50 pm Irish time) with South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout, while McKibbin is off at 10:20 am (3:20 pm Irish time) with Canadian Corey Conners.
Leaders Scheffler and Noren tee off at 2:40 pm (7:40 pm Irish time) in the battle for the Wanamaker Trophy and a $3.42 million first prize.
