Xander Schauffele's Historic Victory At The PGA Championship

American golfer Xander Schauffele captured his first major title at the 106th PGA Championship on Sunday, edging out fellow countryman Bryson DeChambeau in a thrilling finale at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

World No. 3 Schauffele, 30, displayed nerves of steel as he birdied the final hole, finishing one stroke ahead of LIV Golf’s DeChambeau with an impressive 21-under par overall. His final round six-under 65 secured his long-awaited maiden major victory, shedding the label of being one of the most talented golfers without a major win.

The Californian had previously finished as a runner-up twice and placed inside the top 10 at majors 12 times. He started his campaign with a spectacular 62 on Thursday, matching the lowest round score in major history, and concluded with a decisive six-foot putt.

“I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in,” said Schauffele, who earned a $3.33 million share of the $18.5 million prize purse as he was presented with the Wanamaker Trophy. “It’s been a while since I’ve won, and I kept saying all week, ‘I just need to stay in my lane.’ It was hard to stay focused today, but I tried all day to concentrate on each hole ahead of me.”

DeChambeau, who played a bogey-free round of 64, expressed mixed emotions after narrowly missing out on his second major crown. “First, I’m proud of Xander for finally getting the job done. He’s an amazing golfer and a well-deserved major champion now,” DeChambeau told reporters. “On my side, it’s disappointing, but I played well. It felt like I had my ‘B’ game pretty much all week, but it gives me a lot of momentum for the rest of the majors.”

Norway’s Viktor Hovland finished two shots behind DeChambeau in third. Hovland, who arrived at the final tee level with DeChambeau, bogeyed and ended up with his third top-four major finish without a win in the last two years. Collin Morikawa, level with Schauffele at the start of Sunday, bogeyed just once but could only manage an even-par 71, sharing fourth place with Belgium’s Thomas Detry at 15-under overall.

The chaotic week in Louisville also featured the dramatic arrest of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler before Friday’s second round. Facing four charges, including felony assault, Scheffler returned to shoot a stellar 66 hours after his release. Despite a closing 65, Scheffler finished eight shots behind Schauffele, tying for eighth place.

For Schauffele, the victory was a culmination of years of hard work and near-misses. He seemed at ease in the lead, rolling in a fourth birdie at the ninth hole to make the turn with a two-shot cushion. However, a bogey at the 10th opened the door for Hovland, who surged into solo first with back-to-back birdies.

Yet Schauffele responded immediately, sinking consecutive birdies to reclaim his lead. DeChambeau, benefiting from a fortuitous ricochet off a tree at the 16th, birdied to stay within reach. As Schauffele approached the par-five 18th, DeChambeau warmed up for a potential playoff.

Schauffele’s drive landed precariously on the edge of a bunker, but he executed two sublime shots to leave himself a six-foot putt for the championship. In a moment of poetic justice, his putt circled the lip before dropping in, ending his wait for a major victory and igniting jubilant celebrations.