Xander Schauffele holds nerve to win PGA Championship

American golfer Xander Schauffele secured his first major title by winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Schauffele birdied the final hole to finish one shot ahead of LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau.

Throughout the tournament, Schauffele led wire-to-wire, concluding with an impressive six-under-par 65, bringing his total to 21 under for the week. On the 18th hole, needing a birdie to clinch the victory, Schauffele’s tee shot landed on the edge of a fairway bunker. Despite a difficult stance, he managed to place his second shot just in front of the green. His subsequent chip left him with a six-foot putt, which he successfully made, achieving the lowest winning score to par in a major championship.

Reflecting on his victory, Schauffele said, “I was kinda emotional after the putt lipped in. It’s been a while since I have won.” He emphasized his focus throughout the tournament, adding, “I kept saying all week, ‘I just need to stay in my lane,’ and man was it hard to stay in my lane today.”

Known for his patience, Schauffele admitted, “I think I would probably be less of a patient person if that putt did not lip in. I really didn’t want to go into a playoff against Bryson… It would have been a lot of work. I just told myself that is my opportunity, just capture it.”

After his win, Schauffele called his father in Hawaii. “I had to hang up pretty quickly because he started to make me cry. He was sitting on the phone, bawling,” Schauffele recounted.