Relentless Scottie Scheffler wins PGA Championship after Jon Rahm collapse

Scottie Scheffler overcame an early wobble to claim the PGA Championship on a gripping final day at Quail Hollow Club. 

The 28-year-old stormed into a three-shot lead on day three of the second men's major of the year.

It was predicted the two-time Masters champion would canter to victory but a sloppy front nine of 1-over 37 allowed the chasers to dream on Sunday. 

LIV Golf recruits Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau mounted a charge for the Wanamaker Trophy but late bogeys for the Spaniard and reigning U.S. Open champion ended their hopes. 

Rahm shared the lead with Scheffler after finding his second birdie in a row at the 11th but played his final three holes in 5-over par to ultimately finish seven strokes behind the champion.

Scheffler pulled clear with birdies of his own at the 14th and 15th. 

Despite making a bogey at the final hole, his final round of level par 71 was enough to win by five strokes from DeChambeau, Harris English, Davis Riley and J.T. Poston. 

When the final putt dropped, he let out a huge roar and said: "Let's f---ing go."

Tears flowed as he embraced his wife Meredith, caddie Ted Scott and parents Diane and Scott. 

"Any time you can win a major championship is pretty cool, and I'm proud of how I did this week just staying in it mentally and hitting the shots when I needed to," Scheffler said. 

"This back nine will be one that I remember for a long time. It was a grind out there. 

"I think at one point on the front I maybe had a four or five-shot lead, and making the turn, I think I was tied for the lead.

"So to step up when I needed to the most, I'll remember that for a while."

It represents Scheffler's third major championship victory after he won the 2022 and 2024 Masters at Augusta. 

Scheffler has now won 15 PGA Tour titles since his breakout 2022 season. 

He also won an Olympic gold medal last August. 

Scottie Scheffler overcomes sticky front nine

At the beginning of the day it looked as though Scheffler's main threat was going to come from Sweden's Alex Noren. 

Noren has been battling a hamstring injury for several months and the PGA Championship was only his second start of the season. 

But the former European Ryder Cup member had a day to forget and carded a 5-over 76 to ultimately finish in a share of 17th.

Scheffler made a sloppy bogey at the first hole and, despite immediately getting the shot back, dropped shots at the sixth and ninth to allow the chasers back in.

Rahm put circles on his scorecard at the eighth, 10th and 11th to pile the pressure on Scheffler before he endured nightmare finish. 

He hit a poor drive down the 16th and was unable to save par. 

The water gobbled his golf ball up at the 17th and he also had to take a penalty drop on the final hole. 

The Spaniard later admitted that nerves may have got the better of him.

DeChambeau baffled

Once again Bryson DeChambeau was in the thick of it at a major championship.

DeChambeau could only muster a 1-under 70 on Sunday but it was wildly entertaining. 

The American hit four birdies and three bogeys. 

He pretended to beat himself up like a boxer as he walked over to speak to Sky Sports in his post-round interview.

"I don't even know [what to say]," DeChambeau said. I'm baffled right now. Just felt like things just didn't go my way this week. 

"Drove it really well. I drove it as good as I can, as of right now, I gave myself a good chance. I just felt like a couple breaks went a different way."

DeChambeau will attempt to defend the U.S. Open title at Oakmont next month. 

A poor week for Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy and the 2024 PGA Championship winner, Xander Schauffele, endured a tough major. 

McIlroy carded a final round of 72 to sneak into the top-50 whereas Schauffele's 68 saw him tie for 28th. 

The Northern Irishman decided to decline any media interviews for the fourth day in a row after it emerged the USGA deemed his driver non-conforming on Tuesday.

Schauffele hinted that McIlroy wasn't alone.