Golf, Xander Schauffele wins the first Major

Rome, 20 May 2024 – Xander Schauffele he was the absolute protagonist of the 106th edition of PGA Championshipwho won with 263 (62 68 68 65, -21) shots, narrowly preceding Bryson DeChambeausecond with 264 (-20), one of the 16 competitors of LIV Golf in a context that also included the first 93 ranked in the World Ranking. On the path of Valhalla Golf Club (par 71) in Louisville, Kentucky, which hosted the event for the fourth time, finished in third place with 266 (-18) Viktor Hovland. In fourth with 269 (-15) Collin Morikawa, leader with Schauffele after three laps, and Thomas Detry, in sixth with 270 (-14) Justin Rose and Shane Lowry and in eighth with 271 (-13) Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, Robert MacIntyre and Scottie Scheffler, world number one. The latter, who returned after about a month having stopped due to the birth of his first child, recovered from 24th place, where he had slipped in the third round, practically exiting the contention for the victory, but was at the center of a sensational episode before the start of the second, when he was arrested for failing to stop at a checkpoint and arguing with an officer. Handcuffed, taken to the barracks, registered and photographed, was then released in time to continue the race. Major still taboo for Rory McIlroy12th with 272 (-12), fasting for ten years after the fourth achieved in 2014 right at Valhalla Golf Club. Outside the title zone for the entire tournament Brooks Koepka, 26th with 275 (-9), reigning champion and winner also in 2018 and 2019, and seventh failed attempt by Jordan Spieth, 43rd with 278 (-6), to complete the Grand Slam with only the Major missing from his palmarès. The final round was characterized by duel between Schauffele and DeChambeau, who attempted a comeback from fourth position. The second, three shots behind after 12 holes, recovered two with as many birdies and then with another on the last green (64, -7, seven birdies) he tried to force his opponent into a playoff, who however reacted with the same coin for the winning 65 (-6, seven birdies, one bogey). Schauffele, a native of San Diego, California, won the first Major (28th played) at age 30 years, six months and 24 days and took his PGA Tour wins to eight in 175 starts. He bogeyed for the third time in nine occasions he led after 54 holes, the last time he missed last week in the Wells Fargo Championship. He set the new tournament record over 72 holes with 263 (after Brooks Koepka’s 264, -16, in 2018) and with a total of “minus 21” he achieved the lowest score compared to par in the history of the Majors. Five players scored a “minus 20”: Jason Day (PGA Championship, 2015), Henrik Stenson (Open Championship 2016), Dustin Johnson (Masters Tournament, 2020), Cameron Smith (Open Championship 2022) and Bryson DeChambeau in this event.