Charlotte, North Carolina, May 18 — World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler delivered a scintillating back-nine performance, capped by a sensational eagle on the par-4 14th, to seize a commanding three-shot lead heading into the final round of the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.
Scheffler carded a 6-under 65 in the third round, bringing his total to 11-under 202. His nearest challenger, Alex Noren, closed with a 66 to sit at 8-under, while a trio including Jon Rahm (67), Davis Riley (67), and J.T. Poston (68) shared third at 7-under.
Dominant Finish Highlights Scheffler’s Round
Starting the day three shots off the lead, Scheffler surged to the front with a clinic-like display on the final five holes. He eagled the 14th, followed it up with a birdie on the 15th, and closed with birdies on both the 17th and 18th to finish five-under over the last five holes.Scheffler’s explosive finish turned the leaderboard on its head and established him as the player to beat. “He wasn’t just content with the lead — he was chasing perfection,” remarked an observer at the course.
Noren in Contention After Comeback
Alex Noren, returning just last week from a seven-month layoff due to a hamstring injury, impressed with a bogey-free 66 to earn a spot in Sunday’s final pairing alongside Scheffler. This marks a major opportunity for Noren to contend in a major after a long road back to competitive golf.Rahm and Others Give Chase
Jon Rahm made his move with three consecutive birdies and sits five shots off the lead. Alongside him are Davis Riley and J.T. Poston at 7-under. Bryson DeChambeau, who briefly held the lead, faltered with a water ball on the par-3 17th, derailing his momentum.Si Woo Kim and Jon Rahm, who had led after the first and second rounds, respectively, fell back into a tie for fifth.
Weather Delays Shake Up Third Round
The third round was impacted by morning storms that pushed tee times to later in the day, with groups going off both tees in threesomes. Despite the late start, the round witnessed nine different players holding at least a share of the lead at some point before Scheffler’s surge.Indian Contingent Struggles
Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai, who was tied fourth after the opening round, dropped to T-36 after a third-round 74. Akshay Bhatia missed the cut, and Sahith Theegala withdrew from the tournament citing a neck strain.McIlroy, Schauffele Struggle
Masters champion Rory McIlroy and defending PGA Champion Xander Schauffele had a forgettable day, both shooting 72s after a long wait due to the weather delay. They are tied for 49th at 2-over total.Scheffler's Dominant Season Continues
After a landmark 2024 where he won seven titles including the Masters, The Players, and Olympic gold, Scheffler claimed his first 2025 victory earlier this month at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson by eight shots. He now stands poised to add a major title to his growing list of accolades this season.With 18 holes to go, all eyes will be on Scheffler as he looks to convert his lead into another championship triumph.