SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Masters winner Rory McIlroy, with a USPGA triumph that re-established the American as golf’s dominant pressure.

Scheffler, 28, noticed off a decided problem from Jon Rahm to romp dwelling by 5 pictures, and safe Main victory No 3, following his Masters triumphs in 2022 and 2024.

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This win adopted an eight-shot victory in his earlier outing in Dallas, and the freak harm that prompted a gradual begin to 2025 – Scheffler sliced his hand open when a wine glass he was utilizing to chop pasta shattered – is changing into a distant reminiscence.

However at first it seemed like Scheffler had picked up McIlroy’s dodgy driver as a substitute, as a dreadful driving show on the entrance 9 threatened to wreck the world No 1’s title bid.

He tossed away a five-shot lead, with a fiery Rahm displaying the discuss of him going ‘tender’ since his £400 million transfer to LIV was manner off the mark.

However when Scheffler surged once more, the Spaniard was pressured to take just a few dangers – and after stumbling to his first bogey on 16 he discovered water on 17, and his double bogey allowed Scheffler to coast dwelling. 

However earlier than that, former Masters and US Open champion Rahm had proven sufficient to recommend it shouldn’t be lengthy earlier than additionally luggage a 3rd Main. 

Luke Donald mentioned at the beginning of the week he had not given the Spaniard any ensures that he can be within the Ryder Cup workforce in September.

The European captain ought to decide up the telephone this morning and finish any doubt on that rating.

Scheffler set out with a three-shot lead at 11 below par, aiming to choose up the place he left off 24 hours earlier, when he performed the ultimate 5 holes in 5 below par.

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It didn’t prove that manner, as he bogeyed the primary gap regardless of smashing a drive down the golf green – the one time he discovered the quick stuff on a ragged entrance 9.

However he made a 15-footer for birdie to get that shot again, and after a few gritty par saves he should have been shocked when he seemed up on the scoreboard strolling off the fifth inexperienced to see himself FIVE away from the pack.

Enjoying companion Alex Noren dropped two pictures within the first 4 holes, and with Main champions Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau unable to get something going over the opening stretch, it seemed like creating right into a procession.

However Scheffler was lacking all the things to the left off the tee on the entrance 9.

It caught up with him as he bogeyed the sixth and ninth holes, and did not make the most of seven and eight, two of the simplest holes on the course.

Rahm opened with a run of seven pars, however the truth that he was truly gaining floor on the world No 1 appeared to ignite one thing.

He birdied three of the subsequent 4 holes, and at 9 below par he was instantly sharing the lead.

The query now was whether or not the shaky Scheffler might regroup.

The Texan is rightly famend for his resilience, and he bought his nostril again in entrance with a much-needed birdie on the par-five tenth. And additional birdies adopted at 14 and 15.

That shifted the stress again onto Rahm, and it proved an excessive amount of.

His late stumble handed second place to journeyman J.T. Poston. 

However as soon as once more, Scheffler proved he’s in a category of his personal.

This yr’s PGA Championship has an total purse of $19million [£14.3m], a brand new file, whereas Scheffler will take dwelling $3.42m [£2.5m].

That is up from the $3.3m [£2.48m] taken dwelling by Xander Schauffele final yr.