World number one Scottie Scheffler captured his third major title on Sunday, out dueling Spain’s Jon Rahm down the back nine in the final round to win the PGA Championship. Scheffler, the 2022 and 2024 Masters champion, became the 10th consecutive American to win the event, firing a level-par 71 at Quail Hollow to finish on 11-under 273 and defeat countrymen Harris English, Davis Riley and Bryson DeChambeau by five strokes.
Rahm stumbled to a 73 to finish on 280 and share eighth after a bogey at 16 and double bogeys at 17 and 18. Scheffler took home a $3.42 million top prize from a record $19 million purse. He also matched Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros as the only players in the past century to win their first three majors by at least three shots. Scheffler squandered a five-stroke edge, Rahm briefly tying him for the lead, but a birdie at the par-five 10th lifted Scheffler back in front to stay.
The 28-year-old Texan took control with birdies at 14 and 15 while Rahm’s closing woes secured the Wanamaker Trophy, his first major win outside of Augusta National.
Scottie wins third major at PGA Championship
“I did a good job staying patient on the front nine. I didn’t have my best stuff,” Scheffler said. “I stepped up on the back nine and got it done.”
After suffering a right-hand injury last December, Scheffler only won his first title of the year two weeks ago at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The major victory was Scheffler’s 15th career PGA Tour triumph, all in a span of three years and 94 days, with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods the only players to hit the mark faster.
Scheffler, whose nine titles in 2024 included Paris Olympic gold, converted his eighth consecutive 54-hole lead into a victory. He began the day with a three-stroke lead over Sweden’s Alex Noren, who quickly fell back with bogeys, and stretched the margin as high as five. But Scheffler struggled with tee shots fading left as Rahm made his charge.
“I just kept hitting it left,” Scheffler said. “It was a battle out there.”
Scottie Scheffler slams hat down on 18th Green after his win
At the first, Scheffler found a greenside bunker and missed a six-foot par putt. Scheffler curled in a 14-foot birdie putt at the second, but he missed a 10-foot par putt at the sixth while Rahm birdied the eighth from four feet and added a tap-in birdie at the par-five 10th. When Scheffler made bogey at nine, Rahm followed with a 15-foot birdie putt at 11 to share the lead at nine-under. Scheffler reclaimed the lead with a nine-foot birdie putt at the 10th while Rahm missed a 14-foot birdie putt at 12 and a seven-footer for birdie at 14. Rahm missed a 36-foot eagle putt at the par-five 15th from just off the green, then missed a 12-foot birdie putt coming back. Scheffler found a greenside bunker at 14 but blasted out to seven feet and made the birdie putt for a two-stroke edge. At 16, Rahm found a bunker and blasted to 14 feet but missed his par putt for a bogey to fall three adrift and a late fade ensured Scheffler’s victory.
BIRDIE BLITZ POWERS KINGSTON TO OFX IRISH LEGENDS WIN
South Africa’s James Kingston birdied the last four holes to surge through the field at Mount Juliet and win the Legends Tour’s OFX Irish Legends with a score of 12-under-par, one clear of debutant Darren Fichardt, 2023 Irish Legends champion Peter Baker and the overnight leader Keith Horne.
As the tournament reached a dramatic conclusion in front of enthusiastic crowds at the Kilkenny resort, the congested leaderboard suggested a play-off was inevitable. But as Horne and his playing partner Scott Hend faltered on the back nine when leading, it was Kingston who pounced, with a succession of pinpoint irons that resulted in an astonishing five birdies in the last six holes, on his way to a superb round of 66.
And as the final groups reached the dramatic par-four 18th – statistically the hardest hole of the week – needing a three to reach -12 and force a play-off with Kingston, all were found wanting and it was a first Legends Tour victory since 2023 for the South African.
James Kingston tees off in round three
Earlier in the afternoon, the clubhouse lead was posted at -10 by Italian Emanuele Canonica and matched shortly thereafter by Simon Griffiths, who won the opening event of the season in Marbella before succumbing to a wrist injury in Barbados. Both carded immaculate bogey-free 65s, that ended up being good enough for a share of fifth place. Simon Khan equalled that feat to move into the top-10 for the week.
After an opening day 66, Kingston laboured to a second-round 72 during which he was hampered by a back injury. But the old adage of ‘beware the injured golfer’ certainly rang true on day three as the 2022 Legends Tour Order of Merit winner shot a superb six-under 66 to make amends for his disappointing final round at the Barbados Legends where he led with 18 holes to play.
“It feels surreal at the moment” said an emotional Kingston after the round. “All day, I felt like I was a little bit behind the eight ball. I played well in the middle of the round, but I didn’t make any putts. And with nine holes to go, I really didn’t think I was in it but my wife kept saying to me, ‘come on, just like Italy a few years back, let’s make one more.’
“And that’s exactly what happened. It’s an absolute fairy-tale finish to make five birdies in the last six holes and obviously the birdie on the last was really special as I drove it straight down the middle of the fairway into a divot. I hit a really great second shot and it was great to top it off by making the putt. I had a little putting lesson from Michael Campbell yesterday and I saw him standing on the hill and he was looking over my right shoulder, so having the coach watching added a little bit of pressure. It was nice to see that one go down.”
Having missed makeable birdie chances at 10,11 and 12, he might have thought it wasn’t going to be his day, but his game would soon ignite, starting on the 13th. “I hit a really good shot in there, made a downhill putt and then hit some really good iron shots coming in. I chipped it stone dead on 17 and then I knew I had a decent chance.
“This means a lot. I didn’t have my best season last year. I played decent at times, but didn’t get over the line. Barbados was frustrating as I really played well the first two days and got off to a terrible start in round three so this makes up for a lot. It just goes to show, you hang in there, you hit a couple of good shots, make a putt or two and all of a sudden things change. I’ve always said playing golf in Ireland is one of those places I really enjoy. People come out and they support us and they love the game. It’s been a tremendous week.”
At one point it looked like a straight shoot-out between overnight leader Horne and last month’s Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam winner, Scott Hend. The Australian eagled the 10th to get to double figures and followed it with a birdie at 13 but on an uncharacteristically inconsistent day he was unable to sustain the forward momentum and slipped back to -8.
Horne, similarly, was struggling to keep the bogeys – and worse – off the scorecard. His front nine included a double-bogey at two and a triple at four. And although he righted the ship to lead for much of the afternoon thanks to his seven birdies, late dropped shots at 14 and 16 derailed his challenge and he was unable to pick up the shot needed to force extra holes.
Peter Baker finished one shot off the lead
Peter Baker was another in contention and the former Ryder Cup player was left to rue failing to capitalize on the four reachable par-fives as he finished just a shot off the lead at -11. “I just played the par-fives badly this week which didn’t really give me much of a chance. I drove it poorly and probably got the most out of it I could so I’m pleased with that. I thought that 12 was the number before I went out and so it was. Then I saw James make the putt on 18 in front of me and obviously I called him every name under the sun! But well done to him. My game’s in a good place ahead of the Senior PGA next week, I just need to drive it better.”
Griffiths, meanwhile, was pleased with his return to form after resting his injured wrist “I had a little bit more feel today and it’s a great feeling when you’re playing well and you’re trying to move up the leaderboard. I was just too far away to catch them unfortunately but it’s been an amazing week. The course is immaculate, great layout, and the players have really enjoyed it here.”
The Legends Tour now heads to Greece for the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy on 12th June. Pictures only to be used in association with this press release and credited to Legends Tour, Getty Images.
Press release provided by Legends Tour Communications. For more information on the Legends Tour go to www.legendstour.com
Formerly known as the European Senior Tour and the Staysure Tour, the Legends Tour is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older. Created in 1992, the Legends Tour’s active membership features many of the pioneering champions who played on the European Tour during the 1970s, 80s, 90s and beyond. Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam are among the winners of the John Jacobs Trophy, awarded to the golfer who finishes first on the Legends Tour Order of Merit. The Legends Tour provides unmatched playing experiences for amateur golfers at its Legends Experience, Championship Pro-Am and Celebrity Pro-Am events. These experiences provide golfers with unique opportunities to rub shoulders with and play alongside legends of the game at world-class venues around the world. In September 2020, Ryan Howsam, Staysure Group CEO, acquired a majority equity share in the Tour in a ground-breaking joint venture with the European Tour, a unique structure whereby an individual has the majority ownership in a professional tour.
Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his triumph at the 89th Masters Tournament!!! It was a grueling contest for Rory, who led the event, then briefly lost his advantage.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland has etched his name in history by securing the career Grand Slam with a thrilling victory at the 89th Masters Tournament, defeating England’s Justin Rose in a playoff.
It was a dramatic day for McIlroy, who started the final round with a three-shot lead, extending it to five shots on the back nine. However, his momentum stumbled after a challenging stretch on holes 13 and 14, where he played +3. Yet, with what commentator Jim Nantz called the “shot of a lifetime” on No. 15, McIlroy sunk a crucial birdie to climb back into the lead.
Sunday at Augusta National was nothing short of chaotic, as McIlroy made Masters history by becoming the first champion to register four double bogeys during the competition—two in the opening round that left him seven shots adrift, and two more in the final round, turning the tournament into a nail-biter.
Heading to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead, McIlroy faced a bogey that led to a playoff with Rose. On the initial playoff hole, Rose set the stage with a ten-foot approach, but McIlroy surpassed him, sinking the birdie putt for the win.
As cheers of “Rory! Rory!” resonated through the Georgia pines, an emotional McIlroy fell to his knees on the green, overwhelmed before rising up to celebrate.
“My dreams have been made today,” he expressed during the trophy presentation.
With this victory, McIlroy became the sixth golfer ever to achieve a career Grand Slam, and his win at Augusta National sparked celebrations across Northern Ireland and Ireland.
“He has given us one of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting achievements,” shared Emma Little-Pengelly, the country’s deputy first minister, on X. “He will undoubtedly receive a hero’s welcome when he returns home. The reception at Royal Portrush in July is sure to be incredible, and we hope he gives the home fans plenty to cheer for as he aims for a second Open Championship.”
Central Florida Championship – Country Club of Winter Haven, Winter Haven, FL
In the winners circle Riley Smyth, University of Virginia Alum.
Tournament Recap:
After a back-and-forth day between a handful of athletes, the Epson Tour has crowned its first champion of the year at the 2025 Central Florida Championship with Riley Smyth taking home the hardware and earning the top spot in the Race for the Card after a three-hole playoff with Finland’s Matilda Castren.
Smyth started the day one shot back of the leaders and in the third to last group of the day. It didn’t take long for the Epson Tour sophomore to match the leaders, rolling in a birdie on her first hole of the day. Another birdie on the fourth kept Smyth within a shot of the lead after Matilda Castren started her day birdie-birdie to take the top spot.
Castren was in the penultimate group of the day and got off to a dream start. The Finn birdied four out of her first five holes to move the lead to 14-under early in the day. She remained at 4-under until the turn and then dropped a shot on No. 10.
The back nine was all Smyth, however. The 25-year-old went bogey-free on the back nine, dropping four birdies along the way, including a birdie on the 54th hole of the tournament to grab the solo lead at 15-under.
Castren matched with a birdie of her own on the last hole to force a playoff at the Central Florida Championship for the third straight year.
Birdies were flying for the first two playoff holes, with Smyth rolling in back-to-back clutch putts, including a bending 30-foot putt to extend the playoff to a third trip down 18. Both players had long birdie putts and ran the putts by to about 6-feet each. Smyth played first, rolling in her putt while Castren pushed her putt right, putting Smyth into the winner’s circle for the first time in her career.
“I just played very consistently today. I’ve been playing the par fives really well this week out here. I knew that having five of them would be really, really good birdie opportunities,” explained Smyth. “She’s (Castren) a really great player. I knew I had to do something in order to win. I mean, I hung in there for two playoff holes. And I think just getting that last putt in felt good knowing that I did what I could.”
The Epson Tour continues its Florida Swing next week at the Atlantic Beach Country Club for the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf. Defending champion Briana Chacon is set to defend her title, while Smyth looks to become the first back-to-back winner since Jenny Bae in 2023.
COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS
P2: Matilda Castren forced a playoff at 15-under to earn runner-up honors
o Carded a 5-under 67 in the Final Round
o This is her first start on the Epson Tour since 2021
o Her last top-10 finish on the Epson Tour came at the Carolina Golf Classic presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
T3: Laetitia Beck, Juliana Hung and Agathe Laisne shared third at 11-under
o Beck signed a 3-under final round scorecard that consisted of one eagle, two birdies and a bogey
▪ Played on the LPGA Tour during the 2024 season
Her best finish was T19 at the Dana Open
o Hung’s 1-under final round saw four birdies and three bogeys
▪ This was her first time being in contention since her win at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in April of 2024
▪ Her second Epson Tour career top-10 finish
o Laisne carded three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under final round
▪ Won the 2023 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
▪ 2023 Epson Tour Graduate
▪ 2024 LPGA Tour member
Best finish was T55 at Blue Bay LPGA
Tournament Recap by LPGA/Epson Tour Media Contact (Luke Otto)
