Xander Schauffele wins his first major title at the 2024 PGA Championship 2024. The 30-year-old withstood all attacks and defended his lead against the closely bunched chasing pack. Bryson DeChambeau finished one shot behind in second place, while Viktor Hovland, who was also a long-time candidate for victory, finished third.
View final result of the PGA Championship 2024
The PGA Championship leaderboard couldn’t have been tighter before the start of the final round of the PGA Championship. The top ten were within four strokes of each other, but Schauffele had been the hunted since the first day. And so the Tokyo Olympic champion also managed to fend off his opponents on Sunday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, USA. Even though he had to make a birdie on the last hole to avoid a play-off against Bryson DeChambeau. The 30-year-old Texan had set the best mark at 20 under par and then waited on the driving range to see whether Schauffele would beat his score.
Etching his name in history 🏆 pic.twitter.com/me1oobHloS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 19, 2024
Xander Schauffele Wins First Major Championship at PGA Championship 2024
Schauffele made things tense. His tee shot on the last hole landed just outside a fairway bunker. Even though the par-5 18th was the easiest hole in the tournament and almost a must-win birdie, Schauffele’s stance in the bunker with the ball clearly above his feet was anything but promising. In the style of a champion, he took a risk and mastered the approach to the right side in front of the green. The chip to two metres from the flag was enough to sink the ball with the decisive putt. With 21 under par, Schauffele wins his first major title.
PGA Championship 2024: Xander Schauffele Interview
Amanda Balionis: Xander, we always knew the ability was there. What did it take to turn that ability into a record-setting major championship-winning performance?
Xander Schauffele: Yeah, I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in. It’s been a while since I’ve won, and I really just — I kept saying it all week, I just need to stay in my lane. Man, was it hard to stay in my lane today, but I tried all day to just keep focus on what I’m trying to do and keep every hole ahead of me. Had some weird kind of breaks coming into the house, but it’s all good now.
Amanda Balionis: It’s never easy. You used words this week to describe your mental state as resilient, as patient. What words would you use to describe that final stretch to get across the finish line?
Xander Schauffele: Yeah, I mean, I think I’d probably be a little bit less of a patient person if that putt didn’t lip in, but I really didn’t want to go into a playoff against Bryson. I’m assuming we probably would have played 18. It would have been a lot of work. I just told myself, this is my opportunity, and just capture it.
Amanda Balionis: Your family is never far away. I know having them close by and their support through wins and losses is everything to you. What is it like to have them with you celebrating in maybe the biggest moment of your career?
Xander Schauffele: Yeah, actually my mom is back at home in San Diego and my dad is currently in Hawai’i and I was able to call him. I had to hang up pretty quickly because he started to make me cry. He was sitting on the phone bawling.
It means so much to have my wife, my brother here. I’ve got close friends, as well, that came down from New York. They make me feel very special, and I’m just happy to win this one for my team.