Xander Schauffele clinched his first major victory in dramatic fashion, sinking a crucial six-foot birdie putt on the final hole to seal the US PGA Championship with a record-breaking score on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
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The American golfer fended off strong competition from Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland to emerge victorious at Valhalla, Kentucky, finishing on an impressive 21 under par to claim the Wanamaker Trophy by a single shot.
Schauffele, 30, had maintained his lead throughout the tournament, highlighted by his exceptional opening round of 62, which equaled the lowest round in major championship history. In the end, his final round score of six-under-par 65 sealed the historic win.
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Reflecting on his triumph, Schauffele expressed his emotions, stating, “I was emotional after the winning putt lipped in. It’s been a while since I’ve won – I really did not want to go into a play-off with Bryson.”
Despite a late surge from DeChambeau, who carded a 64 to draw level with Schauffele, and a brief challenge from Hovland, Schauffele maintained his composure, sinking crucial birdies on the 11th and 12th holes to reclaim the lead.
With Schauffele’s victory, he dispelled any doubts about his ability to close out tournaments under pressure, demonstrating resilience and skill to secure his place in golfing history as a major champion.
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