Xander Schauffele wins PGA Championship for first major - ESPN

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They can't call Xander Schauffele the best golfer in the world without a major championship victory any longer.

The 30-year-old from San Diego captured his first major victory Sunday by outlasting LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau and Norway's Viktor Hovland in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.

After starting the final round tied for the co-lead with two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, Schauffele silenced his critics who claimed he couldn't close out a big one by posting a 6-under 65 in the final round to finish with a 72-hole total of 21 under and defeat DeChambeau by 1 shot and Hovland by 3.

Schauffele recorded the lowest 72-hole score to par and the lowest 72-hole scoring total (263) in a major championship.

«I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in,» said Schauffele, whose last victory came at the Scottish Open in July 2022. «It's been a while since I've won. 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.»

Schauffele's first major victory came in his 28th appearance in a major and gave him his eighth PGA Tour win, snapping a 39-start winless streak on the tour.

After DeChambeau tied Schauffele at 20 under with a birdie on his 72nd hole, Schauffele matched him in dramatic fashion — becoming the first player since Phil Mickelson in 2005 at Baltusrol to win the PGA Championship by one shot with a birdie on the last hole.

On the par-5 18th, Schauffele's tee shot failed to fade and stopped short of a fairway bunker, leaving