CHARLOTTE, NC. During his peak playing years Tiger Woods possessed a skill few golfers ever possessed – imposing his resolve to thoroughly dominate opponents.
Woods won his first fourteen majors by either being in a solo lead or tied for the top spot when entering the final round and then claiming victory each time.
The resounding juggernaut Woods demonstrated simply demolished opposition and left many quaking when even paired with him in final rounds in major events.
Fast forward to the current world-ranked-number-one player Scottie Scheffler.
The 28-year-old had a tour de force competitive year in 2024 — winning nine times globally. One has to go back to 2007 to see the like when Tiger won an equal number of times.
Scheffler’s 2025 season was delayed because of a puncture wound in his right hand from a broken wine glass while making ravioli during the Christmas time frame. He had surgery to remove small glass fragments that remained in his hand.
The Texan secured his first win of the season just a few weeks ago with a sterling performance in winning The CJ Cup Byron Nelson in his hometown area of Dallas with a 72-hole PGA Tour record tying total of 253 and a commanding eight-stroke win.
Scheffler started the 107th PGA Championship in a solid manner with a round of two-under-par 69. He followed that with an even better round of 68. Entering the third round Scheffler was three shots off the lead of Jhonattan Vegas.
His play Saturday started with an opening bogey but birdies followed at the 4th, 5th an d 7th holes. At that point Scheffler ascended to the top of the leaderboard.
During the inward half of holes Scheffler bogied the 11th and 13th while making birdie at the 12th. At this point in the championship the leaderboard was crammed with several players all seeking to gain an edge going into Sunday’s final round.
The eye of the Tiger then came forward in a tour de force manner when Scheffler reached the driveable short par-4 14th. His 3-metal shot found its way to just a few feet from the hole. End result? Eagle.
A birdie followed at the par-5 15th. The momentum now in full swing.
Scheffler entered the devilish stretch of holes called The Green Mile and where other players — notably Bryson DeChambeau who imploded with a double-bogey at the penultimate hole and a concluding bogey at the final hole – Scheffler played the stretch of 16-18 in a resounding two-under-par.
How significant was that accomplishment? In no previous major has he played any five-hole stretch in five-under-par. Does that remind you of anyone? Do the initials TW sound familiar?
“Birdieing the last two was definitely two extra shots. I mean, I would assume those holes are playing over par, and so I definitely stole a couple shots there, and it was nice momentum towards the end of the round,” said Scheffler.
After starting Saturday’s third round three shots behind he is now at the top of the pecking order with his own 3 shot cushion.
Is the championship now over? Of course, not.
But catching Scheffler will be no small task.
Woods, during his prime playing years, provided very limited openings for opponents to play catch-up. The same holds true with Scheffler. Someone is going to have to score a high-quality round to take the Wannamaker Trophy away from him.
Much was made of the success Rory McIlroy has had this year – winning three times including achieving the career grand slam when claiming the Masters at Augusta.
Scheffler had the honor in assisting McIlroy in placing the green jacket around his shoulders. The fanfare of that moment clearly provided a spark for Scheffler to get things started in earnest. For the first two rounds of this year’s PGA Championship Scheffler was paired with McIlroy and two-time major winner and defending champion Xander Schauffele. Scheffler was up to the task and easily beat his two main rivals.
A win Sunday at Quail Hollow will once again set in place the belief that when Scheffler is in top form the uphill climb faced can be insurmountable.
Even so — Scheffler was candid in what lies ahead.
“You know, these tournaments are very important to us, and you work your whole life to have a chance to win major tournaments, any tournament for that matter, and tomorrow I have a good opportunity to go out there and try and win the golf tournament. But it’s going to take another really good round. There’s a lot of great players chasing me on the leaderboard and someone is going to put up a great round and it’s up to me to go out there and have another really good round and finish off the tournament. Looking forward to the challenge.”
The eye of the Tiger is a rare gift. When Woods was in his prime the results generated were nothing short of remarkable. Scheffler’s pathway is rapidly ascending. The final round at Quail Hollow could well provide a clear message to those seeking to derail his efforts.
The eye of the Tiger now rests with Scheffler.
Be forewarned when entering the jungle. This cat, like his predecessor, has serious claws.
The Scheffler Story
•Most Major Championship Rounds in the 60s – since 2022
| Rory McIlroy | 26 |
| Scottie Scheffler |
25 (inc. Saturday’s 3rd round)
|
| Xander Schauffele | 20 |
| Bryson DeChambeau |
19 (inc. Saturday’s 3rd round)
|
| Shane Lowry | 17 |
| Viktor Hovland | 17 |
•Today marks the first time in Scheffler’s major championship career that he shot the outright best round of the day (65).
•Scottie Scheffler, who has shot 69-68-65 this week, is the ninth player overall, and first since Dustin Johnson in 2020, to shoot in the 60s in the first round of a PGA Championship and then improve his score in both the second and third rounds. However, none of the previous nine players were able to improve their score from the third to final round.
In other words, Scheffler will have a chance tomorrow to be the first player to shoot 69 or better in the first round of a PGA Championship and then improve his score in each subsequent round (if he shoots 64 or better).
•Scottie Scheffler has held a 54-hole lead in a major twice (2022 and 2024 Masters) and won both times.
•Scheffler has been in the final group on the final day of a major three times (2022 & 2024 Masters and 2020 PGA Championship).
The Tall Task Ahead –
Catching Scheffler will be a tough assignment but has been done in numerous instances.
The list of PGA Championship winners who were 3+ strokes behind entering the final round from most recent years.
| Champion | Year | Venue | Strokes Back |
| Justin Thomas | 2022 | Southern Hills CC | 7 |
| Martin Kaymer | 2010 | Whistling Straits GC | 4 |
| Padraig Harrington | 2008 | Oakland Hills CC | 3 |
| Rich Beem | 2002 | Hazeltine National GC | 3 |
| Steve Elkington | 1995 | Riviera CC | 6 |
| Payne Stewart | 1989 | Kempter Lakes GC | 6 |
| Jeff Sluman | 1988 | Oak Tree GC | 3 |
| Larry Nelson | 1987 | PGA National GC | 3 |
| Bob Tway | 1986 | Inverness Club | 4 |
| David Graham | 1979 | Oakland Hills CC | 4 |
| John Mahaffey | 1978 | Oakmont CC | 7 |
| Lanny Wadkins | 1977 | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 6 |
| Dave Stockton | 1976 | Congressional CC | 4 |
| Don January | 1967 | Columbine CC | 4 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1963 | Dallas AC | 3 |
| Bob Rosburg | 1959 | Minneapolis GC | 6 |
