LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Valhalla Golf Club doesn’t need me to write the script for why the PGA of America had better send its major championship back to this dynamic golf course in the first available opening.
Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Bob May, Mark Brooks, Kenny Perry and all the other golfers who have shaken and shaken the galleries along Shelbyville Road have provided more unforgettable snapshots than you could imagine.
Valhalla: where only the spectacular happens.
The crowd outside the practice green before the third round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.
ERIC CRAWFORD
This time, it was Schauffele strengthening his mind and his grip to make a crisp 6-foot birdie putt to push himself one stroke ahead of DeChambeau and win the 106th PGA Championship on a hot Sunday afternoon.
Ten years ago, it was McIlroy who outlasted Phil Mickelson by a blow in the coming darkness. That followed Woods winning his fifth major over May in a three-hole playoff in 2000, which was preceded by Brooks defeating Perry in an extra hole the first time the party came to town in 1996.
Four tournaments, four one-shot wins, two playoffs and a clear message:
The roaring, record-breaking crowds that lined Valhalla’s fairways, filled the suites and surrounded the 18th green for Schauffele’s decisive putt earned the chance to do it again one day.
“Guys can say whatever they want about the golf course,” said Louisville native Justin Thomas, who finished in a tie for eighth place. “It always produces amazing leaderboards and a great finish.”
If you don’t believe Thomas, ask Jim Nantz, the voice of Keynote USA Sports, which broadcast the tournament around the world. Here’s how Nantz set the stage as Schauffele walked down 18th fairway and DeChambeau worked the field while anticipating a playoff:
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Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
Xander Schauffele in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. May 19, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
“Valhalla,” Nantz began. “No matter what happens, it’s four for four. All of his specialties have been absolutely fascinating.”
Riveting work. Riveting is a good thing. Riveting helps grow the game. Fascinating Valhalla, which does not have a confirmed place in the PGA rotation but should get it.
That’s the only debate now: Which of these four PGAs was the most fascinating?
May, coming out of nowhere to nearly take down Woods, when Woods was widely seen as unbeatable, probably spearheaded the argument before this week. Now we have a legitimate argument.
Thanks to Schauffele, DeChambeau and the rest of the field for that.
The record book will show that Schauffele led from start to finish. He birdied the second hole he played (No. 11) on Thursday and didn’t leave the course until he birdied eight others, hanging a course-record 62 on the opening day scoreboard.
He led by three strokes on Thursday and one on Friday. Collin Morikawa and Schauffele were evenly matched when they began the final round together at 2:35 Sunday afternoon.
Not for much longer. Schauffele quickly separated himself from Morikawa by making birdies on two of the first four holes. He then managed to lift the Wanamaker Trophy holding off challenges from Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland (who actually led for a few minutes) and DeChambeau.
Hovland and DeChambeau were great, shooting birdie after birdie on the first 13 holes: 5 for DeChambeau and 6 for Hovland.
Schauffele made his worst decision of the weekend on the 10th hole, missing a wood from the sand on his second shot. That led to two chips and two putts, a bogey-6 on one of the easiest holes on the course.
Game on. Alright. After failing to win in his first 27 major championship appearances, Schauffele was finally primed for a big finish. So was Valhalla. Jack Nicklaus created it for entertainment when he designed the course for the Gahm family more than 40 years ago.
Back-to-back birdies on the par-3 11th and par-4 12th put Schauffele back in the lead. But DeChambeau increased the pressure by finishing with birdies at Nos. 16 and 18. His 7-under 64 sent him into the scorer’s tent at 20-under 264.
Schauffele was also at 20 under par and looking at a shot from the right side of the 17th green when DeChambeau signed his card. He went a meter past the cup and made par.
On the 18th, Schauffele contributed to the magic of Valhalla. He hit his drive just outside the bunker that lines the left edge of the fairway.
Here was the problem: To hit his 4-iron so that it could travel most of the 240 yards to the green, Schauffele had to plant both feet in the trap, leaving the golf ball almost level with his knees.
It was the kind of shot you have to make if you want to win a major title. And Schauffele did it, hitting the ball into a soft landing zone near the green. Using a loft wedge, Schauffele left himself with a 6-foot, mostly straight, uphill putt.
Bingo.
Celebrate.
Raise the Wanamaker Trophy.
“Valhalla is a great property,” Schauffele said. “You just had to get to 21 (under), and for it to be part of history is obviously great.”
Cue Valhalla’s most magical video, with highlights from McIlroy, Woods, May, Brooks and Perry.
“I’d be pretty hard-pressed to say any player didn’t enjoy this week,” Thomas said. “In terms of the number of fans there were, it was incredible…
“I think Louisville shows up when they get the chance, and they did that this week.”
Valhalla also appeared, just as it did four times and deserves to appear again.
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