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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryson DeChambeau flirted with chasing PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler for much of the day Sunday, but could never get it over the line.
DeChambeau, who will defend his U.S. Open title next month at Oakmont outside of Pittsburgh, finished the tournament 6-under after a 1-under 70 Sunday.
“I just couldn’t get anything going,’’ DeChambeau said. “You probably heard me out there baffled at times. I felt like I had the game to win this week. The golf course suited me well, but I missed a few putts down the stretch.
“I definitely had an opportunity to beat Rory [McIlroy in the Masters] and I definitely had an opportunity to give Scottie [Scheffler] a run this week. Man, I just didn’t get it done. It was a good fight, a good battle. This is just burning a bigger fire in my belly.’’
Xander Schauffele’s defense of his PGA Championship ended quietly, but left him so encouraged he said he wished the tournament had another 72 holes to play.
“The goal was to try to backdoor a top 10,’’ Schauffele said. “I’m still in need of points [to qualify for the Ryder Cup]. So, that was my motivation today.’’
Schauffele was 5-under through 15 holes Sunday and was the hottest player on the course, but took double bogey on No. 16 and bogey on 17 to finish with a 68 and 1-under for the week, tied for 28th.
Schauffele finished his tournament with a birdie on 18
“I’d like to keep it going,” Schauffele said. “If we had four more days stacked up right now, I feel like I’d have a pretty good chance [to win]. I’m encouraged. I’d love to go another 72 holes starting tomorrow.’’
McIlroy, fresh off his Masters win last month that completed the career Grand Slam, ended his weird week quietly, at 3-over for the week following a second consecutive 1-over 72 on the weekend.
Afterward, McIlroy refused to speak to reporters for the fourth consecutive day.
When a DP World Tour official asked him if he had a couple of minutes to talk to reporters, McIlroy told her “no’’ and didn’t offer any reason for his behavior.
Sergio Garcia, one of the 16 LIV Golf players in the field, finished the week with a 1-under final round, but said he didn’t have many “positives’’ other than making the cut and “not finishing last on Sunday.’’
Garcia is bent on being on the European Ryder Cup team in September and was candid about his chances.
“It is there if I play better,’’ he said. “Obviously, the way I’m playing, even if Luke [Donald, the European captain] offered me a pick right now, I would tell him ‘no.’
“I need to get better. I need to get more where I was just before the Masters, just show myself and show everyone that my game is solid, and it can help the Team Europe. It’s as simple as that.
“The good thing is that there’s still two or three months until the team is finalized. So, I’ll have time to gain some confidence and improve a little bit on my game.’’
Harris English set an early tone for low scoring Sunday, carding a 6-under 65 to finish on 6-under for the week.
It was his fourth top 10 in a major, after having done that in three U.S. Opens (fourth in 2020 at Winged Foot, third in 2021 at Torrey Pines and T-8 in 2023 at LACC).
His best finish in a PGA before this week was a tie for 18th last year at Valhalla. His 6-under-par was the lowest score of his major championship career.
“I [was] not coming in today thinking I can win, but it’s nice playing good on a Sunday in a major,’’ English said.
English said he’s had the Ryder Cup heavy on his mind, trying to move up the points list.
“It’s a big thought in my mind,’’ English said. “Once you make one of those teams, you never want to miss out. It’s the pinnacle of our sport. I’m here to try to compete in a major championship, and however well it does with me and the Ryder Cup, I’m all for it. I know this will go a long way.’’
Winner Scottie Scheffler made bogey or worse 10 times during the week and he responded with a birdie in six of those situations. His 60 percent bounce back rate was the best in the field this week. No other player was better than 50 percent.
English (US)