PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler miss chance to challenge Aaron Roy’s big win Golf News

Scottie Scheffler admitted his performance at the PGA Championship was a ‘bitter pill to swallow’, as he and Rory McIlroy failed to pressure Aaron Rye on the final hole of his big win.

Rye clinched his first major title with an impressive three-shot victory at Aronimink Golf Club, where he carded an eagle and four birdies – including one from 70 feet – in his final 10 holes to move atop a crowded leaderboard.

The Englishman closed on five-under 65 to finish comfortably ahead of two-time major winner Jon Rahm and the overnight leader, after a Sunday in which 30 players entered the final day within five strokes of the lead.

Pre-tournament favorite Scheffler was among those who started Sunday five back as he looked to defend his title and register a fifth major title in as many years, only to finish tied for 14th after a final-round 69 with four birdies to go along with three bogeys.

The world number one missed six opportunities from within five feet on the week and finished 72nd out of 82 players at the weekend in stroke-earned putting, with his performance on the greens preventing him from climbing further up the leaderboard.

“I’m pleased with how I fought,” Scheffler told Sky Sports. “I fought really hard all week, I just couldn’t get anything for the green. I feel like I gave myself too many chances.

“I hit a lot of greens today, I just couldn’t hole anything. That was the story of the week for me – it was about not hitting putts.

“When I look back on a week like this, I feel like I had a really good year on the greens and to have a disappointing week on the greens in a major is a tough pill to swallow.”

How three holes cost McIlroy another major title push

McIlroy was bidding to become the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2015 to win his first two majors in a calendar year, successfully defending his title at The Masters last month, leaving the world No. 2 three strokes back in the final round.

The six-time major winner holed out from 10 feet to save par at the first and got within two of the lead after birdying the second, though added just one birdie and one bogey the rest of the way for a final-round 69.

McIlroy failed to capitalize on a 379-yard drive on the par-five ninth and hit his tee shot on the drivable 13th into the rough, a par on the 16th saw him finish the tournament even-par for the week on the par-five hole.

Asked what stopped Rye from getting close to his winning total, McIlroy: “I think not making two par-five birdies and making bogey at the drivable par-four 13th.

“I felt like I played the rest of the golf I needed to play. If I birdied two par-fives and made a five-over on 13, the day looked very different.

“Looking back at today’s round, I would say those three holes (cost me).”

McIlroy’s tie for seventh equaled his best since winning the Wanamaker Trophy for the second time in 2014, with the Northern Irishman recovering from an opening-round 74 to post his 35th career top-10 in a major.

“I figured some things out after Thursday and I played good golf for the last three rounds,” McIlroy added. “I felt like I probably left a couple out there on Friday and Saturday and then today, so maybe I didn’t get the most out of my round.

“I played better and I gave myself a chance – that’s all I could ask for after the start. I’ll regret the three holes today that I didn’t take advantage of and that was the difference between (tie-seventh) and a realistic chance of winning.”

What next?

The PGA Tour heads to Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, where Scheffler returns as the defending champion. Early coverage begins on Thursday from 12.45pm on Sky Sports+ and from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf.

McIlroy is set to take two weeks off before returning to the Memorial Tournament on June 4-7, while the men’s next major is the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on June 18-21, both live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or Flow without any contract.