BOZICH | Valhalla Golf Club earned its chance to create more PGA Championship magic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Valhalla Golf Club does not need me to write the script explaining why the PGA of America 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 every other golfer who has shaken and stirred the galleries along Shelbyville Road have delivered more unforgettable snapshots than I could imagine.

Valhalla — where only the spectacular happens.

This time, it was Schauffele steeling his mind as well as his grip to roll in a crisp 6-foot birdie putt to push himself one stroke ahead of DeChambeau and win the 106th PGA Championship on a steamy Sunday afternoon.

Ten years ago, it was McIlroy outlasting Phil Mickelson by a stroke in the approaching darkness. That followed Woods winning his fifth major over May in a three-hole playoff in 2000, which was preceded by Brooks taking down Perry in one extra hole the first time the party came to town in 1996.

Four tournaments, four one-stroke victories, two playoffs and one clear message: 


The roaring, record crowds that lined the Valhalla fairways, packed the suites and surrounded the 18th green for Schauffele’s decisive putt earned their chance to do it again one day.

“Guys can say whatever they want about the golf course,” said Louisville native Justin Thomas, who finished tied for eighth. “It always produces unbelievable leaderboards and a great finish.”

If you don’t believe Thomas, ask Jim Nantz, the voice of CBS Sports, which telecast the tournament across the world. This was the way Nantz set the scene as Schauffele walked down the 18th fairway and DeChambeau worked on the range while anticipating a playoff:

“Valhalla,” Nantz began. “No matter what happens, it’s four-for-four. All of its majors have been absolutely riveting.”

Riveting works. Riveting is a good thing. Riveting helps grow the game. Riveting Valhalla, which does not have a confirmed spot in the PGA rotation but should get one.

That’s the only debate now: Which one of these four PGAs was the most riveting?

May coming from nowhere to nearly topple Woods when Woods was widely viewed as unbeatable likely headlined the argument before this week. Now we’ve got a legitimate argument.

Thank 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 did not leave the course until he birdied eight others, hanging a course record 62 on the opening day scoreboard.

He led by three strokes Thursday and one on Friday. Collin Morikawa and Schauffele were even as they began the final round together at 2:35 Sunday afternoon.

Not for long. Schauffele separated himself from Morikawa quickly by posting birdies on two of the first four holes. Then he navigated his way to hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy by holding off challenges from Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland (who actually led for a few minutes) and DeChambeau.

Hovland and DeChambeau were great, firing birdie after birdie on the first 13 holes — 5 by DeChambeau and 6 by Hovland.

Schauffele made his worst decision of the weekend on the 10th hole, misfiring a wood from the sand on his second shot. That led to two chips and two putts, a bogey-6 on one of the easier holes on the course.

Game on. That’s OK. After failing to win in his first 27 appearances in major championships, Schauffele was finally primed to deliver a big finish. So was Valhalla. Jack Nicklaus set it up to entertain 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 into the lead. But DeChambeau cranked up the pressure by finishing with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18. His 7-under 64 sent him to the scorer’s tent at 264, 20-strokes under par.

Schauffele was also at 20 under and looking at a chip shot from the right side of the 17th green when DeChambeau signed his card. He chipped three feet past the cup and converted the par.

On 18, Schauffele contributed to the Valhalla magic. He pulled his drive just outside the bunker than lines the left edge of the fairway.

Here was the problem: To hit his 4-iron so it would carry most of the 240 yards to the green, Schauffele had to plant both feet in the trap, leaving the golf ball at nearly the same level as his knees.

It was the kind of shot you have to make if you want to win a major title. And Schauffele made it, launching the ball to a soft landing area short of the green. Using a loft wedge, Schauffele left himself a 6-foot mostly straight, uphill putt.

Bingo.

Celebrate.

Raise the Wanamaker Trophy.

“Valhalla is a big property,” Schauffele said. “Just getting to 21 (under) had to be done, and for it to be part of history is obviously pretty cool.”

Cue the video of more Valhalla magic, running it with highlights of McIlroy, Woods, May, Brooks and Perry.

“I would be pretty hard pressed to say any players didn't enjoy this week,” Thomas said. “In terms of the amount of fans that were out there, it was unbelievable …

“I think Louisville shows out when they have the opportunity, and they did this week.”

Valhalla showed out, too — just as it has four times and deserves to show out again.

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