In the world of professional golf, where every swing can make or break a career, Scottie Scheffler's journey over the past year has been nothing short of extraordinary. A year ago, the World No. 1 golfer found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. On Sunday, however, Scheffler stood atop the golfing world, having won his first PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. This victory was not just a personal triumph; it was a redemption story that saw Scheffler trade a mugshot and a jail cell for the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy.

Scheffler's journey to the top was marked by resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in his abilities. He finished Sunday’s final round at 11-under par, five strokes ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, Davis Riley, and Harris English. Despite bogeying on the final hole, Scheffler celebrated by spiking his hat on the ground, embracing his caddie, Ted Scott, and then quickly finding his wife, Meredith, and son in the crowd. It was a moment of pure joy and relief, a stark contrast to the challenges he faced just a year earlier.

This victory marked Scheffler’s third career major win, with the first two coming at the Masters in 2022 and 2024. Reflecting on his journey, Scheffler admitted to feeling "a little on the ropes" on the front nine. "This golf course will keep you on your toes," he said. "It was weird because at 7, 8, 9, I felt like I hit really good tee shots. And I looked up and it was 30 yards left where I was looking, which was a bit unusual. Making the turn, I kind of squared my shoulders up and I hit a really good tee ball at 10, a really good tee ball at 11. After that, I did a really good job at executing on a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. Played a really good nine holes when I really needed to."

Scheffler’s journey from his first major win to becoming a father and now winning his third major was described as "really hard to put into words." He shared a touching moment with his wife, Meredith, saying, "We still feel like we’re in high school. I feel like we’re in high school yesterday. We just started dating and all of a sudden you know life out here is pretty cool right now. This is a lot of fun. But at the end of the day life at home for us is pretty much the same. You know we have a pretty good little life and we have great friends at home and I’m looking forward to getting home and celebrating with them."

Scheffler’s victory also places him in an elite group of golfers. He joins Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win three career majors and 15 PGA Tour titles. This achievement is a testament to his skill, determination, and ability to overcome adversity.

The 2025 season did not start off kindly for Scheffler. A self-described “stupid” Christmas day injury resulted in surgery on his hand, forcing him to delay the start of his season. Scheffler would make his season debut in late January at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Northern California. He would then go winless until two weeks ago, when he took home a victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

Scheffler joined Seve Ballesteros as the only golfers in the past 100 years to win each of his first three majors by more than three strokes. But it wasn’t an easy round for the world’s best. Scheffler came into the fourth and final round with a three-stroke lead, but after three bogeys in the front nine, his lead quickly disappeared. LIV Golf star Jon Rahm surged ahead of him, with the Spaniard looking to win his third major. However, the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters winner completely faltered in the back nine, especially on Quail Hollow’s infamous Green Mile, where he bogeyed once and double-bogeyed twice to fall to 2-over par on the day and a tie for 8th place.

As Rahm fell, Scheffler arose past his early struggles, sinking back-to-back birdies on holes 14 and 15 to reclaim the lead and never looked back. The 30-year-old, former Arizona State Sun Devil Rahm, said this was a position he has never been in when asked how he would “heal” from this. “I think it’s the first time I’ve been in position to win a major that close and haven’t done it. The only times I think I’ve been in the lead in a major on a Sunday, I’ve been able to close it out, and this is a very different situation,” Rahm told reporters after the round. “So I don’t know exactly. But if it’s ever a time, that’s what family’s for is the best. Luckily I’m going to get home maybe on time to get the kids to bed or not, I’m not sure. To them, whatever I did today, win or lose, they don’t care. So that’s always a good perspective. … But I just need to get over it, get over myself. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like I’m a doctor or a first responder, where somebody if they have a bad day, truly bad things happen. I’ll get over it. I’ll move on.”

Following the win on Sunday, Scheffler quipped he had a few “jokes” that he would keep to himself about his experience last year with the arrest. Despite being pressured to say them, Scheffler said it was “not a good idea” but expanded on why it was “sweet” to be sitting with the trophy a year later. “Last year sometimes, it still doesn’t almost feel real. It really doesn’t. It’s just one of those deals that I really don’t know how to describe it. But I can tell you it’s very sweet sitting here with the trophy this year,” Scheffler added.

Last year, Scheffler was arrested trying to drive around the scene of a fatal crash ahead of his tee time at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. He had been charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer and the lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. The charges were later dismissed. In what Scheffler called a “severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation,” adding he held “no ill will” toward the detective who arrested him, he ultimately finished eight shots behind the winner, Xander Schauffele, for a share of eighth place.

Scheffler can begin his quest for a fourth career major win next month at the US Open at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. As he looks ahead to this next challenge, Scheffler carries with him the lessons learned from his journey, the support of his family, and the knowledge that he has overcome incredible odds to reach the pinnacle of his sport.

Scottie Scheffler's journey from a difficult moment last year to standing atop the PGA Championship is a story of resilience, redemption, and triumph. It is a reminder that in sports, as in life, the ability to overcome adversity and emerge stronger is what defines true greatness.