Aaron Rai seized his moment at the PGA Championship, clinching a three-shot victory over Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. The championship, concluding recently, saw Rory McIlroy finish five strokes adrift and Scottie Scheffler seven strokes back, both expressing disappointment with their performances in the closing stages.
McIlroy, aiming for a historic feat of winning the first two majors of the year – a feat not accomplished since Jordan Spieth in 2015 – after his Masters win last month, pointed to three specific holes that he believes derailed his realistic title push. These included not birdieing two par-five holes and a bogey at the drivable 13th. Scheffler, who was defending his PGA Championship title, lamented his putting performance throughout the week, calling it a "bitter pill to swallow," particularly at a major championship.
McIlroy's Close Call and Scheffler's Frustration
McIlroy’s bid to add a third PGA Championship title to his collection faced an uphill battle from the outset, with a disastrous opening round initially threatening his challenge. However, he mounted an "impressive fightback." Despite his final round 69, leaving him tied for seventh place on four under par, McIlroy acknowledged the quality of Rai's performance. "Aaron obviously got to nine under there, and it'll be great to see him win," McIlroy stated.
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Scheffler’s assessment of his week highlighted a stark contrast between his usual putting prowess and his PGA Championship showing. "When I look back on a week like this, I feel I've had a really good year on the greens and to have a disappointing week on the greens at a major is a tough pill to swallow." His struggle on the greens was a significant impediment to him applying pressure on Rai during the decisive final holes.
Context of the Championship
The PGA Championship saw Aaron Rai produce a "sensational 65" in his final round to make history. McIlroy's performance, while not yielding the victory he sought, represented a notable effort after an initial setback. He was described as chasing back-to-back major wins, with his performance at the Masters recently solidifying his status as world No 2.
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Earlier in the tournament, reports surfaced regarding McIlroy's driver being deemed non-conforming at one point, though it was stated he would have had a replacement matching his specifications. This incident, while noted, did not appear to be the primary reason cited for his finish, with McIlroy himself focusing on specific holes.
