Last year, Scottie Scheffler faced an unexpected controversy following his arrest for evading a police officer outside the US PGA Championship. This year, however, his journey has been much smoother.

The world’s top-ranked golfer shot a remarkable 65 in the third round, finishing at 11 under par, three strokes ahead of Alex Noren. While Noren’s rise to the top may seem surprising, Scheffler’s performance has been consistently impressive. The challenging stretch known as the “Green Mile” presented little trouble for him; he gained five shots in just five holes. With Jon Rahm trailing five shots behind, Scheffler appears to be in complete control as they head into Sunday.

Noren’s pursuit would be remarkable given his recent struggles. The 42-year-old delivered a solid round of 66, defying expectations after being sidelined by injuries and focusing primarily on coaching his daughter’s softball team. This was only Noren’s second tournament in seven months, and he remarked, “I couldn’t swing a club, and I couldn’t jump or run. I could walk slowly and I could coach my kids.”

Despite a somewhat slow start in the opening rounds, Scheffler effectively created his opportunities. An eagle putt on the 14th green drew a collective sigh from his competitors.

Davis Riley and JT Poston are one stroke behind Noren, with Rahm, Si Woo Kim, and Jhonattan Vegas all two strokes adrift. Historically, it is rare for a winner to emerge from outside the top five after 54 holes, but Scheffler’s current lead could widen substantially.

As the tournament progressed, the competition intensified. Rahm expressed satisfaction with his performance, while Bryson DeChambeau continued to press forward despite a challenging final stretch, concluding at five under par. Matt Fitzpatrick and Keegan Bradley, the USA Ryder Cup captain, also sit at five under, making it difficult for anyone to catch Scheffler.

It was encouraging to see Rahm competing effectively at a major event. Critics had scrutinized his recent performances, but he showcased some of the skills that previously led him to victory at the Masters in 2023 and the US Open two years ago. A sequence of three consecutive birdies propelled him forward, although he missed a nine-foot eagle putt at the 14th. The excitement from the crowd, particularly with Scheffler and DeChambeau in the mix, sets the stage for an exhilarating Sunday. Their last major confrontation was at Torrey Pines in 2021, where Rahm emerged victorious.

Rahm tallied seven birdies and a round of 67, indicating that, while his play was strong, he will require Scheffler to falter on Sunday to secure a win.

After the round, Rahm shared that he revisited footage of his prior major victories to reignite his competitive spirit. He noted, “Things are going to go sideways, and for someone who has been vocal about their misfortunes, today was a day when I definitely got lucky.” He looks forward to the opportunity to silence his doubters.

Having missed last year’s US Open due to a foot injury and placing seventh at the Open, Rahm’s performance has not been disastrous, despite not securing a win on the LIV circuit in 2025.

Rahm’s approach shot on the 11th hole had an unexpected turn when his ball deflected off the head of a fan, who fortunately was unharmed and received a signed glove. However, Rahm ended with a bogey.

Amid conversations about the lower-ranked players leading earlier rounds, it’s important to remember that this sport rewards merit. The earlier leader, Vegas, struggled with two early bogeys, ultimately dropping four shots in three holes but managed to hold on during a tough round.

DeChambeau remained his engaging self throughout the day, striving to improve after shifting his focus to technological advancements in golf. At one point, he even topped the leaderboard before losing his footing at the 17th hole, which marked a double bogey and three dropped shots in two holes.

Despite his notable performances in recent majors – finishing T6, 2, 1, missed cut, and T5 in his last five appearances – DeChambeau understands the level of difficulty he faces to capture another major.

When asked how he would adjust his approach for Sunday, DeChambeau replied, “Absolutely nothing,” indicating he feels his misfortune played a part in his round. He remarked, “That’s why golf is the worst four-letter word in the world,” a sentiment echoed by Tyrrell Hatton.

As for Rory McIlroy, his challenging day began when he had to return to the first tee after the hooter sounded while he was halfway there. He ultimately faced a long wait to start his round, and it proved unproductive. A birdie on the 14th briefly suggested a comeback, but an out-of-bounds drive halted his momentum, leaving him thirteen strokes behind Scheffler.

Recent news about McIlroy’s driver clarified his erratic performance; a club deemed “non-conforming” was replaced with a different head due to potential overuse. The PGA of America issued a statement assuring no player intent was questioned regarding equipment compliance. In contrast, Scheffler’s intentions are more than evident.

PGA Championship leaderboard