Robert Theodorson
Robert MacIntyre dropped an early lead and Scottie Scheffler did what only Scottie Scheffler can do and came away with yet another win on the 2025 PGA Tour season.
MacIntyre started Championship Sunday with a four-stroke advantage, but started the round with bogeys on the opening two holes.
Feeling like a premonition of sorts, MacIntyre’s bogey paired Scheffler’s birdie on the 1st to start the round set the tone for the entire day. With his window open at the start of the round, the world’s most dominant golfer showed once again why he cannot and will not be dislodged from his number one world ranking.
Though, for a moment, it looked like MacIntyre could earn his chance for victory back after the Scotsman made much-needed birdie on the Par 5 16th, a hole that his playing partner Scheffler misplayed from tee to green. It was an ultra-rare series of mistakes from Scheffler, and a huge momentum swing for the man who had led the tournament the first three days!
With the lead only being one after Scottie’s miscue and MacIntyre’s birdie, Scheffler once again proceeded to shut the door on his competition by sinking an incredible off-the-green chip-in on 17 with the ball running out of momentum millimetres away from the cup, but amazingly, and perhaps predictably, going all the way home.
Once that chip went in, everyone at Caves Valley knew the tournament was over.
Minutes later the world’s best golfer was crowned champion once more, and will move to Atlanta in the number one playoff seed, and will without a doubt be the favorite to win.
Sam Burns (T4; 10-under par), Tommy Fleetwood (T4; 10-under par), and Viktor Hovland (T7; 7-under par), joined Scheffler as the only members of the field who shot under-par all four days.
MacIntyre’s Sunday 73 tied Ludvig Aberg for the worst final round score among the Top 10.
Who Rose, Who Fell?
The low rounds of the day belonged to Maverick McNealy and Xander Schauffele who each shot a 66 on their respective ways to 3rd and T28. For Schauffele, his best was absolutely needed his best, failing to finish any of his first three rounds under par.
Unfortunately for the two-time major championship winner, the T28 finish was not good enough to move on to Atlanta, and as such, the superstar will be watching the finale at home.
The good news is that due to his highly successful 2024 campaign, Xander will rejoin his colleagues at The Ryder Cup at the end of September.
Keegan Bradley’s 3-under on Sunday was good enough for a T17 finish. The USA’s Ryder Cup captain will advance to the final tournament of the season, an achievement that should settle the argument once and for all with regard to Bradley’s playing captain status.
Nobody did more damage to their day than Corey Connors whose 80 ruined what was otherwise a fine tournament with previous rounds of 70, 71, and 66 before Sunday’s collapse.
Fortunately, for Connors, a great regular season only drops the Canadian to 16th place in the FedExCup standings, so Connors lives to fight another day.
Big names like Justin Thomas, Colin Morikawa, and Nick Taylor each finished the tournament 6-over par and tied for T33. Each has the potential to win in Atlanta and will look to put this BMW Championship squarely in their rear-view mirrors.
Old favourites like Rickie Fowler (T7; 7-under par) and Jason Day (T23; 1-over par) played superbly throughout the weekend, but their efforts were too little too late, and will be joining Xander Schauffele as onlookers for the season finale.
The line between now and Atlanta was drawn between Akshay Bahtia (T26; 2-over par) and Michael Kim (10th; 6-under par).
Bahtia’s Saturday hole-in-one proved the difference between travelling to Atlanta and flying home for the summer.
Kim, who had an amazing tournament, will go home knowing he gave his best and ended his season on a good note.
The PGA Tour’s season concludes at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
Last season’s winner was Scottie Scheffler, who will be favoured to go back-to-back.
