THE X-MAN finally found his A-game when it mattered most, as Xander Schauffele powered to a record-breaking triumph at the USPGA Championship. Schauffele cast aside his ‘choker’ tag with a brilliant final round 65 to see off a fierce challenge from Viktor Hovland and Bryson DeChambeau . 5 Xander Schauffele held his nerve to win his first-ever Major Credit: Getty 5 Schauffele birdies the 72nd hole at Valhalla to win the USPGA Championship Credit: Reuters 5 He shook off his 'choker' tag much to the delight of the crowd Credit: Getty That five under par effort propelled Shauffele to 21 under in all, setting a new record for any Major championship as he completed a stunning write to wire victory.
Four previous Major winners had finished on twenty under, and it was the second time Shauffele had written his name into the record books at Valhalla. He became the first man to shoot 62 twice in the big four events in the first round, setting the tone for an unforgettable week. The San Diego golfer with a German dad had to banish the demons that have plagued him in the Majors - and elsewhere - as many people questioned whether he had the bottle to add to the Olympic gold medal he claimed in Tokyo three years ago.
World No 3 Schauffele, 30, had posted six top five finishes without looking like getting over the line in the Majors before this. And he has also squandered a host of winning opportunities since his last victory, at the 2022 Scottish Open, with three runner-up finishes and .
