PGA Championship 2025: Jon Rahm's Poignant Admission of His Shocking Finish at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE — After concluding his remarks inside the interview tent on Sunday at Quail Hollow, Jon Rahm swiftly cast a final look towards a nearby TV screen as he stood up from his seat. Just moments prior, the golfer from Spain had candidly discussed his significant downfall which led him from potentially securing the third major victory needed for a career Grand Slam to ending up merely among those trailing far behind the winner, Scottie Scheffler.

FURTHER: Scottie Scheffler claims his third career major title.

Once Rahm concluded his speech, Scheffler had already secured his third major championship and first PGA Championship victory. All Rahm could focus on were the final standings. As he searched for his own name among those top positions displayed, it remained absent from the leaderboard.

"Still a raw wound at present," Rahm stated calmly about the disappointment he endured during the past couple of hours. Despite coming back from being five strokes behind to tie Scheffler for the lead, Rahm failed to take advantage of his birdie opportunities and ended up with bogey, double bogey, and another double bogey on the final three holes known as the Green Mile. This downfall resulted in a score of two-over par 73, causing him to drop to a tie for eighth place—seven strokes shy of Scheffler’s leading total.

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When asked whether his difficulties were due to nerves or some other factor, Rahm provided a detailed account of why his drives have been slightly off. He explained that he has been attempting to reduce his typical fade at a course where draws tend to perform better. However, the 30-year-old player also stated frankly, "If anyone ever claims from this spot that nerves didn’t play a role, they’re definitely not telling the truth. Managing one’s thoughts is essentially what we professionals do in our sport."

He later stated, "I believe it was partly due to some nervousness. It’s hard to identify precisely at the moment. I will review what took place. I didn’t sense that I hurried through things. The procedure itself didn’t seem flawed."

While Scheffler found himself at two over par after scoring 37 on his first nine holes, Rahm appeared to be the most assured golfer on the field. On Saturday, he demonstrated his capability by securing a spot among the leaders with a score of 67. With former Major winners such as Bryson DeChambeau also in the mix, Rahm had the opportunity to make a strong push forward; however, being five strokes behind made catching up to the World Number One seem quite challenging.

However, starting his round with seven consecutive pars, Rahm then heated up, securing birdies at holes 8, 10, and 11. When Scheffler made a bogey at the ninth hole, the gap was closed, leaving them level.

"Wow, it's been quite some time since I enjoyed myself so much out on a golf course," Rahm remarked with a smile.

You understand your standing because, regardless of whether you choose not to check the leaderboard, the spectators make sure you’re aware," he explained. "Their enthusiasm ensures this happens, as they will inform you no matter what. For instance, when I sank my putt on hole number 12, simultaneously hearing applause from hole 10 indicated to me that Scottie had scored a birdie. You can sense these things after being in those situations numerous times.

Certainly, Scheffler's birdie on the par-5 10th hole returned the Texan to the top spot, and he maintained that position thereafter. Meanwhile, Rahm experienced a significant setback when his attempt for a birdie at the 13th rimmed out. Following this, issues with his putting and driving continued to challenge him severely. At holes 14 and 15, he failed to convert birdie opportunities from distances of nine and twelve feet respectively. On the 16th, he hit his drive poorly into a greenside bunker and ended up with a bogey. Then, at the par-3 17th, his tee shot rolled off the green and into the water hazard. Finally, on the 18th, he drove into the stream and ultimately finished with a score of six.

Jon Rahm throws his putter into the air after missing his putt at the 16th hole.

Scott Taetsch/PGA of America

"Yeah, those last three holes were really hard to take in," said Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion and 2023 Masters victor, adding unprompted that this marked his first experience holding a lead going into the final round of a major championship but failing to seal the win.

As he reflected on his errors, Rahm aimed to highlight the positive aspects as well. After the 11-time PGA Tour champion departed for LIV Golf before the start of the 2024 season, he began to fade from the broader sports audience’s attention. In major tournaments, where he faced even tougher competition, his performance varied widely last year—he finished tied for 45th at the Masters, failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship, withdrew due to a toe injury during the U.S. Open, and placed seventh at The Open Championship. During his time in LIV, however, Rahm enjoyed a successful campaign, securing two victories.

During the Masters in April, Rahm frequently showed his frustration with a score of 75 in the opening round; however, he bounced back by scoring six under par for the remainder of the event and ended up tying for 14th place. This season on LIV, although Rahm hasn't secured a victory yet, he has managed to finish within the top 10 in all seven tournaments he has participated in.

"I’m genuinely delighted to have set myself up for this opportunity and hopefully gain some insight from it, so I can make another attempt at the U.S. Open," Rahm stated.

As his press conference drew to an end, Rahm checked his watch and pondered whether he could still make it back home in time to put his children to sleep. He then remembered a quote attributed to Charles Barkley: “I mean, I earn my living playing golf; it’s amazing,” Rahm remarked. “Do I feel slightly ashamed about how I ended today? Yes. However, I must overcome this disappointment, let go of my frustration. It isn’t the apocalypse. Unlike doctors or emergency responders, whose performance can directly impact lives severely when they have tough days, all I’ve got to do is pick myself up and continue forward.”

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