This Valhalla nail-biter had it all: it demonstrated that Schauffele has what it takes to compete at the highest level, while DeChambeau reminded us that he is a one-of-a-kind, charming, and quirky talent to be cherished.
And third-placed Viktor Hovland demonstrated how fate can change in an instant. The Norwegian finished a week of considering withdrawing due to a lack of form by experiencing the heat of having a chance to win a major while strolling onto the 72nd green.
Schauffele deserves a lot of credit for his triumph, which was as gritty as a sarnie dropped in a bunker. He simply refused to be defeated, and he had to hit a final six-footer for birdie to drop lower in relation to par than any previous major champion.
We all knew he was the best player who had never won a major. He had held a similar opinion.
