'Bittersweet' runner-up run has Scheffler inspired at PGA

Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler says he feels "bittersweet" about three runner-up finishes in a row, which has inspired him to work intently on his game ahead of the 108th PGA Championship (Richard HEATHCOTE)

(Richard HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)

Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler has turned "bittersweet" feelings over three consecutive runner-up finishes into inspiration ahead of this week's PGA Championship.

The 29-year-old American, who won the PGA and British Open last year after taking the 2022 and 2024 Masters titles, captured his 20th career PGA Tour title at the American Express in January.

Since then, however, Scheffler has settled for second place at the Masters, Heritage and Doral tournaments. The results left him somewhat pleased yet unsatisfied.

"I would say a little bit bittersweet," Scheffler said. "You know you're playing good golf, and you'd love to get some wins. Finishing second hurts.

"But when you reflect and you're looking at things to work on, there's a lot less to clean up when you're finishing second than there is when you're finishing 30th."

Scheffler has finished in the top 10 in each of his past six majors, the longest such run since Vijay Singh's seven in a row in 2004-2006.

With four titles and 16 top-10 finishes in his past 20 major starts, Scheffler arrived at Aronimink well prepared to add to his trophy total.

"If my game feels like it's in a pretty good spot, a lot of it is checking the boxes and making sure things feel the way they should heading into a tournament like this," Scheffler said.

"The last few weeks I've played some nice golf, so a lot of it was make sure I got rest, made sure I checked the boxes, and made sure things feel the way I want them to feel heading into a major championship -- and just get the mind right to come out here and play."

Scheffler and second-ranked Rory McIlroy have together won four of the past five majors, but they have never had a Sunday battle down the back nine for a title.