This was supposed to be the easy part. The hard work — the prep, the 72 holes, the nerves — that was over with now. All Scottie Scheffler had to do was lift a trophy. Easy, right? Well…
Scheffler had just won the 2025 PGA Championship to claim his third major and first non-Masters major victory. He led by three entering the final round at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C., was briefly tied with Jon Rahm on the back nine on Sunday but eventually won by, ahem, five.
After he celebrated, hugged family, walked to scoring and made it all official, he came back to the 18th green for the Wanamaker Trophy presentation. After a brief introduction, Scheffler walked on the green, picked up the trophy and proudly displayed it for the crowd.
So far, so good.
CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis asked Scheffler a couple of questions, one about his play and another about his long-time golf coach, Randy Smith, who was standing nearby. Eventually, she put a bow on the festivities.
“Incredible victory,” she said. “These fans want to see it one more time, Scottie Scheffler. Hoist that Wanamaker Trophy and enjoy your first PGA Championship victory!”
Balionis let out a laugh as she said “victory,” because it was at that moment when Scheffler lifted the Wanamaker again — only to have the top of the massive silver jug slide off. It was quickly retrieved and put back in place.
Scheffler, however, isn’t alone when it comes to this awkward Wanamaker moment.
The same thing happened to Collin Morikawa when he lifted the trophy after winning the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park and also to Rory McIlroy when he won the PGA at Valhalla in 2014.
“They told me it’s heavy; they didn’t tell me the lid comes off,” Morikawa said on Wednesday. “But it is way heavier than you expect. And then they tell you to lift it over your head.”
But don’t blame these guys. The Wanamaker, as McIlroy said pre-tournament, is “pretty meaty.” It’s 29 1/2 inches high, 27 inches handle to handle and weighs 27 pounds.
At least when it comes to these trophy blunders, Scheffler has good company.
