Scottie Scheffler arrives at the PGA Championship as the defending champion, but lately, he's been feeling more like the best man than the groom. Over the past month, the world No. 1 has collected three solo runner-up finishes—a PGA Tour first—and he's ready to trade silver for gold at Aronimink.

It started at the Masters, where Rory McIlroy edged him out. Then came a playoff loss to Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage, followed by a six-shot defeat to Cameron Young at Doral. Even his wife couldn't resist pointing out the streak. "She said, 'Hey, Scottie, you're like the first guy in PGA Tour history to have three solo runner-ups in a row,'" Scheffler recalled with a wry smile. "I said, 'Yeah, it's probably because the guy that was playing that good figured out a way to win one of those.'"

Despite the bridesmaid streak, Scheffler's confidence remains unshaken. The man who hates losing even in friendly matches with his caddie knows that finishing second is a sign of greatness, not failure. "You know you're playing good golf, and you'd love to get some wins," he said. "Finishing second hurts, but when you reflect, there's a lot less to clean up than when you're finishing 30th." Not that he's had much practice with the latter—Scheffler hasn't placed 30th or worse since August 2024.

With a firm grip on the world No. 1 ranking—approaching three straight years at the top—Scheffler is poised to join elite company. A win at Aronimink would make him only the third player in stroke-play history to win back-to-back PGA Championships, alongside Brooks Koepka (2018-19) and Tiger Woods (1999-00 and 2006-07).

But the path to history won't be easy. Aronimink offers plenty of room off the tee but demands precision on its large, severely contoured greens. And the field is the strongest of the four majors, featuring 98 of the top 100 players in the world—including the three men who've beaten him recently: McIlroy (No. 2), Young (No. 3), and Fitzpatrick (No. 4).

For Scheffler, it's not just about ending the runner-up streak. It's about proving that even when you're playing your best, winning is never a given—and that's what makes the chase worth it.