The PGA Championship 2025 is nearing its end with the final round upon us—exciting stuff! Amanda Balionis is all of us right now, fired up for PGA Championship Sunday, and she’s not shy about her top pick. Reporting live from Quail Hollow via Instagram stories, the longtime CBS Sports golf reporter gave fans her take on what’s shaping up to be a thrilling final round. While several stars are still in the hunt, all eyes — including Balionis’s — are on Scottie Scheffler as he aims to win his third career major and first PGA Championship title.

“Does he get his third major in his first PGA Championship? All signs are pointing to probably yes,” Balionis said of Scheffler, who leads by three shots heading into Sunday. He’s played the final five holes at seven under par this week, even with a double bogey on Thursday. “That is just ridiculous,” exclaimed an impressed Balionis. The World No. 1 has surged with back-to-back rounds in the 60s, including a bogey-free 65 in Round 3—the lowest round of the day—to reach 11-under overall.

But it’s not a runaway yet. Alex Noren, who sits in solo second at 8-under after a third-round 66, is among the most compelling comeback stories of the week. After suffering a serious hamstring tendon injury in January that kept him out for more than seven months, the 42-year-old Swede has found new balance in life and golf. “Clearly has a new perspective and tour,” Balionis said. “Told me off camera yesterday, he feels like he has a better balance. There’s such a thing as wanting a win too badly out here… but he does have a greater purpose now that he’s back on the golf course.”

Davis Riley is also firmly in the mix. The 28-year-old American, who claimed his first solo PGA Tour win last year at the Charles Schwab Challenge, enters Sunday tied for third at 7-under. “Davis Riley in unchartered territory,” Balionis noted. “A winner on the PGA Tour, but certainly has never been in this position at a major before.” After a strong 67 on Saturday, Riley is in a position to challenge if he can keep the nerves in check.

Rounding out the storyline-packed leaderboard are Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Rahm fired a 67 in Round 3 to move to 6-under, tied for fifth. “We’ve got Rahm having his best major Championship since the Open Championship in 2023,” Balionis said. DeChambeau, meanwhile, was tied for the lead late on Saturday before a double bogey derailed his round, but he remains at 5-under with 208, well within striking distance.

“It’s going to be a great Sunday,” Balionis promised—and with this leaderboard, she’s absolutely right. Among the most compelling storylines heading into the final round is the resurgence of Alex Noren, whose journey back from injury has put him within striking distance of the biggest win of his career.

Noren’s comeback charge: Veteran Swede in the hunt at Quail Hollow

After months away from competitive golf due to a hamstring tendon injury, Alex Noren has emerged as a surprising contender at the PGA Championship. The 42-year-old Swede, who had played only four PGA Tour rounds this year prior to arriving at Quail Hollow, finds himself just three strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler after carding a brilliant 5-under 66 in Saturday’s third round. Now sitting at 8-under for the tournament, Noren is in position to chase his first PGA Tour win, despite 184 starts and three runner-up finishes in his career.

Noren suffered the injury back in January while preparing for the season-opening Sentry Tournament, tearing 90% of the tendon in his right hamstring where it attaches to the sit bone. Though he avoided surgery, the damage was severe enough to keep him from swinging a club, running, or jumping for months. He began chipping and putting slowly during the spring but didn’t regain full motion until late April, narrowly missing his target of returning at the Byron Nelson. During his extended recovery, Noren embraced family life, even coaching his daughter’s softball team.

He described the injury as serious for a golfer, noting that while he could manage everyday tasks, practicing his craft was out of the question. However, the time away brought perspective and allowed him to heal both physically and mentally. “It was a lot easier to have this break at 42 than when I was younger,” he admitted. Now back in form, Noren has capitalized on the opportunity, proving that experience, patience, and persistence can pay off. Sunday could mark the most significant moment of his career if he manages to overtake the World No. 1.