Scottie Scheffler may not find true fulfillment solely in his victories, but his prowess on the golf course continues to shine on the sport's grandest stages. Scheffler celebrated his latest triumph by carding a remarkable 68 on Sunday, securing a commanding four-stroke victory in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. From the outset, it was clear that the outcome was never in doubt as golf's number one player finished with an impressive score of 17-under 267, marking his second major title of the year and the third leg of his quest for the career Grand Slam.
As Scheffler tapped in for par on the final hole, the moment appeared routine. However, the emotional release came when he saw his family. He enthusiastically raised both arms and tossed his cap into the air, embodying the joy that comes with such a significant achievement. The 29-year-old from Texas now gets to keep the coveted silver Claret Jug for an entire year.
The competition was fierce, with American Harris English finishing second and Chris Gotterup taking third. English arrived in Britain two weeks ago without his caddie, while Gotterup managed to fly over without a plane ticket to Ireland. Scheffler's stellar performance is historic; he became only the fourth player in Open Championship history to shoot 68 or better in all four rounds, joining the ranks of Collin Morikawa (2021), Henrik Stenson (2016), and Jesper Parnevik (1994).
The start of Scheffler's final round was nothing short of ideal. From the first cut of rough, he expertly hit his approach to the right side of the green, where the ball trickled back to within 10 inches of the cup for a tap-in birdie. Earlier this year, he had already won the PGA Championship by five strokes, and his previous victories at the Masters in 2022 and 2023 were by margins of four and three shots, respectively. Remarkably, no golfer had ever won their first four major titles by three shots or more until now.
With this victory, Scheffler joins elite company as just the third golfer to win multiple majors by four strokes or more in a single year, alongside golf legends Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods. Since February 2022, Scheffler has claimed 20 titles worldwide and has converted 11 consecutive 54-hole leads into victories. Fellow competitor Xander Schauffele remarked on Scheffler's dominance, saying, "You can't even say he's on a run. He's just been killing it for over two years now."
As Scheffler arrived in Northern Ireland, he shared some profound insights on the fleeting nature of tournament celebrations. He expressed that while he loves the hard work involved in being the best, he often questions the true motivation behind his relentless pursuit of victory.
Despite his dominant performance, there was a moment of adversity for Scheffler on Sunday. His tee shot on the par-4 eighth found a bunker, leading to a double bogey that ended his streak of 32 consecutive holes without a bogey. However, Scheffler quickly regained his composure, drilling his drive on No. 9 and hitting a wedge to five feet for birdie. He played the back nine with eight pars and one birdie, demonstrating that he needed nothing more to secure the victory.
Competitors noted the extraordinary challenge of playing against Scheffler. Shane Lowry, who played alongside him, remarked, "If Scottie's feet stayed stable and his swing looked like Adam Scott's, we'd be talking about him in the same words as Tiger Woods." This sentiment underscores the level of talent Scheffler brings to the course.
The atmosphere at Royal Portrush was electric, with enthusiastic cheers for local favorite Rory McIlroy. However, McIlroy's hopes of a comeback were dashed as he finished tied for seventh, seven shots behind Scheffler. He acknowledged, "He’s been on a different level all week and for the last two years to the rest of us. He is the bar that we're all trying to get to at this point."
English shot a closing 5-under 66 to secure his second runner-up finish to Scheffler at a major this year, while Gotterup's journey has been transformative. As the world No. 158, he not only outlasted McIlroy to win the Scottish Open but also finished third in his major debut at the Open Championship, earning around $2.7 million in just eight days.
English, despite being without his longtime caddie due to visa issues, managed to strategize effectively with his short-game coach, Ramon Bescansa. He expressed his desire to secure a spot in the upcoming Ryder Cup, while Haotong Li, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Wyndham Clark tied for fourth, with Li earning a spot in next year's Masters.
As the golfing world reflects on this year's Open Championship, one thing is clear: Scottie Scheffler has established himself as a dominant force in the sport, setting an impressive standard for his competitors to aspire to.
