A RELENTLESS Scottie Scheffler sealed his first British Open triumph by four shots at Royal Portrush, turning the final day into a procession.
The 29-year-old world number one, starting with a four-stroke lead, never relinquished his iron-like grip. Scheffler’s dominant performance, reminiscent of Tiger Woods in his prime, culminated in his fourth major title with a clinical final-round 68.
After tapping in on the 18th, his laser-focus cracked, and he tearfully embraced caddie Ted Scott, wife Meredith, and son Bennett.
“Thanks to the fans for all the support. I know I wasn’t the fan favorite today so I appreciate you guys coming out to support, overall it’s been a great week,” the understated Scheffler said, lifting the Claret Jug. He became the third successive American to win the Open, and fourth in
five years.
Without Scheffler, the 153rd Open would have been a thriller, with the leaderboard constantly shifting. Harris English finished best of the rest at 13 under (66), with Chris Gotterup a shot back.
Huge galleries hoped for a Rory McIlroy miracle. Starting six shots behind, the Northern Irishman couldn’t mount a charge, tying for seventh (10 under) with Xander Schauffele and Robert MacIntyre. “I wish I had have been closer to Scottie... But he’s been on a different level all week and he’s been on a different level for the last two years to the rest of us,” said McIlroy, who completed his career Grand Slam by winning this year’s Masters.
Li Haotong made history as the first Chinese man in a major’s final group, tying for fourth (11 under) with Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark.
Scheffler now has three legs of his career Grand Slam, needing a U.S. Open to complete it. He’s the first player in over a century to win his first four majors by three strokes or more, and the first world number one to win the Open since Tiger Woods in 2006.
“When you play against the best they make it look easy,” observed Justin Rose.
Scheffler’s track record of closing out leads is phenomenal, having won his last nine PGA Tour events and all three previous majors after holding a 54-hole lead.
Any anticipation of a dramatic final-day battle was dispelled by his opening birdies on holes No. 1, 4, and 5, raising questions of eclipsing Woods’s 2000 Open winning margin.
Then came the “blip”: a double-bogey on the par-5 eighth after needing two attempts to escape a bunker. His first dropped shots since Friday, it momentarily stripped his aura, slicing his lead to four.
But Scheffler, with the calm of a champion, immediately steadied the ship with birdies at the ninth and 12th, extinguishing any nascent challenges.
Perhaps only Bryson DeChambeau might have lived with Scheffler. DeChambeau delivered a remarkable final-round 64, matching Scheffler’s tournament-low, to rocket to 10th place (nine under) after an opening 78.
His charge, though too late, provided a thrilling spectacle and highlighted his explosive talent. / FROM THE WIRES