Scottie Scheffler wins maiden Open Championship at Portrush
Scottie Scheffler
took a four-stroke lead to bed on Saturday. Except he does not. Scheffler has reminded anyone willing to listen this week that sport does not constitute life. His four-shot triumph over Harris English (-13) represented not just victory, but the manifestation of golf's most grounded champion—a man who has mastered the art of separating professional excellence from personal fulfilment, declaring before the championship that if golf ever affected his relationship with wife Meredith or son Bennett, "that's going to be the last day that I play out here for a living".
This victory, his fourth major, at the historic links of Northern Ireland stood as testament to Scheffler's unique philosophy — while he pursues greatness with unrelenting intensity between the ropes, his identity remains anchored in the deeper purpose of fatherhood and marriage, proving that true champions can dominate their sport without allowing it to define their essence.
Sunday was a mere procession. Scheffler got out of the gates with a hot iron in hand. His laser-guided 9-iron at the first hole left him barely 16 inches for a birdie. By the time he went past the fifth green, he had seven strokes on the field. This was Scheffler's rhapsody with the field reduced to scrambling on the sidelines.
The most telling moments of the final round, though, was the stretch between the sixth and ninth holes, where the world No.1 displayed his alpha chops.
The tee shot at the 189-yard par-3 sixth caught the steep false front. Scheffler, calm as a cucumber, pitched it to 16 feet. After a brief survey, he found the cup, before punching the air with his fist. It was the most emotion Scheffler let out all day.
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After finding the lip of a fairway bunker at eight, Scheffler prodded his way to a double bogey. It was no more than a faux scent of hope, a fraying thread for the chasing group.
Rory McIlroy, the local hero, was leading a vain orchestra with English, Haotong Li, Chris Gotterup and Matt Fitzpatrick. Scheffler snapped it at the ninth with a sharp wedge to five feet for another birdie.
Scheffler has won each of his four majors by three strokes or more. A feat of dominance comparable only with Tiger Woods (7) and Jack Nicklaus (6).
A couple of seasons ago, Scheffler was already phenomenal around the course, but the greens were a constant bother. Phil Kenyon, his putting coach, seems to have plugged that hole. Scheffler gained more than two strokes with the flatstick this week, adding to the 2.54 strokes he gained with his approach. There was no catching such a dominant effort. Scheffler was 59 off 63 this week, putting inside 10 feet.
The signs for his competition are ominous. Only Nicklaus, Woods and Gary Player won the Masters, the PGA and the Open before 30. It took exactly 1,197 days from the first to the fourth major for Woods, matched to the day by Scheffler. Also, like Woods, he is the only top ranked player to have won the Open. Since 2022, Scheffler has a scoring average better than all his competitors — eight top five, and a dozen top 10 finishes in the majors. At Shinnecock Hills next year, the US Open Sunday will also be Scheffler's birthday. As good a time as any for the American to join the elite club of grand slam winners in the sport.
Scheffler's dominance isn't Tigeresque, at least not yet. But there is little doubt that he is the most dominant golfer to have graced the game since Woods. Starting with the Houston Open in March, Scheffler has played 10 tournaments, winning four and finishing no worse than T8 in the rest. He hasn't missed a cut since the St. Jude Championship in August 2022, a streak of 64 tournaments.
It is important also to celebrate the competition within. Wyndham Clark and Bryson DeChambeau epitomised the undying spirit that shapes the attitude of an athlete. Clark shot 76 in the opening round, the wind and rain adding to the distraction from the news of a grounds ban from the Oakmont Country Club, where he knocked down the locker door in frustration after missing the cut at the US Open. DeChambeau struggled to keep his flight in check, struggling to a 78.
Remarkably both men fought their way back. Clark shot 66-66-65 climbing to a tie in fourth. DeChambeau worked his way to a top 10 finish with a brilliant 64 on Sunday. Haotong Li played some of his best golf in recent memory, making 80% of the greens in regulation. He had to settle for the best seat in the house to witness Scheffler's brilliance, finishing T4 alongside Clark and Matt Fitzpatrick. Chris Gotterup had a dream European detour, winning the Scottish Open and finishing third in the Open.
But the spotlight and all of the acclaim belonged to Scottie Scheffler.
Royal Portrush
will remember this championship not for its drama, but for its demonstration of surreal excellence. Scheffler's $3.1 million prize paled beside the greater reward of cementing his status among golf's immortals. The Claret Jug will reside in Texas for the coming year, tangible proof of Scheffler's royal dominion over professional golf's most demanding stage.
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