Unflappable Scheffler closes on Open glory, McIlroy still in mix
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
Scottie Scheffler kept a cool hand on the tiller to stay
on course for his first Open Championship title
with a serene 67 on a spectacular day of shot-making in the third round.
Birdies and eagles rained down on a sun-kissed Royal Portrush links with home favourite Rory McIlroy, England's Tyrrell Hatton and defending champion Xander Schauffele all tucking into the scoring feast.
Thunderous roars wafted across the County Antrim coast, the loudest for some McIlroy magic, but
world number one Scheffler
was laser-focused to move to 14 under par and a four-stroke lead heading to the final day.
Barring a sudden loss of form by the three-times major champion, the last round looks like being a scrap for the minor places, although Scheffler is not out of sight.
"I had another good day today," Scheffler said.
"I was pretty patient and felt like I was hitting it really nice.
"Sometimes in major championships it can be tough to make birdies, and today was one of those days where I just had to give myself some looks and was able to hole a few."
Li Haotong maintained his challenge, a 69 taking him to 10 under par, and he will be the first Chinese man to be in the final group at a major. England's Matt Fitzpatrick finished a further shot back after a disappointing 71.
McIlroy's five-under 66 kept alive the Northern Irishman's hopes of lifting the Claret Jug on home soil, 11 years after his previous British Open title. He is in a group on eight under with Americans Chris Gotterup and Harris English, and Hatton.
"I've got a chance. I need to get off to a great start like I did today, and if I can do that, anything can happen," McIlroy said.
The 36-year-old began on three under par, seven adrift, after two up-and-down rounds. He quickly fired up his army of fans, however, as he birdied three of his first four holes.
He was close to an eagle at the par-five second, and made up his third stroke of the day at the fourth after a superb approach left him with a seven-foot putt.
McIlroy bogeyed the 11th after a bizarre incident when his second shot from the rough unearthed a previously buried ball.
That was soon forgotten, though, as a snaking 56-foot putt dropped for eagle at the 12th, prompting scenes of jubilation in the crowd.
After two days of unpredictable conditions, the weather gods obliged with near-perfect weather for round three, which had a total of 47 players breaking par.
- Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
20 hours ago
- RNZ News
Supreme Scheffler a class apart as he romps to first Open title
By Martyn Herman , Reuters Scheffler became the first current world number one to lift the Claret Jug since Tiger Woods in 2006. Photo: AFP A relentless Scottie Scheffler has sealed his first British Open triumph by four shots as he turned the final day of the tournament into a procession at Royal Portrush. The 29-year-old American world number one started out with a four-stroke lead and apart from one blip, never looked like relinquishing his grip as the chasing pack were reduced to scrapping for the minor places. Scheffler barely put a foot wrong all week on the glorious Causeway Coast, rekindling memories of 15-times major winner Tiger Woods in his pomp, and he rubber-stamped his fourth major title with a clinical final-round 68. Take the dominant Scheffler out of the equation and the 153rd Open would have been a thriller with the leaderboard underneath him chopping and changing all weekend. In the end, Harris English was the best of the rest on 13-under after a final-round 66 with fellow American Chris Gotterup a further shot back. Huge galleries thronged the course and thousands arrived hoping see a Rory McIlroy miracle on the final day. But Northern Ireland's favourite sporting son, who began six shots behind Scheffler, was unable to mount a charge and ended up in a tie for seventh on 10-under. Li Haotong, the first Chinese man to go out in the final group of a major, finished tied fourth on 11-under with England's Matt Fitzpatrick and American Wyndham Clark. Scheffler has now completed three legs of his career Grand Slam and needs a US Open crown to complete the set. He also became the first current world number one to lift the Claret Jug since Tiger Woods in 2006. Those hoping to witness a battle royal for golf's oldest major should probably have known better. On the last nine occasions Scheffler had gone into the final round of a PGA Tour event leading, he emerged victorious, while his three previous major wins also arrived after a 54-hole lead. When he birdied the first, fourth and fifth holes to move eight strokes clear the only question seemed to be whether he could set an Open record for a winning margin. Even when errors did creep in, he simply rolled in long par-saving putts on the sixth and seventh holes to crush the spirit of those hoping for an unlikely collapse. Only when he double-bogeyed the eighth after failing to get out of a bunker did Scheffler look like a mere mortal, his lead suddenly sliced to four strokes. But it proved false hope for those pursuing a giant of golf, and a birdie at the ninth and another at the 12th hole steadied the ship and all that needed deciding then was who would come second. -Reuters
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Scottie Scheffler strolls to Open Championship victory
A relentless Scottie Scheffler sealed his first British Open triumph by four shots as he turned the final day of the tournament into a procession at Royal Portrush on Sunday. The 29-year-old American world number one started out with a four-stroke lead and apart from one mid-round blip, never looked like relinquishing his iron-like grip as the chasing pack were left scrapping for minor places. Scheffler resembled a towering giant amongst men all week on the glorious Causeway Coast, rekindling memories of 15-times major winner Tiger Woods in his pomp, and he rubber-stamped his fourth major title with a clinical final-round 68. After tapping in for his par in front of a packed 18th green grandstand, Scheffler's laser-focus finally cracked and he threw his white cap skywards before hugging caddie Ted Scott and enjoying a tearful embrace with his wife Meredith and son Bennett. "Thanks to the fans for all the support. I know I wasn't the fan favourite today so I appreciate you guys coming out to support, overall it's been a great week," the under-stated Scheffler, the third successive American to win the Open and fourth in five years, said after lifting the Claret Jug. Take the dominant Scheffler out of the equation and the 153rd Open would have been a thriller with the leaderboard underneath him chopping and changing all weekend. In the end, Harris English was the best of the rest on 13 under after a 66 with fellow American Chris Gotterup, winner of last week's Scottish Open, a further shot back. Huge galleries descended on the course all week and thousands arrived on a sunny Sunday hoping to witness a Rory McIlroy miracle. But Northern Ireland's favourite sporting son, who began six shots behind Scheffler, was unable to mount a charge and ended up in a tie for seventh on 10 under along with 2024 champion Xander Schauffele and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. "I wish I had have been closer to Scottie going into today and been able to make a real push," said McIlroy, who completed his career Grand Slam by winning this year's Masters. "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." LI TIED FOURTH Li Haotong, the first Chinese man to go out in the final group of a major, finished tied fourth on 11 under with England's Matt Fitzpatrick and American Wyndham Clark. Scheffler has now three legs of his career Grand Slam and needs a US Open crown to complete the set. He is also the first player in more than 100 years 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 and you can't quite figure out whey they are so good," said England's Justin Rose, who finished on seven under. "He is unconventional in some of his technique but the golf ball doesn't lie. He does everything really well and his record with a 54-stroke lead is Tiger-esque." Those thinking or even hoping that Texas-based Scheffler might stumble on a layout featuring holes known as Calamity Corner and Purgatory should probably have known better. On the last nine occasions Scheffler had gone into the final round of a PGA Tour event ahead, he emerged victorious. His three previous major wins also came after a 54-hole lead. A sense of anticipation brewed as the leading groups reached the first tee but when Scheffler birdied the first, fourth and fifth holes to move eight strokes clear the only question seemed to be whether he could eclipse Wood's modern era Open record winning margin of eight strokes at St Andrews in 2000. Even when errors did creep in, he simply rolled in long par-saving putts on the sixth and seventh holes to crush the spirit of those hoping for an unlikely collapse. Only when he double-bogeyed the eighth after failing to get out of a bunker did Scheffler look like a mere mortal, his lead was suddenly sliced to four strokes. But it proved false hope for those pursuing a giant of golf, and a birdie at the ninth and another at the 12th hole steadied the ship. All that needed deciding then was who would come second to golf's undisputed powerhouse.
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Scheffler voices doubts
Scottie Scheffler. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES One would imagine three-time major champion Scottie Scheffler would be desperate to continue American domination of the British Open and lift the Claret Jug for the first time this week at Royal Portrush. The 29-year-old is the bookmakers' favourite after a stunningly consistent season including winning the PGA Championship and during his pre-tournament press conference yesterday he spoke of his growing love for links golf. But when asked how long he celebrates his victories, an introspective Scheffler veered off into questioning what was even the point of being the best golfer in the world. "It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for like a few minutes," he said. "It only lasts a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling." Scheffler has been world No1 for 112 consecutive weeks and has earned more than $US87 million ($NZ146.2 million) in prize money on the PGA Tour and says he loves living out his dreams. But he admits he has a daily wrestle for what it all means. "Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about. "That kind of sense of accomplishment is a pretty cool feeling. But at the end of the day, I'm not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what's the point? This is not a fulfilling life. Scheffler has a 14-month-old son Bennett with his wife Meredith and said they remained more important than any golf accolades. • New Zealand No 1 Ryan Fox has been paired with 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama. Fox, who has two PGA Tour wins this year, is playing in his 25th major tournament. Fellow Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier will join former Masters champion Zach Johnson and Englishman Daniel Brown when the Open tees off tonight. - Reuters/APL
