Scheffler wins the Open in Portrush as golf enters a new era

Irish Post

5 days ago

SCOTTIE Scheffler picked up the Claret Jug in Co. Antrim with authority, finishing four shots clear at 17 under par. After a composed final round of 68, he won the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Despite the best efforts of the rest of the world's top golfers — including Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, it was a procession for Sheffler, with the result not in any really doubt from around the fifth hole on the final day.
Truly the caravan has moved on and we are in a new era: the New Jersey man who was brought up in Texas from the age of six now looks set to dominate game for the foreseeable future.
At the seaside links in Portrush the world No 1 added The Open to his 2022 and 2024 Masters trophies and the 2025 PGA Championship—making him the first player in the modern era to win his first four majors by at least three strokes each. Only the legendary Young Tom Morris and pre‑WWI greats managed similar dominance.
Scheffler's weekend was a masterclass in links golf. He opened with a birdie at the first, reached seven shots clear before being pegged back by a double bogey on the 8th, then responded with solid putting down the stretch to maintain control. Every time he had a minor setback, it was almost immediately rectified. It seems he now has the perfect temperament for dealing with the major championships.
His composure under pressure mirrored the performance of Tiger Woods at his peak—prompting Shane Lowry to draw that very comparison.
With this Open Championship win, Scheffler is edging towards joining an elite group. His Grand Slam only requires the US Open for him to join Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Gary Player , Gene Sarazen and Rory McIlroy as players who have won all four golfing majors.
Rory McIlroy's valiant charge on home soil produced a stirring but bittersweet performance for the home crowd. Finishing on 10 under par, McIlroy secured a shared seventh place with a final‑round 69.
The top‑ten finish in his home Open marks a strong end to an eventful season. Having won the Masters in April—completing his own career Grand Slam—McIlroy remains one of the greats of the game, but the Open on home soil has long been his ambition. At 36, he remains in contention and is expected to mount a fierce challenge again at next year's Open.
Shane Lowry—champion at Portrush in 2019—attempted to channel that magic once more but found himself beset by adversity midweek. In round two, he incurred a rare two‑shot penalty for accidentally moving his ball during a practice swing—a decision made after television replay review.
That saw his score shift from 2 under to even par, a blow compounded by illness on Saturday. He never really recovered from these two setbacks.
See More: Golf, Open Championship, Royal Portrush