Scottie Scheffler enhanced his standing inside golf’s historical past because the world No.1 blew away his rivals at Royal Portrush to win The Open Championship by 4 photographs.
Such a commanding margin has been a characteristic of Scheffler’s 4 main triumphs to this point, and his spectacular numbers are starting to stack up in opposition to the game’s biggest names.
Scheffler’s win comes after his eyebrow elevating feedback about “what’s the purpose?” of all of it in his pre-tournament press convention and he provided additional perception into his psyche.
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Rory McIlroy loved a optimistic week in his house nation of Northern Eire regardless of falling in need of critically difficult for a second Claret Jug, whereas Marc Leishman missed an opportunity to safe his instant main future on what was a really disappointing week for the Australian contingent.
Wyndham Clark additionally broke his silence on his locker room tantrum that inflicted severe injury on the US Open.
Listed here are the most important speaking factors from the ultimate spherical of the 153rd Open.
FINAL ROUND WRAP: Scheffler ascends to golf’s ‘throne of dominance’ as world No.1 romps to Open victory
LEADERBOARD: Observe the motion on the Open
SCHEFFLER’S ASCENT TO ‘THRONE OF DOMINANCE’
Xander Schauffele, who did the PGA Championship-Open Championship double final 12 months, summed up the overall temper at Royal Portrush when he mentioned that Scottie Scheffler’s unbelievable run caught everybody off guard.
There was no shock about him cruising to victory given Scheffler held a four-shot lead after 54 holes, and he has now gained ten instances in a row when holding the solo lead with a spherical to play.
However once you step again, and take a look at Scheffler’s profession extra broadly, it’s unbelievable to assume {that a} participant who didn’t win a PGA Tour occasion till his 71st begin could be spoken of in the identical breathe as the best names the game has ever produced.
Since that breakthrough triumph on the 2022 Phoenix Open, the now 29-year-old has gained 19 extra instances, together with 4 majors and an Olympic gold medal.
He’s simply the sixth American to win 4 majors earlier than the age of 30 and he has additionally had a stranglehold on the world No.1 rating.
If he wins the US Open on his thirtieth birthday and American Father’s Day subsequent 12 months, Scheffler can even develop into simply the seventh male to finish the profession grand slam.
“I don’t assume we thought {the golfing} world would see somebody as dominant as Tiger come by so quickly, and right here’s Scottie type of taking that throne of dominance,” Schauffele mentioned.
With 4 main titles and several other of his rivals boasting between three and 5 main triumphs, it might seem that Scheffler is a part of a robust group of recent greats vying for supremacy.
Former PGA Tour skilled turned analyst Brandel Chamblee believes that Scheffler is much and away forward of his colleagues, and is on track to face within the higher echelon of the game’s illustrious historical past.
“It’s totally different than Rory McIlroy. It’s totally different than Brooks Koepka. It’s totally different than Jordan Spieth,” Chamblee mentioned.
“I can’t assist however assume that we’re on an inevitable march in the direction of one of many biggest careers within the historical past of golf.”
In strokes gained ball-striking this 12 months, Scheffler is greater than twice is sweet as the opposite gamers ranked within the prime 5 on the earth.
The American’s Achilles heel had typically been his placing, however Scheffler gained extra strokes than anybody else within the area this week on the greens.
There was no apparent weak point on the Northern Irish hyperlinks, and one of many standout options was his psychological power.
Scheffler didn’t make a bogey throughout the weekend.
His solely hiccup got here within the type of a double bogey on the eighth gap within the remaining spherical when he left a shot in a fairway bunker.
However he made birdie the very subsequent gap, and it was emblematic of what he has finished all 12 months.
In 2025, Scheffler has made a birdie instantly after dropping a shot 34.8 per cent of the time.
Nobody ranks higher.
“He goes to a different degree, and he does it so typically,” former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley mentioned.
“We speak about his stats and the way nice he’s in each class, and the way a lot his placing has improved.
“However the secret sauce for Scottie Scheffler is between the ears.
“That’s the place he’s at the very best. I’ve by no means seen a competitor anyplace close to as near Tiger Woods as this man.
“That’s how the bar is and over time, he would possibly even show to be a greater one.
“He would possibly even show to have extra longevity than Tiger Woods did on the prime.
“As a result of on this second of time, it’s exhausting to see him getting derailed.
“He’s so secure off the course as a lot as he’s secure on the golf course.
“He’s acquired that effective stability, as he talked about within the press convention earlier within the week, between golf being actually vital and loving it, and loving to compete, but in addition that it’s not crucial factor in his life.
“That’s the candy spot there to be not so obsessive about one thing that it’s additionally nonetheless enjoyable, and you’ll go away it behind if it’s not a great day.
“I actually do assume that this man goes to be round for an extended, very long time.”
Scheffler on ‘foolish’ Tiger comparisons | 06:16
‘THEY’RE A BIT SILLY’: SCOTTIE PLAYS DOWN TIGER COMPARISONS
McGinley shouldn’t be the one one drawing traces between Scheffler’s feats and people of Woods.
The marginally eerie statistic to emerge through the remaining spherical was that there have been 1,197 days between Woods’ first main win on the 1997 Masters and his fourth main victory on the 2000 Open, and there have been additionally 1,197 days between Scheffler’s first main win on the 2022 Masters and his fourth main victory.
There are various extra statistics that give a better indication of Scheffler’s brilliance, nonetheless.
Since world rankings started in 1986, he and Woods (2000, 2005 and 2006) are the one winners of the Claret Jug whereas they had been world No.1.
Scheffler’s statistical connections usually are not simply with Woods, nonetheless.
He stands alongside legends of previous generations to have dominated their rivals.
Scheffler is the third participant after Ben Hogan in 1953 (Masters, US Open and The Open) and Woods in 2000 (US Open and The Open) to win a number of majors by 4 or extra photographs in the identical 12 months.
He has gained all 4 of his main crowns by three photographs or extra, within the final 100 years solely Woods (seven) and Jack Nicklaus (six) have extra main victories by such a margin.
Hogan, Nicklaus and Woods are the one different gamers to have gained three or extra totally different majors by 4 or extra photographs.
These numbers are merely mind-blowing, however Scheffler himself shouldn’t be entertaining the comparisons, particularly to Woods.
“I nonetheless assume they’re a bit foolish. Tiger gained, what, 15 majors? That is my fourth. I simply acquired one-fourth of the best way there,” he mentioned.
“I feel Tiger stands alone within the sport of golf.
“He was inspirational for me rising up. He was a really, very proficient man, and he was a particular individual to have the ability to be nearly as good as he was on the sport of golf.
“I don’t deal with that type of stuff. That’s not what motivates me. I’m not motivated by successful championships. I don’t look originally of the 12 months and simply say, hey, I need to win X quantity of tournaments, I need to win no matter it’s. I don’t try this.
“I’ve desires and aspirations that I take into consideration, however on the finish of the day, after I get up to practise, I really feel like what motivates me is simply getting out and attending to stay out my dream.”
‘WHAT’S THE POINT?’: SCOTTIE’S REFLECTIONS ON PURPOSE
Scheffler’s feedback about not being motivated by chasing legacy or successful a sure variety of trophies echoed his “what’s the purpose?” monologue earlier than play started at Royal Portrush.
His five-minute reply the place he talked about golf being third on his record of priorities behind his Christian religion and his household was broadly thought to be the most effective and insightful press convention moments in golf in a very long time.
However it was additionally a head-turner for a lot of, as it might have been perceived as if Scheffler was flippant in the direction of how he fared within the week forward.
It may be simple to question ‘what’s the purpose’ {of professional} golf if you find yourself sitting fairly with greater than US$90 million (A$137.7m) in profession earnings from event prize cash alone, whereas others grind away week-after-week to get by.
With the comfy life that comes with having that a lot cash within the again, such feedback also can come throughout as disrespectful to the historical past of the sport and the legacies of those who have come earlier than.
There isn’t a doubt some followers perceived his ‘what’s the purpose’ remarks as degrading the esteemed traditions and significance of a significant championship.
However Scheffler needed to make clear that these detrimental perceptions weren’t his intention in any respect, regardless of it being apparent that he was desperate to wrap up his media commitments as rapidly as potential to get again to his household.
“My religion and my household is what’s most vital to me. I attempt to stay as regular of a life as potential as a result of I really feel like a standard man,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I’ve the identical associates I had rising up.
“I don’t assume that I’m something particular simply because some weeks I’m higher at taking pictures a decrease rating than different guys are.”
Jordan Spieth agreed that Scheffler shies away from the limelight, and shared perception into on how Scheffler is perceived by his friends.
“He doesn’t care to be a famous person,” Spieth mentioned.
“He’s not transcending the sport like Tiger did. He’s not bringing it to a non-golf viewers essentially. He doesn’t need to go do the stuff that a variety of us go do, corporately, something like that.
“He simply needs to get away from the sport and separate the 2 as a result of I do know that he — at one time, he felt it was an excessive amount of, that he was taking it with him, and every time he made that swap, I don’t know what it was, however he has hobbies. He’s all the time together with his household. They’re all the time doing stuff.”
Persevering with to discuss his motivations, Scheffler as soon as once more took the lengthy type strategy together with his reply.
“Yeah, I feel we stay now in a day and age the place clickbait is type of what folks search for. You’ll be able to shorten a five-minute clip into three phrases. I feel it actually underestimates what I used to be attempting to speak. Perhaps I didn’t do as efficient of a job as I hoped to in speaking that,” he mentioned.
“On the finish of the day, I’ve an incredible quantity of gratitude in the direction of second like these. I actually labored my complete life to develop into good at this sport and play this sport for a residing. It’s one in all my biggest joys of my life to compete out right here. To have the ability to win The Open Championship right here at Portrush is a sense that’s actually exhausting to explain.
“I’m very lucky to have the ability to come out right here and stay out my desires. I simply grew up a child in Texas that needed to play skilled golf. I grew up sporting pants to the golf course as a result of that’s what I needed to do. I noticed skilled golfers like Justin Leonard, Harrison Frazar, these kinds of guys on TV sporting pants, and I used to be like, I need to be like these guys. So I used to put on pants to develop as much as play golf. It could be 100 levels out. I’d be means too sizzling. Individuals would make enjoyable of me. However that’s what I needed to do; I needed to be an expert golfer, so I wore pants.
“I don’t know why I’m so fortunate that I get to stay out my desires, nevertheless it’s one thing I’m very grateful for. If any individual was going to take heed to the feedback I had this week, I’d encourage them to take heed to all of it, and I hope I did a great job speaking that, yeah, that is wonderful to win the Open Championship, however on the finish of the day, having success in life, whether or not or not it’s in golf, work, no matter it’s, that’s not what fulfils the deepest wishes of your coronary heart.
“Am I grateful for it? Do I get pleasure from it? Oh, my gosh, sure, this can be a cool feeling. I can’t wait to get house and have fun this championship with the those that have helped me alongside the best way. However on the finish of the day, it doesn’t fulfil the deepest wishes of my coronary heart.
“It’s simply powerful to explain once you haven’t lived it. It’s one thing I truly talked to Shane (Lowry) about this week was simply since you win a golf event or accomplish one thing, it doesn’t make you cheerful.
“It doesn’t — possibly for a number of moments, possibly for a number of days, however on the finish of the day, there’s extra to life than taking part in golf. I’m fairly excited to go house and have fun this one.”
RORY HOPES FOR PORTRUSH RETURN
Scheffler performed social gathering pooper ultimately because the locals at Royal Portrush had been determined for Rory McIlroy to win on house soil.
It was to not be for the Northern Irishman, ending seven photographs behind Scheffler in a share of seventh place.
His efficiency was a giant enchancment on 2019, the final and solely different time he has had the possibility to play The Open in his house nation, when he missed the reduce after hitting his opening tee shot out of bounds on his technique to making a quadruple bogey to begin the event.
There have been excessive hopes that the Masters and profession grand slam winner might cap off an unforgettable 12 months with a second Claret Jug.
His outcomes main in had been trending the fitting path after a post-Augusta droop, and big crowd help was set to be a lift.
It was ultimately, as the massive roar when he holed a monster eagle putt through the third spherical created arguably the very best second of the event.
“Have to be 50 toes!” Insane Rory putt | 01:51
However the actuality can be that an opportunity to realize the unbelievable, at a spot the place as a 16-year-old prodigy McIlroy set a course file that may by no means be damaged because of the redesign, slipped by his fingers and it’s a thriller if he’ll get one other professional shot at success at house.
“I attempted as finest as I might to maintain my feelings in verify, particularly strolling up the final there and that reception,” McIlroy mentioned.
“Yeah, look, it’s been an superior week. I’ve gotten every little thing I needed out of this week aside from a Claret Jug, and that’s simply because one individual was just a bit bit higher than the remainder of us.
“It’s been an incredible week, simply the — I really feel so grateful and simply so fortunate that I get to do that, I get to do that in entrance of this crowd.
“Hopefully I’ll have one or two Opens left right here, if the R&A resolve to maintain coming again, most likely one whereas I’m nonetheless aggressive and one other one whereas I’m extra grey than I already am.
“It’s simply been unbelievable to return again right here and to play and a minimum of really feel like I had an opportunity right now going on the market. Simply an superior week.”
McIlroy is undoubtedly a fraction a biased, however the golf course has undeniably been a giant winner this week, and he’s adamant that Royal Portrush needs to be given extra alternatives to shine.
When that will likely be is unsure as past a return to St Andrews in 2027, the longer term Open venues are but to be confirmed.
“Truthfully, I feel Portrush has rapidly became the most effective two or three venues that The Open goes to,” McIlroy mentioned.
“Discuss to each participant this week, and so they gained’t say one single unhealthy factor in regards to the golf course.
“Then I simply assume the best way it units up, from a logistical standpoint, I feel the R&A have labored so effectively with the native authorities to verify every little thing runs easily.
“Yeah, I hope so. It’s solely been six years since 2019. I’m undecided Portrush goes to have The Open each six years, that will be good, however I’d clearly find it irresistible to maintain coming again.”
“By no means seen something like that!” | 00:46
LEISH MISSES CHANCE TO LOCK IN MAJOR FUTURE
Australia’s Marc Leishman must do issues the exhausting technique to characteristic within the main championships subsequent 12 months.
The 41-year-old began the ultimate spherical decided to push for a prime ten end to e book his place in The Open area at Royal Birkdale in 12 months time, however issues didn’t go to plan with a disappointing 75.
Leishman sat on the sofa for ten consecutive majors after becoming a member of LIV Golf in 2022, however returned to the showpiece occasions after coming by qualifying eventually month’s US Open and incomes his place at Royal Portrush with a prime three end eventually 12 months’s Australian Open.
A powerful displaying at Royal Melbourne in December awaits as his subsequent finest alternative to return to the British Hyperlinks, however in any other case because it stands, he must play qualifying occasions subsequent years.
The Masters is a comparatively closed store with LIV golfers struggling to achieve entry except they’ve gained a inexperienced jacket, maintain a five-year exemption to all of the majors following a significant victory like Cameron Smith, or obtain a particular invite from Augusta Nationwide like Joaquin Niemann.
The PGA Championship is changing into extra accommodating of LIV golfers, however whereas the door continues to be ajar, Leishman’s main future stays unsure.
Though, he isn’t stressing about it, and is accepting that he was effectively conscious that his world rating would take a beating and make entering into the majors tougher by becoming a member of LIV.
“Yeah, joyful to be again. Clearly if every little thing works out and we are able to get in them, I’d like to play them,” Leishman mentioned of the majors.
“If not, I’m not going to emphasize over it or something. Sure, I actually need to be right here, however pleased with my choices.”
As for his sport on the course, Leishman was dissatisfied together with his remaining spherical however believes the optimistic indicators are there.
“I didn’t begin very effectively any spherical. Like right now I needed to get off to a great begin and didn’t, and type of every little thing appeared a bit bit out of attain and simply struggled after that,” he mentioned.
“My ball putting was respectable. I missed a number of drives proper. I’ve had a number of driver points this 12 months simply with them breaking. Not me breaking them, however them breaking. I had one break on the best way over right here, and I lastly discovered one which is sweet. I’ll take that as a optimistic this week. I discovered a driver that I really like, simply couldn’t string sufficient good holes collectively, I assume.
“It appeared like each time I’d have a birdie right now, I’d comply with it up with a bogey or worse. So yeah, disappointing day, however take the nice with the unhealthy. Onwards and upwards from right here.”