Xander Schauffele with the iconic trophy – image R&A via Getty Images
In a simply stunning display of golf of the highest quality in the most demanding of conditions, Xander Schauffele has produced a final round of 65 at Royal Troon to win the 152nd Open Championship by two shots over Justin Rose and Billy Horschel and claim his second major title in two months.
Schauffele began the final round one behind Horschel but, by the turn, he found himself trailing the then leader Thriston Lawrence of South Africa by one before Lawrence, playing two groups behind, birdied the 9th for an outward nine of 32 to lead by one over Rose and by two over Schauffele.
Schauffele would then, however, birdie the 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th to grab a three-shot lead over his playing partner Rose who would then birdie the final hole to finish two behind and tied with Horschel who birdied his final three holes to share second place.
For Schauffele it was his 17th start in 2024 in which he has now won two major titles and finished inside the top ten on ten other occasions, a remarkable run of not only golf of the highest quality but of great consistency.
Schauffele will move to number two in the world behind Scheffler.
What were his initial thoughts?
“It’s an honour. I’ve always dreamt of doing it. That walk up 18 truly is the coolest with the yellow leaderboards and the fans and the standing ovation. It really is one of the coolest feelings I’ve ever had in my life. I got chills walking down and quickly had to zap myself back into focus because the tournament wasn’t over yet.”
“I’ve been sort of running around a bit since that final putt has been holed. I was in the waiting room for maybe 10 minutes. I was just informed, just on the tip here, dating back to the first Open at Prestwick there, if you start looking at it, which I will definitely have time to tonight, I think it will all really sink in and settle in.
Right now I’m just — I feel very — you know, pretty speechless. If I sat in a room by myself with this, I would just stare at it and gaze and really try to take it all in.”
When asked as to how difficult it was to win a second major Schaffele responded;
“It was very difficult. I think winning the first one helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I’ve ever played in a tournament.
“I mean, it’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year. It took me forever just to win one, and to have two now is something else.”
Rose and Horschel tied for the runner-up position, Rose equalling his previous best when runner-up in 2018 while, for Horschel, he bettered his previous best of 21st at St Andrews two years ago.
Thriston Lawrence will be disappointed not to have taken greater advantage of his 63 hole lead but it was nonetheless a magnificent effort to finish alone in 4th place.
Amongst the Australasians Adam Scott did best when he tied for 10th but after two birdies in his first two holes today he might have felt something considerably better was on the cards.
“Like it was on last week and it was on again this week early,” said Scott. “By the 10th it was — after the 10th it was kind of over. You know, in the end I was too far back.
“Yesterday gave me a glimmer of hope, but it would have had to be a super-hot front nine. But no one really had it except maybe Xander. I don’t know how his card looks. Maybe he’s having a super-hot back nine, too. No one really held him back.
“It was good solid golf. I made a bad swing on 10 and paid the price, made a mess of that. It’s hard to really sum up. I played fairly well this week. Didn’t do well in the toughest conditions. That’s how it goes.”
Scott was asked how his recent form bodes for next year’s majors.
“In nine months we can check in and see where Adam is at in his head. I’m just pleased. I’ve been moving a lot of stuff around this year behind the scenes in my head, in my golf bag, and I feel like I’ve seven months in, settled — finally feel like I can settle a little bit and work a plan, even though there’s a month left of the season.
“I’ll try and make the most of that at least now, and then there’s still the Presidents Cup to look forward to, and hopefully I think I’m in a good spot to play my way on to that team now. That’s kind of the goal through the FedExCup upcoming.”
Jason Day jumped 20 places with a round of 68 to tie for 13th while New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier produced a fine week when he tied for 19th in the only cut he has made in now three starts in the event.
