Scottie Scheffler Dominates Open Championship To Safe 4th Main Win

Scottie Scheffler had on a regular basis on the earth to have a good time his newest main title. The Open Championship was by no means unsure Sunday as golf’s No. 1 participant delivered one other dominant efficiency to win his second main this 12 months and seize the third leg of the profession Grand Slam.

Scheffler started with a shot into 10 inches for birdie. One hour into the ultimate spherical, his lead already was seven pictures and nobody acquired nearer than 4 the remainder of the way in which at Royal Portrush. He closed with a 3-under 68 for a four-shot victory, sending him to the U.S. Open subsequent 12 months with an opportunity to make it a clear sweep of golf’s largest titles.

Scheffler received the Masters by three pictures in 2022 and by 4 pictures final 12 months. He received the PGA Championship by 5 pictures in Might.

After which he arrived in Northern Eire and shared some extraordinary perception when he stated celebrating event wins doesn’t final however a couple of minutes earlier than it was on to the subsequent one. He loves the work required to be the very best. He thrives on competitors. However when it comes to achievement, he usually questions why he desires to win so badly when the joys of successful is fleeting.

He tapped in for par on the ultimate gap, making all of it look so routine. However then he noticed his household, thrust each arms into the air, pumped each fists and tossed his cap within the air. That’s what it was all about for the 29-year-old from Texas.

And he will get to maintain the silver claret jug for a 12 months.

Scheffler additionally lived as much as his billing because the clear favourite within the event once more. He entered the Open Championship with +450 odds to win, with Rory McIlroy holding the second-best odds (+700). Scheffler had related odds to win the PGA Championship forward of the event this 12 months (+400) earlier than his victory there.

Rory McIlroy referred to the end result as “inevitable” when Scheffler constructed a four-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical, and it was each little bit of that.

Scottie Scheffler shot 3-under within the ultimate spherical of the Open Championship, ending 17-under for the event. (Photograph by Pedro Salado/Getty Photographs)

The faucet-in birdie on the primary gap. An excellent strategy between two knobs to 7 toes for birdie on the fourth. A 15-foot birdie on No. 5. Most telling was his largest celebration, a robust fist pump when he made a 15-foot par putt on No. 6.

It was harking back to when Tiger Woods saved his largest fist pump for a par on the sixteenth gap of his historic 15-shot victory at Pebble Seaside within the 2000 U.S. Open, when it was clear Woods was competing primarily in opposition to himself.

That’s what it felt like till Scheffler’s one wobble. His tee shot on the par-4 eighth discovered a bunker, and Scheffler acquired too aggressive. The shot hit the highest of the vetted aspect and rolled again into the sand. He acquired the subsequent one out safely into the green, hit wedge to 18 toes and took two putts for a double bogey.

That ended his streak of 32 consecutive holes and not using a bogey, exceptional management of his golf ball. The lead was all the way down to 4 pictures when Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup birdied the ninth.

After which Scheffler drilled a drive, hit wedge to five toes for birdie and he was again on his horse. He performed the again 9 with eight pars and a birdie as a result of that’s all he wanted. Nobody may catch him.

“I performed with him the primary two days, and truthfully I believed he was going to birdie each gap. It was unbelievable to look at,” Shane Lowry stated. “If Scottie’s toes stayed secure and his swing seemed like Adam Scott’s, we’d be speaking about him in the identical phrases as Tiger Woods. … His dangerous pictures are actually good. That’s when you already know he’s actually good.”

Scheffler, who completed at 17-under 267, received for the fourth time this 12 months. He’s the primary participant within the final century to win his first 4 majors by at the least three pictures.

He has received 20 instances worldwide since February 2022, and this was the eleventh straight time he turned a 54-hole lead right into a victory.

That is the second straight 12 months for a participant to win two majors, after Xander Schauffele received the PGA Championship and British Open final 12 months.

“I don’t assume we thought {the golfing} world would see somebody as dominant as Tiger come by way of so quickly, and right here’s Scottie kind of taking that throne of dominance,” stated Schauffele, who tied for seventh.

“You possibly can’t even say he’s on a run. He’s simply been killing it for over two years now,” he stated. “He’s a troublesome man to beat, and whenever you see his identify up on the leaderboard, it sucks for us.”

English capped off a memorable two weeks in the UK. His caddie of eight years couldn’t get a brand new journey visa due to a 10-year jail time period he served twenty years in the past. English had a substitute final week on the Scottish Open and one other this week. It didn’t cease him.

English, who shot a 66, was runner-up in a serious for the second time this 12 months — each instances to Scheffler — and strengthened his case for the Ryder Cup in September.

“The one man to beat me on the PGA and this week. I’m enjoying some good golf,” English stated. “I wasn’t enjoying skilled golf when Tiger was at his peak. Nevertheless it’s fairly unbelievable, simply how good of a front-runner he’s.”

The one stumble from Scheffler got here from his 15-month-old son Bennett, who tried to stroll up a slope to the 18th inexperienced towards his dad and the claret jug, solely to face-plant.

Li Haotong of China (70), Matt Fitzpatrick (69) and Wyndham Clark (65) tied for fourth. That will get Li into the Masters subsequent 12 months.

As for McIlroy, there have been few complaints. He wanted an electrical begin like he had Saturday and was even par by way of 12 holes, by no means nearer than 5 pictures. Regardless of. The Masters champion soaked up adulation throughout Royal Portrush, closing with a 69 to tie for seventh.

“I want I had have been nearer to Scottie going into right now and been capable of make an actual push,” McIlroy stated. “However he’s been on a distinct stage all week and he’s been on a distinct stage for the final two years to the remainder of us. He’s the bar that we’re all attempting to get to at this level.

“However for me to be in entrance of everybody right here at residence and to get that reception up the final, completely unbelievable. I’ll do not forget that for a very long time.”

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