By DOUG FERGUSONThe Related Press
PORTRUSH, Northern Eire (AP) — Scottie Scheffler had on a regular basis on the planet to rejoice his newest main title. This British Open 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 bought nearer than 4 the remainder of the best way 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 mentioned celebrating match 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 by way of achievement, he typically 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.
Rory McIlroy referred to the result as “inevitable” when Scheffler constructed a four-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical, and it was each little bit of that.
The faucet-in birdie on the primary gap. An excellent method 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 strong fist pump when he made a 15-foot par putt on No. 6.
It was paying homage 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 towards 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 bought too aggressive. The shot hit the highest of the vetted aspect and rolled again into the sand. He bought the subsequent one out safely into the golf 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, outstanding management of his golf ball. The lead was right 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 played with him the first two days, and honestly I thought he was going to birdie every hole. It was incredible to watch,” Shane Lowry mentioned. “If Scottie’s feet stayed stable and his swing looked like Adam Scott’s, we’d be talking about him in the same words as Tiger Woods. … His bad shots are really good. That’s when you know he’s really 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 a minimum of 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 think we thought the golfing world would see someone as dominant as Tiger come through so soon, and here’s Scottie sort of taking that throne of dominance,” mentioned Schauffele, who tied for seventh.
“You can’t even say he’s on a run. He’s just been killing it for over two years now,” he mentioned. “He’s a tough man to beat, and when you see his name 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 significant for the second time this 12 months — each instances to Scheffler — and strengthened his case for the Ryder Cup in September.
“The only guy to beat me at the PGA and this week. I’m playing some good golf,” English mentioned. “I wasn’t playing professional golf when Tiger was at his peak. But it’s pretty incredible, just how good of a front-runner he is.”
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 means of 12 holes, by no means nearer than 5 pictures. Irrespective of. The Masters champion soaked up adulation throughout Royal Portrush, closing with a 69 to tie for seventh.
“I wish I had have been closer to Scottie going into today and been able to make a real push,” McIlroy mentioned. “However he’s been on a unique degree all week and he’s been on a unique degree 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.
“But for me to be in front of everyone here at home and to get that reception up the last, absolutely incredible. I’ll remember that for a long time.”
Initially Printed: July 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM PDT
