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‘Absolute killer’ emerges in golf power shift as No.1 slides in humiliating final act

Xander Schauffele has won the British Open with a brilliant back nine, while Australian Adam Scott finished in a tie for 10th.

Courtney WalshCourtney Walsh
5 min read
July 22, 2024 - 8:01AM
Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele
Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele

American Xander Schauffele has taken another step towards establishing himself as one of the modern day greats by claiming his second major title this season with a stunning success in the British Open.

The 30-year-old followed his US PGA success at Valhalla in May by taming the test of Troon with a masterful back nine on Sunday to win a dramatic Open by two shots from Justin Rose and overnight leader Billy Horschel.

Schauffele managed the torrid conditions through the first three days well to start the final day at 3-under, one shot behind Horschel, before playing with a championship blend of poise and brilliance throughout the final round.

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As he hugged the Claret Jug soon after the presentation ceremony on the 18th green at the famous course on the Firth of Clyde, Schauffele said he could not wait to share a drink out of the trophy with his father Stefan, who was in attendance, after surviving a testing three days to start the tournament before finishing in style on a calmer day at Troon.

“I just can’t wait to drink out of it. My dad is here with me, so I am going to let him do the honour of choosing (the celebratory tipple). It will be whatever he wants,” he said.

“It means a lot. It is something all of us play for and it really is a dream come true to be holding this and it definitely hasn’t sunk in yet.

“My brain is still grinding on this amazing property here, just trying to get through the hole, but I can’t wait to sit back and have a moment with this Claret Jug.”

Xander Schauffele celebrates with his caddie Austin Kaiser. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Xander Schauffele celebrates with his caddie Austin Kaiser. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

The world No.2 posted successive birdied on the 5th and 6th holes before seizing the Claret Jug with a brilliant back nine featuring four birdies when closing with a 65 to finish at 9-under. Rose drew a massive roar when finish with a birdie on the last to finish at 7-under.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence made a bold bid for victory with a blistering front nine which took him to 7-under, but he faded last to finish fourth at 6-under in what was still a fine performance.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler threatened for a period when moving to 4-under after eight holes but a double-bogey on the ninth ended his run, with the American finishing in a tie for seventh at 1-under.

His double bogey on the 18th hole was particularly ugly, failing to clear the ladies’ tee with his first, duffed tee shot. After taking a drop, his third shot almost hit his playing partner.

Rose, who qualified for the Open, performed superbly throughout the most challenging conditions all week but was shattered to miss out.

“(I have) two emotions. (I was) gutted when I walked off the course and it hit me hard because I was so strong out there today,” he said.

“I really played the way I wanted to today. I got off on the front foot. I played my way right into the tournament early doors. I felt comfortable with it all day. I did a lot of the hard things really well on the golf course today.

“(It was) just a critical moment midway through the back nine momentum-wise. Obviously Xander got it going. I hit a couple of really good putts that didn’t fall, and then suddenly that lead stretched.

“In terms of how I played and the execution of my emotions today, my mindset, I left it all out there. I’m super proud of how I competed.”

Horschel was steady throughout until finishing with a flourish by scoring birdies on the final three holes.

“It’s what’s in my DNA. I’m going to always fight, always going to battle until the end. I was awarded with three birdies there at the end to finish tied second with a good friend, Justin Rose,” he said.

Playing in the fifth last group, Adam Scott’s bid for the Claret Jug effectively ended when he bogeyed the fifth hole after a bright start in which he birdied two of the first three holes to move to 2-under, two shots from Horschel at that stage.

The day threatened to slip away from the 2013 Masters Champion after he started the back nine with a double-bogey but the Australian battled hard to finish in a tie for 10th spot when squaring the card with a final round of 71.

“Yesterday gave me a glimmer of hope, but it would have had to be a super hot front nine,” Scott said.

“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 (from me). I made a bad swing on 10 and paid the price. (I) made a mess of that. It’s hard to really sum up. I played fairly well this week. I didn’t do well in the toughest conditions (but) that’s how it goes.”

Jason Day, the only other Australian to make the cut after torrid conditions played havoc with several leading contenders, surged up the leaderboard with a 3-under 68 to finish in a tie for 13th at 1-over, one shot behind Scott.

He started the day on fire when shooting a 4-under 32 and finished with a flourish when chipping in on the 18th, which drew a roar of approval from the crowd.

“It’s beautiful. I mean, it’s nice to be able to do that on the 18th, especially in front of everyone,” he said.

“I mean, I enjoyed the week. The whole week actually was a lot of fun. Troon is a serious test of golf. I always love coming and playing The Open Championship. It’s just a thrill.”

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Scott paid tribute to Schauffele, who has claims to being the golfer of the year despite the brilliant deeds of world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who finished in a tie for seventh after threatening at one stage when moving to 4-under after eight holes.

He paid tribute to the champion, saying Schauffele had a complete game.

“I don’t know if anyone identified a weakness in there. It’s all really good,” Scott said.

“Although it’s probably been, at times, frustrating for him this year, finishing third and fifth and fourth and second, but then winning the PGA, (to win) two majors, that kind of all-around really good gets it done in the biggest events. I think the greats of the game kind of did that, especially Tiger.”

Schauffele, who finished in a tie for second at the Masters and third at the US Open in 2019, finished runner-up at The Open in 2018. But he said the breakthrough at Valhalla in May helped him as he rattled off birdies on the 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th holes.

“I thought it would help me and it actually did,” he said.

“I had this sense of calm, a calm I didn’t have when I played earlier (at) the PGA and for some reason I was calm and I felt collected.”

But he said while he felt in a good position standing on the 18th tee, it was a different matter for his long-time caddie Austin Kaiser.

“I was telling Austin on the ... 18th hole that I felt pretty calm coming down the stretch, and he said he was about to puke on the 18th tee,” he said.

“But I just told myself just to hit it down there like you have all day and really I just kept moving along.”

Originally published as ‘Absolute killer’ emerges in golf power shift as No.1 slides in humiliating final act

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