
Open win is child's play for Scottie Scheffler in his era of greatness
Tiger Woods's modern record victory margin at the Open is eight at St Andrews in 2000. Scheffler briefly threatened that but a round of 68, a score of 17 under par and a four-shot gap to Harris English were more than enough. The only real stumble from Scheffler's camp came when young son Bennett fell while exploring the green during the presentation. It says much about Scheffler's priorities that the emotion only morphed into a victory salute and tossed cap when he saw his wife and son.
Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.
Bennett's dad has become a golfing phenomenon. Since the start of last year, Scheffler has now won 13 times, including triumphs at three different majors and an Olympic Games. It took Rory McIlroy 11 attempts to complete the career grand slam after getting to the three-quarter stage. Nobody expects it to take Scheffler as long to add the US Open and become the seventh man of that celebrated club. Of only 25 majors played, he has won four, been runner-up twice and had 16 top-ten finishes. These are dizzying numbers.
He started the day four shots clear of Haotong Li, with Matt Fitzpatrick another shot behind and McIlroy trying to cross a six-stroke divide. In truth, Evel Knievel had a more realistic chance of crossing Snake River Canyon in his old home-made space rocket, but at least McIlroy's parachute opened after a troubled post-Augusta period. The uneven nature of golf's calendar means he must retain his major mojo for almost ten months until his Masters defence.
Credit English for chipping away, again finishing runner-up to Scheffler, as he did at the US PGA, but the world No1 was never in the remotest danger. The Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup was five adrift, followed by a resurgent Fitzpatrick, Li and Wyndham Clark. McIlroy was feted by febrile crowds, but in a land of mythical giants, fated to finish in this one's wake. Bob MacIntyre also made the top ten to underline his impressive progress this summer, but it was a solo show by the seaside.
Two years ago, Golf Digest harshly declared the Open 'a dud' when Brian Harman romped home at Hoylake. It was undoubtedly a day drained of excitement, but if that was again the case here, the crowd knew they were witnessing a generational talent at the peak of his powers. Being brilliant can never be convincingly boring.
And this week Scheffler has been far from dull, causing a stir with a media address in which he said golf was not fulfilling and wondered why he cared so much. 'Sometimes, I just don't understand the point,' he said. That honesty was elevated by the fact Scheffler rarely says much beyond the practical, but the remarks were a reflection of his deep faith and belief in a greater purpose. He cares and suffers, but he knows this is only the important fluff of life.
A rounded player with a consistent game and level mind, his bad days are average and the good ones are stellar. Ten consecutive wins from 54-hole leads shows front-running is another arrow in his quiver. And for greater historical perspective, it is worth noting that nobody has won their four first majors by at least three shots since 1909.
It was not flawless. In a fairway bunker on the 8th he needed two attempts to get out. That double bogey, allied to Gotterup's charge, reduced the lead to four. The intimations of mortality welcomed down the field. Scheffler's response? A 335-yard drive, wedge and easy birdie.
In the group up ahead, McIlroy was over a hill and, after failing to mount a grassy bank with his chip, far away. That double bogey left the local hero eight shots adrift. He has likened winning the Masters to climbing Everest, but when it comes to scaling mountains you would really want Scheffler as your guide.
Others left with a raft of what-ifs. Bryson DeChambeau was down and almost out after an opening 78, but was 16 under for the remaining holes. It is too easy to suggest he had figured out the vagaries of links golf, though. 'I still have to crack the code when it's raining and windy,' he said. Indeed, the weekend has been positively balmy, but Scheffler showed that he is a man for all seasons by surviving Thursday.
DeChambeau's take on Scheffler? 'Scottie's in a league of his own right now,' he said. 'I played with him a lot in college and he was not that good so he's figured out a lot of stuff since then.'
He certainly has. One of the remarkable things about Scheffler is that he was pushing 26 before he won his first professional tournament. By that age, McIlroy had four majors while Jordan Spieth's purple patch came at 22. Scheffler, though, has entered into a period of superiority that we have not seen since Woods.
Part of the credit for this should go to Phil Kenyon, the quiet putting guru of Southport, who has helped Scheffler in his one area of vague weakness. 'Phil has been tremendous for me,' he said. 'He is a great guy to be able to bounce stuff off and I feel like we've made some great progress.' In turn, Kenyon says teaching Scheffler is easier than dealing with 20-handicappers who think they know it all.
After doing the same major double in 2014, McIlroy said he did not need another year like the one he had enjoyed. 'I need another ten,' he explained before talking of 'Messi, Federer and LeBron' and how star power drove sport. He had an 11-year wait for another. All the other Open champions since 2014 have not won another major since, but we should expect that curse to be lifted soon.
As for Royal Portrush, McIlroy was right when saying it has quickly established itself as one of the top two or three Open stages, with a stunning vista and terrific sequencing of holes, and so it was fitting that this championship produced such a fine winner.
'Phenomenal player,' Tommy Fleetwood said. 'If he keeps going the way he is then we're going to look back and talk about him in the same breath as some of the all-time greats — and he's played in our generation.'
Scheffler just said he thought comparisons with Woods were 'a bit silly' and that he did his best 'by living in the present'. It is a good policy and sensible perspective. He is the man of the dazzling moment.
Rory McIlroy described Scottie Scheffler's run of success as 'historical', conceding that the rest of the field were unable to come close to Scheffler in such sparkling form (John Westerby writes).
'There's only maybe two or three players in the history of the game that have been on the run that Scottie's been on for the past 24 to 36 months,' McIlroy said.
'I wish I had been closer to Scottie going into today but he's been on a different level all week and he's been on a different level for the past two years. What he's doing is historical. None of us could live with what he had this week.'
Scheffler now needs only a US Open victory to complete the career grand slam, which McIlroy finally achieved with his victory at the Masters in April. Scheffler had spoken before the tournament of how golf was not ultimately fulfilling, that he was a 'sicko' for working so hard at his game and that the pleasure of victory was 'awesome for two minutes'.
Scheffler was asked whether he would enjoy his Open triumph for longer than two minutes. 'It's one of the greatest joys of my life to compete out here,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, having success in life, whether it be in golf, work, whatever, that's not what fulfils the deepest desires of your heart. My greatest priorities are my faith and my family. Golf is third.
'I try to live as normal of a life as possible because I feel like a normal guy. I have the same friends I had growing up. I don't think that I'm anything special just because some weeks I'm better at shooting a lower score than other guys are.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Welcome to your new Huddersfield Town page
You may have already noticed a different layout and feel to your Huddersfield Town club this page, BBC Sport will serve up a bespoke club service, complete with the latest news and analysis on everything you are on the app, don't miss a beat by tapping the bell icon and signing up for news if you are on a browser, tap 'Follow' at the top to ensure the best content is always at your fingertips.


BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Crichton set to becoming Rangers women head coach
Glasgow city assistant manager Leanne Crichton is the front runner to become the new Rangers women's head Ibrox club have held positive talks with the former Scotland player and she is expected to replace Jo Potter, who left to manage Crystal Palace last Ibrox side won the domestic cup double in both of Potter's seasons in charge and were third in the SWPL last 37, had three playing spells with City and also turned out for Celtic, Hibernian, Notts County and Motherwell, the latter where she also moved into coaching. She returned to Glasgow City to assist Leanne Ross in midfielder also won 72 senior international caps and has become a regular football television and radio pundit across BBC Scotland who travel to Italy on Monday for a pre-season training camp, open the new SWPL campaign away to Montrose on 17 August. More to follow.


The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Prince William and Princess Charlotte speak for the nation after England's Euro 2025 victory
Prince William and Princess Charlotte were at the forefront of celebrations after the Lionesses secured back‑to‑back European Championship titles. Princess Charlotte was spotted celebrating jubilantly next to her father, the Prince of Wales, as they watched the historic victory at St Jakob‑Park in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. The Lionesses fought back from a one-goal deficit against Spain to win the Euro 2025 competition after a tense penalty shootout. The victory made the Lionesses the first team ever to defend their Euro crown since the tournament began in 1984. A picture of William, who is patron of the FA, with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X following the presentation of the trophy to the Lionesses, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. The pair congratulated the team in a short statement, saying: 'What a game! Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn't be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England.' The statement was the first message Charlotte has personally signed on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account. The 10-year-old, wearing a polka dot dress, was spotted having a friendly chat with Spanish royals Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía as England equalised. She later joined Prince William on the pitch to hand out medals as the England players celebrated their dramatic victory. The King said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' following their victory, adding: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can.' In a statement posted on X after the game, Charles said: 'This brings you, your manager and all your support team my most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025. 'For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant 'football's coming home'. 'As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true. 'For this, you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration.' The King added: 'More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' England fans erupted with joy across the country as the team defended their Euros title in the penalty shootout win on Sunday. Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick following two huge saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, sending supporters in fan zones into raptures. A reception for the winners is due to be hosted in Downing Street on Monday by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team will then attend a homecoming celebration event on Tuesday, with a ceremony expected to take place outside Buckingham Palace. There will be an open-top bus parade along the Mall before the ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial, the FA said. Fans can attend for free and it will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky.