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Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Rory McIlroy sends message to Scottie Scheffler after 'incredible' Open triumph
Rory McIlroy admitted he has nothing but admiration for Scottie Scheffler after the World No1 further enhanced his status in the record books with a dominant victory at the Open. Scheffler cruised to a stress-free four-shot victory at Royal Portrush on Sunday to claim his fourth career major and second of the year after his triumph at the US PGA Championship in May. The American has now won three of golf's four majors and is just one short of McIlroy's career tally despite being seven years younger than the Northern Irishman. And McIlroy conceded that Scheffler's victories only serve to reinforce his status as the game's best most prestigous talent. 'None of us could hang with Scottie this week,' McIlroy refelcted after his final-round 69 which saw him finish T7 in front of a frenzied home crowd. 'He's an incredible player. He's been dominant this week. Honestly, he's been dominant for the last couple years. He is the bar that we're all trying to get to. 'In a historical context, you could argue that there's only maybe two or three players in the history of the game that have been on a run, the one that Scottie's been on here for the last 24 to 36 months. Incredibly impressive. 'He's a very worthy winner. Also, he's a great person, and I think he's a wonderful ambassador for our game as well. I'm really happy for him and Meredith and his family.' Asked how it feels to watch Scheffler in his current form, McIlroy added: 'I think all you can do is admire what he does and how he does it. 'I think what he does is one thing, but how he does it is another. He just goes about his business, doesn't do anything overly flamboyant, but he's the best at executing in the game right now. 'He's been absolutely amazing over these past two to three years. As I said, all you can do is tip your cap and watch in admiration.' Scheffler's level of dominance in recent years has rightly evoked comparisons with Tiger Woods, who has 82 PGA Tour victories, 15 of those majors, to his name. However, the current World No1 was quick to reject any comparison between himself and his childhood inspiration. 'I still think they're a bit silly. Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there,' Scheffler said. More Trending 'I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf. He was inspirational for me growing up. He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf. 'I don't focus on that kind of stuff. That's not what motivates me. I'm not motivated by winning championships. 'I don't look at the beginning of the year and just say, hey, I want to win X amount of tournaments, I want to win whatever it is. I don't do that. 'I have dreams and aspirations that I think about, but at the end of the day, when I wake up to practise, I feel like what motivates me is just getting out and getting to live out my dream. I get to play professional golf, and I feel like I'm called to do it to the best of my ability.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: What time does Rory McIlroy start at The Open? Round Two tee times, TV schedule, and how to watch MORE: What time does Rory McIlroy start at The Open? Round Two tee times, TV schedule, and how to watch MORE: Tyrrell Hatton: 'US Open near-miss stung – but I'm positive about The Open'
Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Scottie Scheffler storms to dominant victory at The Open to win fourth major
Scottie Scheffler stormed to his fourth major title and first Open Championship with a commanding four-shot victory at Royal Portrush. The World No1 began the final round with a four-shot lead and never looked likely to surrender it to the chasing pack on Sunday. A final-round 68 saw the American end the tournament on 17 under par, with fellow countryman Harris English his closest challenger on -14. Victory sees Scheffler claim his second major triumph of the season after his win at the US PGA Championship in May and now means he just needs to win the US Open to complete the career Grand Slam. More to follow. MORE: What time does Rory McIlroy start at The Open? Round Two tee times, TV schedule, and how to watch MORE: What time does Rory McIlroy start at The Open? Round Two tee times, TV schedule, and how to watch MORE: Tyrrell Hatton: 'US Open near-miss stung – but I'm positive about The Open'
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
An all-around good day – England's Matt Fitzpatrick takes share of Open lead
As he was finishing, home favourite Rory McIlroy was only just teeing off and, while he avoided the sort of nightmare start he endured here in 2019 when he went out of bounds at the first for a quadruple bogey, the Northern Irishman missed a short par putt, much to the disappointment of the thousands of who had come to see golf's newest member of the career Grand Slam club. Fitzpatrick was eighth in May's US PGA Championship, but that was a high point in an otherwise disappointing season until back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two events pointed towards an upturn. Calamity Corner class. Matt Fitzpatrick makes birdie to tie the lead. Listen in on The Open Radio. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 And that timing was impeccable as he got off to a flying start with a 22-foot eagle putt at the second hole, although he immediately bogeyed the next. Two more birdies were to follow, but the highlight was holing out for birdie from the steep bank on the treacherous Calamity Corner par-three 16th which put him into a share of the lead set by world number 354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong. 'Obviously I felt like The Players was a pretty low point,' said Fitzpatrick of missing the cut at Sawgrass in March. 'That's the lowest I've felt in my career. Statistically it could be the worst run that I've played as well. I just didn't feel good or know where it was going. 'It was really bad and even Valero, kind of a couple of weeks later, I couldn't find the face with the ball. It was just not good. 'Today I just felt like I did everything well. Just drove it well, approach play was good and chipped and putted well. It was just an all-around good day.' Olesen, a Danish left-hander who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant the 26-year-old had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open, so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after his debut at Troon 12 months ago. But he had no regrets about his decision, having come through qualifying a fortnight ago. 'I think it would have been a different decision if I was 19 at the time, but getting out on tour has always been a dream of mine,' he said. 'I had already made the decision before even going to second stage of Q-school that, if I got through, it would be a no-brainer to turn pro. 'I always feel like, if I play my game, I can do well, especially around links courses, but it hasn't been very good golf the last couple of months.' England's Matthew Jordan, seeking his third successive top-10 Open finish, was a shot further back, while behind him 52-year-old Lee Westwood rolled back the years on the 30th anniversary of his first Open appearance with a 69. World number one Scottie Scheffler was one under through 16 holes, as was Sergio Garcia at the turn on his return to The Open after missing the last two events.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
An all-around good day – England's Matt Fitzpatrick takes share of Open lead
As he was finishing, home favourite Rory McIlroy was only just teeing off and, while he avoided the sort of nightmare start he endured here in 2019 when he went out of bounds at the first for a quadruple bogey, the Northern Irishman missed a short par putt, much to the disappointment of the thousands of who had come to see golf's newest member of the career Grand Slam club. Fitzpatrick was eighth in May's US PGA Championship, but that was a high point in an otherwise disappointing season until back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two events pointed towards an upturn. Calamity Corner class. Matt Fitzpatrick makes birdie to tie the lead. Listen in on The Open Radio. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 And that timing was impeccable as he got off to a flying start with a 22-foot eagle putt at the second hole, although he immediately bogeyed the next. Two more birdies were to follow, but the highlight was holing out for birdie from the steep bank on the treacherous Calamity Corner par-three 16th which put him into a share of the lead set by world number 354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong. 'Obviously I felt like The Players was a pretty low point,' said Fitzpatrick of missing the cut at Sawgrass in March. 'That's the lowest I've felt in my career. Statistically it could be the worst run that I've played as well. I just didn't feel good or know where it was going. 'It was really bad and even Valero, kind of a couple of weeks later, I couldn't find the face with the ball. It was just not good. 'Today I just felt like I did everything well. Just drove it well, approach play was good and chipped and putted well. It was just an all-around good day.' Olesen, a Danish left-hander who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant the 26-year-old had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open, so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after his debut at Troon 12 months ago. But he had no regrets about his decision, having come through qualifying a fortnight ago. 'I think it would have been a different decision if I was 19 at the time, but getting out on tour has always been a dream of mine,' he said. 'I had already made the decision before even going to second stage of Q-school that, if I got through, it would be a no-brainer to turn pro. 'I always feel like, if I play my game, I can do well, especially around links courses, but it hasn't been very good golf the last couple of months.' England's Matthew Jordan, seeking his third successive top-10 Open finish, was a shot further back, while behind him 52-year-old Lee Westwood rolled back the years on the 30th anniversary of his first Open appearance with a 69. World number one Scottie Scheffler was one under through 16 holes, as was Sergio Garcia at the turn on his return to The Open after missing the last two events.
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
An all-around good day – England's Matt Fitzpatrick takes share of Open lead
As he was finishing, home favourite Rory McIlroy was only just teeing off and, while he avoided the sort of nightmare start he endured here in 2019 when he went out of bounds at the first for a quadruple bogey, the Northern Irishman missed a short par putt, much to the disappointment of the thousands of who had come to see golf's newest member of the career Grand Slam club. Fitzpatrick was eighth in May's US PGA Championship, but that was a high point in an otherwise disappointing season until back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last two events pointed towards an upturn. Calamity Corner class. Matt Fitzpatrick makes birdie to tie the lead. Listen in on The Open Radio. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 And that timing was impeccable as he got off to a flying start with a 22-foot eagle putt at the second hole, although he immediately bogeyed the next. Two more birdies were to follow, but the highlight was holing out for birdie from the steep bank on the treacherous Calamity Corner par-three 16th which put him into a share of the lead set by world number 354 Jacob Skov Olesen and China's Li Haotong. 'Obviously I felt like The Players was a pretty low point,' said Fitzpatrick of missing the cut at Sawgrass in March. 'That's the lowest I've felt in my career. Statistically it could be the worst run that I've played as well. I just didn't feel good or know where it was going. 'It was really bad and even Valero, kind of a couple of weeks later, I couldn't find the face with the ball. It was just not good. 'Today I just felt like I did everything well. Just drove it well, approach play was good and chipped and putted well. It was just an all-around good day.' Olesen, a Danish left-hander who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin in Ireland last summer, only turned professional in November after earning his DP World Tour card. That meant the 26-year-old had to sacrifice his amateur exemptions for this year's Masters and US Open, so this was only his second appearance at one of golf's premier events after his debut at Troon 12 months ago. But he had no regrets about his decision, having come through qualifying a fortnight ago. 'I think it would have been a different decision if I was 19 at the time, but getting out on tour has always been a dream of mine,' he said. 'I had already made the decision before even going to second stage of Q-school that, if I got through, it would be a no-brainer to turn pro. 'I always feel like, if I play my game, I can do well, especially around links courses, but it hasn't been very good golf the last couple of months.' England's Matthew Jordan, seeking his third successive top-10 Open finish, was a shot further back, while behind him 52-year-old Lee Westwood rolled back the years on the 30th anniversary of his first Open appearance with a 69. World number one Scottie Scheffler was one under through 16 holes, as was Sergio Garcia at the turn on his return to The Open after missing the last two events.
