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New York Times
19-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Open Championship 2025: Why Scottie Scheffler's game was meant for links golf
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The world No. 1 stood in a deep, wide squat. He leaned his weight forward with the slant of the dune. He rested his eyes firmly on a ball that required a search party. Royal Portrush's prickly, tall grass obscured his shins. This is the kind of predicament that ruins a round of golf, or at the very least halts its momentum. Not for Scottie Scheffler. That man is different. Advertisement Scheffler hacked it out with just the right amount of muscle to send the ball trickling to 9 feet, 8 inches away from the pin. When the ensuing putt dropped into the center of the cup, Scheffler had officially made 37 of 39 putts inside 10 feet for the week. Scheffler's up-and-down from the hill on the left side of the 11th hole at the Open Championship Saturday is a microcosm of the quality that makes him the golfer he is — or rather, the artist he is. It's why he maintains a four-shot lead ahead of the final round of the Open, 18 holes away from the fourth major of his career and three-quarters of the way to the career Grand Slam. He's the type of player who can cause a championship to feel like it's over simply by the way he approaches each new task in front of him. No shot presents a hurdle too much to be overcome by Scheffler. Each one simply emerges as his next challenge, or his next project, and yes, links golf is full of them. 'I think it fits my strengths because I like to do things very creatively, and I think out here you kind of have to,' Scheffler said earlier this week. 'I think each year we come over, I start learning a bit more and more.' Catch him if you can. Scottie's lead remains at three. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2025 Scheffler made two key saves for par en route to his bogey-free 67 on Saturday, one being on No. 11, the other on No. 14, when his drive nestled once again in the tall grass, finding a spot that could have been adequate for a winter hibernation. Commentators whispered into their microphones if the American would even be able to advance the ball. But if Scheffler was perturbed by what was in front of him, he did not let us know. He stood over the shot, with his looper Ted Scott close by, swapping between two irons, assessing which club to deploy. He picked one. He fired away. Scheffler launched the ball 133 yards, setting up another chance to save par. And of course, he did. Advertisement 'It was a really nice shot to get the ball out there in front of the green and give myself a decent look,' Scheffler said. Royal Portrush is a course embedded in a plot of seaside terrain. It has bumps and rolls. Ditches and peaks. Simply because of the way the ground is shaped, players will be tested by outcomes they feel like they might not have ever deserved. That's why embracing the links test, and submitting to its weirdness and beauty, is a necessity. Scheffler, although not particularly experienced in the variances, as he was only introduced to links golf after college, has learned to do just that. But it hasn't been difficult for Scheffler to grasp, because he already had the DNA. To understand Scheffler's expertise is to know that Scheffler isn't great because his golf swing looks perfect. He isn't great because of his mastery of analytics and technology. Sure, he's greater now that he can sink putts like a machine, in part thanks to his putting coach, Phil Kenyon. But Scheffler's prowess derives from his ability to simply go out there and play golf. In a conversation with The Athletic in March, Scheffler's longtime coach, Randy Smith compared his student to a handyman, referencing Scheffler's ability to select the right tool to execute the shot in front of him. 'He's not a one-trick pony hitting the same shot every time,' Smith said. 'He sees where he wants to go, then he has that sixth sense of the best way to do it.' Scott candidly calls Scheffler an artist. The caddie just 'carries the brushes and has the color available' for the world No. 1. If this all sounds a bit out there, it's really not. To Scheffler, his ability to create opportunities — like the ones that led to his four-shot 54-hole lead — is more formulaic than anything. 'I would say, when it comes to playing, I'm definitely more of an artist. But I like to joke with my coach at home that I'm trying to be a robot,' Scheffler said. Advertisement That's what it's started to look and feel like. Scheffler is ranked first in strokes gained putting this week at Royal Portrush, and second in approach. He hit half of the fairways on Saturday and still shot 4 under. Scheffler has made an absolute fool of the infamously difficult 16th hole, named Calamity Corner. He has birdied it all three days. 'Going into tomorrow I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on,' Scheffler said. The ease with which the results appear is down to Scheffler's eye and his feel. Scheffler has gotten himself to this point, poised to snag his fourth major championship and first Open, because of a process that looks otherworldly to the rest of us but feels effortlessly simple to him. That's it — the art of Scottie Scheffler.
CNN
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Unrelenting Scottie Scheffler leaves Open field in his wake. Can anyone catch him?
Calamity Corner: even the name of Royal Portrush's 16th hole is enough to send a golfer's heart racing. If anything was going to knock Scottie Scheffler off his unrelenting march through The Open Championship on Saturday, then the dreaded par-three, with its chasmic drop-off along the right, might have been the most likely source. Two metronomic swings of the club later, the American was plucking his ball out of the cup for birdie, barely a flicker of a reaction on the world No. 1's face as he began his stride to the next tee. It was a perfect encapsulation of the clinical precision with which Scheffler once again plotted his way across Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast, as a bogey-free third round 67 powered the tournament favorite into a commanding four-shot lead with 18 holes to play at the 153rd edition of the major. An eagle at the par-five seventh hole proved the peak of yet another imperious display by the 29-year-old, who has not dropped a shot since bogeying the 11th enroute to a major career-low 64 on Friday. 'I think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander, but I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we're thinking about the shot and when I'm over the ball,' Scheffler told reporters. 'Most of that's just being committed to what I'm doing, so I'm not thinking about wind, I'm not thinking about how the ball is going to bounce. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that's what I'm committed to try and make happen.' At 14-under par overall, Scheffler is within touching distance of a first Claret Jug that would leave him a US Open crown away from joining Rory McIlroy in completing the career grand slam of all four major titles. It's an ominous state of play. The 16-time PGA Tour winner has converted his last seven 54-hole leads or co-leads on the circuit, according to PGA Tour Communications, and all three such advantages at majors; The Masters in 2022 and 2024, as well as May's PGA Championship. 'I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position,' he said. 'I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on.' There is some historical evidence for the chasing pack to cling onto, however. Tiger Woods is the only world No. 1 to arrive at The Open and win, albeit with the caveat that he did it three times in 2000, 2005 and 2006. What's more, closest challenger Haotong Li has pedigree on Open Sunday. The four-time European Tour winner fired a closing 63 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 to climb to third and register the best ever finish by a Chinese golfer at a men's major. The world No. 11 had thought about quitting the sport entirely in 2023 after struggles with the dreaded yips, an involuntary muscle tension in the wrist, contributed to a sharp dive in form, but impressed again with a third round 69 to set up a Sunday pairing with a historic talent. Asked how he got from where he was two years ago to where he is now, Li burst out laughing: 'I don't know. It's a miracle.' 'Four shots behind … (to) play with world No. 1,' he added. 'I'll just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen. I's going to be exciting.' England's Matt Fitzpatrick sits one stroke behind Li at nine-under overall after shooting even-par 71, the boost of a stunning chip-in eagle dampened by three bogeys across the back nine. It left the 2022 US Open victor to rue his putter after a Friday 66 had moved him within a stroke of Scheffler. 'Just made way less putts than Scottie … they just wouldn't go in,' the 30-year-old told reporters. 'His putting is night and day. From what you guys all talk about how bad it was at one point, I didn't really play with him in that period. He's just not missed a putt today … and that's obviously the difference that's taken him to this unbeatable run.' Home hero McIlroy is among the four-strong group sat six shots behind Scheffler at six-under overall, as an eventful 66 saw him pick up one stroke on his American rival. The world No. 2 had said he felt ready to make a much-needed run and duly tore out of the blocks, opening with a curling putt from over 36 feet for birdie before rolling in his third of the day at the fourth hole. His momentum was slowed in bizarre circumstances at the par-four 11th when he unearthed a hidden ball while swinging to escape thick rough, his actual attempt falling short of the green and ending in bogey. 'That is the most weird, ridiculous thing I've ever seen,' McIlroy reflected after his round. 'Then my ball came out really weird and spinny. Just so strange.' A stunning, 56-foot eagle putt on the following hole reignited the 2014 champion's round before another birdie at the 15th, but McIlroy is under no illusions about the size of the task he faces to reel in Scheffler and lift a second Claret Jug on home turf. 'He's playing like Scottie. I don't think it's a surprise … He's just so solid, he doesn't make mistakes,' McIlroy said. 'He's turned himself into a really consistent putter as well. So there doesn't seem to be any weakness there. Whenever you're trying to chase down a guy like that, it's hard to do.' McIlroy is joined in a share of fourth by England's Tyrrell Hatton, as well as American duo Chris Gotterup and Harris English.
CNN
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Unrelenting Scottie Scheffler leaves Open field in his wake. Can anyone catch him?
Calamity Corner: even the name of Royal Portrush's 16th hole is enough to send a golfer's heart racing. If anything was going to knock Scottie Scheffler off his unrelenting march through The Open Championship on Saturday, then the dreaded par-three, with its chasmic drop-off along the right, might have been the most likely source. Two metronomic swings of the club later, the American was plucking his ball out of the cup for birdie, barely a flicker of a reaction on the world No. 1's face as he began his stride to the next tee. It was a perfect encapsulation of the clinical precision with which Scheffler once again plotted his way across Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast, as a bogey-free third round 67 powered the tournament favorite into a commanding four-shot lead with 18 holes to play at the 153rd edition of the major. An eagle at the par-five seventh hole proved the peak of yet another imperious display by the 29-year-old, who has not dropped a shot since bogeying the 11th enroute to a major career-low 64 on Friday. 'I think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander, but I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we're thinking about the shot and when I'm over the ball,' Scheffler told reporters. 'Most of that's just being committed to what I'm doing, so I'm not thinking about wind, I'm not thinking about how the ball is going to bounce. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that's what I'm committed to try and make happen.' At 14-under par overall, Scheffler is within touching distance of a first Claret Jug that would leave him a US Open crown away from joining Rory McIlroy in completing the career grand slam of all four major titles. It's an ominous state of play. The 16-time PGA Tour winner has converted his last seven 54-hole leads or co-leads on the circuit, according to PGA Tour Communications, and all three such advantages at majors; The Masters in 2022 and 2024, as well as May's PGA Championship. 'I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position,' he said. 'I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on.' There is some historical evidence for the chasing pack to cling onto, however. Tiger Woods is the only world No. 1 to arrive at The Open and win, albeit with the caveat that he did it three times in 2000, 2005 and 2006. What's more, closest challenger Haotong Li has pedigree on Open Sunday. The four-time European Tour winner fired a closing 63 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 to climb to third and register the best ever finish by a Chinese golfer at a men's major. The world No. 11 had thought about quitting the sport entirely in 2023 after struggles with the dreaded yips, an involuntary muscle tension in the wrist, contributed to a sharp dive in form, but impressed again with a third round 69 to set up a Sunday pairing with a historic talent. Asked how he got from where he was two years ago to where he is now, Li burst out laughing: 'I don't know. It's a miracle.' 'Four shots behind … (to) play with world No. 1,' he added. 'I'll just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen. I's going to be exciting.' England's Matt Fitzpatrick sits one stroke behind Li at nine-under overall after shooting even-par 71, the boost of a stunning chip-in eagle dampened by three bogeys across the back nine. It left the 2022 US Open victor to rue his putter after a Friday 66 had moved him within a stroke of Scheffler. 'Just made way less putts than Scottie … they just wouldn't go in,' the 30-year-old told reporters. 'His putting is night and day. From what you guys all talk about how bad it was at one point, I didn't really play with him in that period. He's just not missed a putt today … and that's obviously the difference that's taken him to this unbeatable run.' Home hero McIlroy is among the four-strong group sat six shots behind Scheffler at six-under overall, as an eventful 66 saw him pick up one stroke on his American rival. The world No. 2 had said he felt ready to make a much-needed run and duly tore out of the blocks, opening with a curling putt from over 36 feet for birdie before rolling in his third of the day at the fourth hole. His momentum was slowed in bizarre circumstances at the par-four 11th when he unearthed a hidden ball while swinging to escape thick rough, his actual attempt falling short of the green and ending in bogey. 'That is the most weird, ridiculous thing I've ever seen,' McIlroy reflected after his round. 'Then my ball came out really weird and spinny. Just so strange.' A stunning, 56-foot eagle putt on the following hole reignited the 2014 champion's round before another birdie at the 15th, but McIlroy is under no illusions about the size of the task he faces to reel in Scheffler and lift a second Claret Jug on home turf. 'He's playing like Scottie. I don't think it's a surprise … He's just so solid, he doesn't make mistakes,' McIlroy said. 'He's turned himself into a really consistent putter as well. So there doesn't seem to be any weakness there. Whenever you're trying to chase down a guy like that, it's hard to do.' McIlroy is joined in a share of fourth by England's Tyrrell Hatton, as well as American duo Chris Gotterup and Harris English.
CNN
18-07-2025
- Climate
- CNN
Superb Scottie Scheffler posts career-lowest major round to surge into ominous Open lead
If Scottie Scheffler is still wrestling with just why he wants to win the Open Championship, he's doing a remarkable job of hiding it. Three days after his extensive, existential rumination on the fleeting fulfilment of success, the world No. 1 ripped through the Royal Portrush course on Friday with the lowest major round of his career to take a one shot lead into the weekend in Northern Ireland. Eight birdies lifted the American to a seven-under 64 round, eclipsing the 65 he shot en route to his third major crown at the PGA Championship in May. Mere inches denied him from going one better, as his putted effort for a third consecutive birdie at the final hole pulled up agonizingly short. Already at 10-under par overall, it's an ominous sign for his competitors for the pre-tournament favorite to look so at ease in a tournament he has, by his sky-high standards, typically found harder to bend to his will. It remains the sole event in which Scheffler has yet to record a top-five finish, with just two of the 29-year-old's 15 top-10 major finishes coming at the game's oldest tournament. Yet, even wildly fluctuating weather doesn't seem to be stopping him from figuring it all out on his fifth Open start. 'We get to the first hole, it's still sunny. Then all of a sudden, you look around and it's super dark and it starts pouring rain. You're like, 'Boy, I wonder how long this is going to last,'' Scheffler told reporters on his return to the clubhouse. 'Fortunately, it didn't pour the whole time. We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather.' England's Matt Fitzpatrick sits within touching distance after shooting 66, a run of four straight birdies after the turn, the latest sign of a return to his best play. The 30-year-old clinched the US Open in 2022 but, since last winning an event in October 2023, has endured a dip in form that cratered, with him experiencing the 'lowest' feeling of his career after missing the cut with rounds of 78 and 72 at The Players Championship in March. Yet a tied-eighth finish at the US Open hinted that something was clicking, with the world No. 59 now full of belief that he can take the challenge to Scheffler. 'I wouldn't say I necessarily feel as much pressure … He's going to have the expectation to go out and dominate,' Fitzpatrick said. 'He's an exceptional player. He's World No. 1, and we're seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me, obviously, I hope I'm going to have some more home support than him, but it's an exciting position for me to be in, given where I was earlier this year.' American Brian Harman and China's Haotong Li lead the chasing pack, the pair shooting 65 and 67 respectively to head into the weekend one stroke back. Harman posted an identical second round en route to a commanding six shot victory at Royal Liverpool two years ago, when his love of hunting became a staple topic of press conferences and a source of controversy for some British tabloids. 'I was curious why everyone was asking so many questions about it,' he reflected after his bogey-free Friday. 'I didn't realize that everyone was so upset about it. It's a hill I'll die on. I'll sleep like a baby tonight.' Li may not boast the major-winning pedigree of his American counterpart, but the world No. 111 has history at The Open. The four-time European Tour winner fired a stunning closing 63 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 to climb to third and register the best ever finish by a Chinese golfer at a men's major. It's a source of confidence to a player that doesn't seem lacking in it, with Li once owning a wedge inscribed with the words, 'Haotong is the most handsome man in China.' 'I took an image [of the club] for Phil Mickelson, texted him, and he goes, 'Shame for your country.' It was fun,' Li told reporters. 'I think if I play my best, I can compete with anyone,' he added. Harman and Li sit three shots ahead of a five-strong group level at five-under par overall with American duo Chris Gotterup and Harris English, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard. Home hero Rory McIlroy overcame struggles off the tee to shoot 69, a one-stroke improvement on his up-and-down opening round that leaves him with work to do if he is to secure what would be a storybook sixth career major. 'I've been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there,' said McIlroy, seven shots adrift from Scheffler. 'I'm going to need to have it all under control and have it all firing over the weekend to make a run.' The 36-year-old is at three-under par overall, safely clear of a cut line that he tearfully fell short of when the major returned to Royal Portrush for the first time in 68 years in 2019. Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau had looked destined to meet the same fate after toiling to a first round seven-over 78, only to follow it up with a stunning 65 to soar to one-over par overall, right on the cut mark. The American has historically found it more difficult to adapt his big-hitting game to the links courses across the pond, with the Open the only major he has yet to record a top-five finish in, yet DeChambeau looked in complete control as he made a 13-stroke improvement. 'I woke up this morning and I said, 'You know what, I can't give up,'' the American said. 'My dad always told me never to give up, to keep going, and that's what I did today. I was proud of the way I fought back, really persevered through some emotionally difficult moments, and to hold myself together and not get pissed and slam clubs and throw things and all that like I wanted to.' Yet plenty of big names will be departing the Causeway Coast prematurely, with 2021 victor Collin Morikawa, 2022 champion Cameron Smith and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka all falling well short of making the weekend.
CNN
18-07-2025
- Climate
- CNN
Superb Scottie Scheffler posts career-lowest major round to surge into ominous Open lead
If Scottie Scheffler is still wrestling with just why he wants to win the Open Championship, he's doing a remarkable job of hiding it. Three days after his extensive, existential rumination on the fleeting fulfilment of success, the world No. 1 ripped through the Royal Portrush course on Friday with the lowest major round of his career to take a one shot lead into the weekend in Northern Ireland. Eight birdies lifted the American to a seven-under 64 round, eclipsing the 65 he shot en route to his third major crown at the PGA Championship in May. Mere inches denied him from going one better, as his putted effort for a third consecutive birdie at the final hole pulled up agonizingly short. Already at 10-under par overall, it's an ominous sign for his competitors for the pre-tournament favorite to look so at ease in a tournament he has, by his sky-high standards, typically found harder to bend to his will. It remains the sole event in which Scheffler has yet to record a top-five finish, with just two of the 29-year-old's 15 top-10 major finishes coming at the game's oldest tournament. Yet, even wildly fluctuating weather doesn't seem to be stopping him from figuring it all out on his fifth Open start. 'We get to the first hole, it's still sunny. Then all of a sudden, you look around and it's super dark and it starts pouring rain. You're like, 'Boy, I wonder how long this is going to last,'' Scheffler told reporters on his return to the clubhouse. 'Fortunately, it didn't pour the whole time. We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather.' England's Matt Fitzpatrick sits within touching distance after shooting 66, a run of four straight birdies after the turn, the latest sign of a return to his best play. The 30-year-old clinched the US Open in 2022 but, since last winning an event in October 2023, has endured a dip in form that cratered, with him experiencing the 'lowest' feeling of his career after missing the cut with rounds of 78 and 72 at The Players Championship in March. Yet a tied-eighth finish at the US Open hinted that something was clicking, with the world No. 59 now full of belief that he can take the challenge to Scheffler. 'I wouldn't say I necessarily feel as much pressure … He's going to have the expectation to go out and dominate,' Fitzpatrick said. 'He's an exceptional player. He's World No. 1, and we're seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me, obviously, I hope I'm going to have some more home support than him, but it's an exciting position for me to be in, given where I was earlier this year.' American Brian Harman and China's Haotong Li lead the chasing pack, the pair shooting 65 and 67 respectively to head into the weekend one stroke back. Harman posted an identical second round en route to a commanding six shot victory at Royal Liverpool two years ago, when his love of hunting became a staple topic of press conferences and a source of controversy for some British tabloids. 'I was curious why everyone was asking so many questions about it,' he reflected after his bogey-free Friday. 'I didn't realize that everyone was so upset about it. It's a hill I'll die on. I'll sleep like a baby tonight.' Li may not boast the major-winning pedigree of his American counterpart, but the world No. 111 has history at The Open. The four-time European Tour winner fired a stunning closing 63 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 to climb to third and register the best ever finish by a Chinese golfer at a men's major. It's a source of confidence to a player that doesn't seem lacking in it, with Li once owning a wedge inscribed with the words, 'Haotong is the most handsome man in China.' 'I took an image [of the club] for Phil Mickelson, texted him, and he goes, 'Shame for your country.' It was fun,' Li told reporters. 'I think if I play my best, I can compete with anyone,' he added. Harman and Li sit three shots ahead of a five-strong group level at five-under par overall with American duo Chris Gotterup and Harris English, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard. Home hero Rory McIlroy overcame struggles off the tee to shoot 69, a one-stroke improvement on his up-and-down opening round that leaves him with work to do if he is to secure what would be a storybook sixth career major. 'I've been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there,' said McIlroy, seven shots adrift from Scheffler. 'I'm going to need to have it all under control and have it all firing over the weekend to make a run.' The 36-year-old is at three-under par overall, safely clear of a cut line that he tearfully fell short of when the major returned to Royal Portrush for the first time in 68 years in 2019. Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau had looked destined to meet the same fate after toiling to a first round seven-over 78, only to follow it up with a stunning 65 to soar to one-over par overall, right on the cut mark. The American has historically found it more difficult to adapt his big-hitting game to the links courses across the pond, with the Open the only major he has yet to record a top-five finish in, yet DeChambeau looked in complete control as he made a 13-stroke improvement. 'I woke up this morning and I said, 'You know what, I can't give up,'' the American said. 'My dad always told me never to give up, to keep going, and that's what I did today. I was proud of the way I fought back, really persevered through some emotionally difficult moments, and to hold myself together and not get pissed and slam clubs and throw things and all that like I wanted to.' Yet plenty of big names will be departing the Causeway Coast prematurely, with 2021 victor Collin Morikawa, 2022 champion Cameron Smith and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka all falling well short of making the weekend.
