Scottie Scheffler Wins British Open in Style, Grabs 2nd Major of the Year
Scheffler Dominates at Royal Portrush, Shows Why He’s the Best in Golf Right Now
Scottie Scheffler was unstoppable at the British Open on Sunday, cruising to a four-shot win that cemented his place at the top of the golf world.
He shot a 3-under 68 in the final round at Royal Portrush, finishing at 17-under overall. It was his second major win of the year and the fourth of his career — a performance many are already comparing to Tiger Woods in his prime.
Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and what’s next for golf’s new dominant force.
A Fast Start and Total Control
Scheffler set the tone right away. On the first hole, his 9-iron landed just a foot from the pin — a tap-in birdie. He kept up the pressure from there, adding birdies on the 4th and 5th holes. His most emotional moment? A fist pump after saving par from 15 feet on the 6th.
Even after a rare mistake on the 8th hole — a double bogey from a bunker — Scheffler stayed cool. He bounced back with a birdie on the 10th and calmly played the rest of the round with solid pars and smart shot choices.
By the time he reached the 18th green, the win was in the bag.
“Being able to walk up 18 with the tournament in hand is a really tough thing to describe,” Scheffler said. “It’s a really cool feeling.”
A Historic Run Continues
This was Scheffler’s second major of the year and his fourth in three years. He’s now won three of golf’s four major championships — only the U.S. Open remains for a career Grand Slam.
He’s also the first golfer in more than 100 years to win his first four majors by at least three shots each.
“This was one of my best performances mentally,” Scheffler said. “It takes a lot of patience and focus over 72 holes.”
He’s won four times this year alone and has 20 victories worldwide in the last 30 months. When he takes a lead into the final round, he doesn’t let it slip — this was the 11th time in a row he’s converted a 54-hole lead into a win.
Reactions From the Golf World
Scheffler’s dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed by his fellow pros.
“He is the bar that we’re all trying to get to,” said Rory McIlroy, who won the Masters earlier this year. “There’s maybe two or three players in history who’ve had a run like this.”
Xander Schauffele, last year’s British Open champion, agreed.
“He’s not just on a hot streak,” Schauffele said. “He’s been dominating for over two years now.”
Shane Lowry, who played with Scheffler during the tournament, said watching him felt like witnessing greatness in real time.
“His bad shots are really good,” Lowry said. “That’s when you know he’s really good.”
A Quiet Celebration on the Course
While Scheffler looked calm and focused throughout the round, the real emotion came after the final putt. He plucked the ball from the hole like it was just another PGA event — but once he saw his family, everything changed.
He ran to hug his wife Meredith, their 15-month-old son Bennett, and his parents. He threw his cap in the air and celebrated with pure joy.
“She’s always the first person I want to celebrate with,” he said of Meredith. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without her support.”
There was even a funny moment when little Bennett tried to run up a slope toward the green — only to fall flat.
“I don’t think he’s ever been up a hill that big before,” Scheffler joked.
The Rest of the Field
Harris English finished second, four shots back, after a strong closing round of 66. Despite travel issues for his regular caddie — who couldn’t enter the U.K. — English kept his focus and recorded his second runner-up finish at a major this year. Both times, he was chasing Scheffler.
“The only guy to beat me at the PGA and this week,” English said. “I’m playing some good golf.”
Other standout performances:
- Li Haotong (China), Matt Fitzpatrick (England), and Wyndham Clark (U.S.) tied for fourth — earning Li a spot in next year’s Masters.
- Rory McIlroy tied for seventh after a solid 69. Though he fell short, he got a loud and warm reception from the crowd in his native Northern Ireland.
“Scottie’s been on a different level,” McIlroy said. “But to get that reception up the last — absolutely incredible. I’ll remember that for a long time.”
What’s Next for Scheffler?
With three legs of the career Grand Slam complete, all eyes will be on Scheffler at next year’s U.S. Open.
He’s not just winning — he’s making it look easy. His mix of calm focus, technical skill, and mental strength is separating him from the rest.
And while he may sometimes wonder about the purpose behind winning, Scheffler is clearly doing something special — something the sport hasn’t seen in a long time.
He may not show it with wild celebrations on the green, but make no mistake: Scottie Scheffler is golf’s new king.
Source: AP News – Scottie Scheffler dominates in British Open victory for his 2nd major title this year