The Open 2025: Scheffler Shines at Portrush

JUST three months after Rory McIlroy became only the sixth man to complete golf’s career grand slam, Scottie Scheffler cruised to victory in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, adding to the US PGA title he won in May and his two Masters victories. It means he now only has to win the US Open to join McIlroy. And this from a man who many believed could not master links golf.

It was the world number one’s fourth victory of another astounding year as he continues to utterly dominate the game in a manner that only Tiger Woods has managed over the past 30 years.

Image Credit: R&A

He shot a final round of 68 to finish the week on 17 under par.

He began the day with a four-shot lead. In truth, the only man who could possibly have beaten him on a perfect day for scoring was Scheffler himself - and that never looked likely.  He birdied the first, the fourth and the fifth to extend his lead to seven and was in cruise control until a double-bogey six at the eighth. But he followed it immediately with another birdie that effectively shut the door on his rivals. Another birdie came at the 12th and he then parred his way home.

Scottie Scheffler What's In The Bag 2025

The huge crowds roared on McIlroy but as hard as he tried to deliver for them he never looked like catching Scheffler.

In the end it was fellow American Harris English who finished runner-up, four shots behind, with last week’s Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup continuing his own personal fairytale by ending the week in third place. English has surely now locked up his Ryder Cup place, and Gotterup just might have eyes on joining him.

In another boost for US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, Wyndham Clark returned to something like his best, recording a final round of 65 to finish joint fourth with Matt Fitzpatrick and the hugely entertaining Chinese player Haotong Li. McIlroy gave it his all but had to settle for a 69 and seventh place on 10 under, a whopping seven shots behind Scheffler. It had been a hugely emotional week for McIlroy, who was cheered every inch of the way in his homeland.

Scheffler spoke earlier in the week about the lack of fulfilment he gets from winning golf tournaments - this was his 17th - but he would have to possess a heart of stone not to be moved by the reception he received as he marched down the 18th fairway. And sure enough there was the hint of a tear in his eye as he reached the putting surface.

After holing out he raised his arms in triumph and embraced his wife Meredith and his baby son, Bennett. This clearly meant something extra special for an extraordinary golfer.

He said: “Thank you to the fans for their support. I know I wasn’t the crowd favourite this week. It’s been a great week. I want to thank my wife and family, without whom I couldn’t do any of this. I can’t wait to get home and celebrate this with you all. The R&A does a great job of looking after all of us - so thanks to them. It has been a ton of fun this week and I look forward to Birkdale next year."

In just 25 major starts, Scottie Scheffler has now claimed four titles and recorded 12 additional top-ten finishes, underscoring his remarkable consistency at the sport’s highest level. He becomes only the second player to win The Open as world number one, following Tiger Woods, who did so in 2000, 2005, and 2006. A US Open victory would make Scheffler the seventh player in history to complete the career Grand Slam. 

His triumph also continues a dominant run for American golfers, with four of the last five Open Championships now claimed by U.S. players: Collin Morikawa (2021), Brian Harman (2023), Xander Schauffele (2024), and Scheffler (2025).

Both Scheffler and Nicolai Højgaard joined an elite group as the 11th and 12th players to post four sub-70 rounds at The Open.

The final round’s stroke average of 69.886 marked the first time in tournament history that back-to-back rounds have averaged under 70, highlighting the exceptional scoring conditions.

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