- Xander Schauffele was crowned golf champion at Royal Troon on Sunday
- It was his second major this season, with Schauffele posting a final score of 65.
- England’s Justin Rose finished in second place tied at -7 with American Billy Horschel.
Xander Schauffele shot a sensational final-round 65 to sweep the field at Royal Troon on Sunday to win the 152nd Open Championship and his second major title.
It was a superb display of golf from the 2020 Olympic champion, who held off advances from fellow Olympic champion Justin Rose, Thriston Lawrence and Billy Horschel to claim the coveted Claret Jug with a final score of -9.
Rose and Schauffele had played together in their final round, with the 2013 US Open champion pushing the American to the right until the end. Despite his best efforts, the British golfer would finish two shots behind the 2024 PGA Championship winner at -7, but would wave a big fist pump to the crowd, having secured his best result in a major since finishing T2 at the Open in 2018.
Schauffele, who had edged out Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke to win at Valhalla earlier this year, had to wait until it was confirmed Lawrence would not be able to catch him, and the four-time DP World Tour winner closed out his tournament with a final round of 68 that put him in third place at 6-under.
Schauffele He has now completely shed the “almost golf man” moniker, making six birdies in a flawless final round to shoot 69, 72, 69, 65 in his four rounds this weekend.
Xander Schauffele (pictured) won The Open Championship after posting a sensational final score of 65.
Schauffele concluded his weekend with 69, 72, 69, 65, to finish -9, two strokes ahead of Justin Rose and Billy Horschel at -7.
The 30-year-old birdied six of his final round at Royal Troon to win his second career major.
Schauffele stormed through the field to outscore fellow Olympic champion Justin Rose (pictured), who also enjoyed an excellent tournament.
It was the second time this year he won a major with a low score of 65 on his final day, having done the same at Valhalla in May.
“It’s been a great journey and I’m very honoured to hear my name mentioned by Open Champion after that,” Schauffele said after being presented with the Claret Jug. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time.
While thanking his family, coaching staff and Royal Troon fans, Schauffele gave a hint of what motivated him to win, stating that he had re-watched Henrik Stenson’s epic duel with Phil Mickelson in 2016 at Royal Troon.
“I watched the highlights of Phil (Mickelson) and Henrick (Stenson) to motivate me for this week. I guess that paid off,” he joked.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Schauffele admitted the win had yet to sink in and was looking forward to celebrating with the jug: “I can’t wait to drink from it.”
The American claimed his second major title after previously winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla earlier this season.
The 30-year-old (right) hugged his caddie Austin Kaiser (left) after finishing the 18th hole.
Schauffele (left) hugged his father, Stefan Schauffele (right) after winning his second major.
“My dad is here with me, so I’ll let him do the honors,” she said when pressed on which beverage she would choose to drink from the pitcher.
Reflecting on his crowning as golf champion, he added: “It means a lot. It’s really a dream come true to be able to hold this title, it still hasn’t sunk in and I’m still thinking about this incredible property.”
‘I thought it would help me and it did. I felt a sense of calm, a calm I didn’t have on the PGA Tour.
‘I was calm and I felt collected, I was telling my caddie Austin that I felt calm on the 18th hole and he said he felt like he was about to throw up on the 18th tee.’
But to continue…
