Rónán MacNamara in Royal Troon
Royal Troon may be perched in South Ayrshire, Scotland but it’s become the adopted home of the Americans as Xander Schauffele claimed the 152nd Open Championship and ensured that all four men’s titles will rest on the other side of the Atlantic for the first time since 1982.
Tom Watson last completed the clean sweep for America, at the 82′ Open in Troon and West Scottish turf has been overly kind to the Stars and Stripes with Schauffele wrapping up a seventh victory in the last eight Open Championships here.
Schauffele carded one of the great major championship back nines, coming home in 31 for a final round of 65 to win by two shots on nine-under-par, a margin of victory that doesn’t reflect the procession that the last few holes were.
“I’ve always dreamt of doing it,” said Schauffele who has top-8 finishes in all four majors. “That walk up 18 truly is the coolest with the yellow leaderboards and the fans and the standing ovation. It really is one of the coolest feelings I’ve ever had in my life. I got chills walking down and quickly had to zap myself back into focus because the tournament wasn’t over yet.
“I can’t wait to enjoy this with my family.”
Teeing off a shot off the pace, the American took a while to get going, opening with five successive pars before back-to-back birdies on 6 and 7 put him within touching distance again.
Schauffele becomes the first player since Pádraig Harrington in 2008 to win the PGA and Open Championships in the same year and he was able to find the birdies others weren’t including one against the head on the 11th.
Schauffele joined Thriston Lawrence at the summit on seven-under with a birdie on 13 before pulling two shots clear of the pack with another on the par-3 14th.
A routine birdie on the par-5 16th lifted Schauffele to nine and gave him breathing space heading towards the clubhouse.
“It was very difficult. I think winning the first one helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I’ve ever played in a tournament.
“I mean, it’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year. It took me forever just to win one, and to have two now is something else.”
Despite late spurts from Justin Rose and Billy Horschel who shot rounds of 67 and 68 respectively, they were forced to share second place on seven-under.
South Africa’s Lawrence looked for a while like he would cause a major upset when four birdies on his front nine took him to seven-under, but a one-over back side wasn’t enough as he claimed fourth with a 68 with Russell Henley a shot further back in 5th.
Shane Lowry also went on an early charge before slowing up on the back nine but he can take positive reflections from a sixth place finish that gives him his highest Open finish outside of his 2019 victory.
Pádraig Harrington finished in a share of 22nd on four-over after a 72 while Tom McKibbin and Darren Clarke were eleven and fifteen-over respectively.
Meanwhile, Calum Scott become the first Scottish player since Sam Locke in 2018 (Carnoustie) to claim the low amateur Silver Medal.
The 20-year-old dropped five shots on the back nine as he closed with a 76 on eight over par at Royal Troon, beating Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen and American Tommy Morrison by three strokes.
“I’m super happy, excited, buzzing. It’s one of the highest honours you can win as an amateur,” said the Nairn native, some 200 miles from Troon.
“First of all, you have to make the cut to win this award and to be over 11 other amateurs, I’m very proud of myself for that.
“To compete in a tournament like The Open, it’s just amazing.
“I did the last 100 yards just walking and I got kind of emotional. I still had two putts to hit so I couldn’t fully but I was embracing it. It’s a memory I’ll have forever and cherish for a lifetime.”
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