Scheffler Solidifies His Dominance at the Open Championship
The Open Championship, the last major of the season, has come to an end, and Scottie Scheffler has once again demonstrated his supremacy on the course, securing his second major of the year. With the FedEx Cup playoffs, the Tour Championship, and the Ryder Cup still to be played, the golf season promises intense emotions. What’s next for Scheffler? Who were the surprises and disappointments at the Open? We analyze the most important questions arising from Royal Portrush and anticipate what’s to come.
Scheffler, at 29 years old, is positioned as the third youngest player to reach 15 victories on the PGA Tour and four majors, surpassed only by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in their time. He is the fourth golfer to win the Masters, the PGA Championship, and The Open before turning 30, joining the elite of Woods, Nicklaus, and Gary Player. Considering his game and his improvement in putting, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Scheffler double his major wins, or even more. The possibility of him completing the Grand Slam at next year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is high. His focus on golf, family, and faith, combined with his fierce competitiveness, sets him apart. Scheffler expressed his gratitude for the triumph, acknowledging that he doesn’t feel a personal transformation from winning a golf tournament. However, his consistency in the game and his ability to score low keep him at the top, and there are no signs that this will change soon, whether in Memphis, the Tour Championship, the Ryder Cup, or the upcoming major championships. Beyond Scheffler, who were the other winners at the Open? Although Scheffler dominated, the week was also significant for Rory McIlroy, who, after missing the cut at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, this time had an outstanding performance in his homeland. McIlroy finished in a tie for seventh place, seven strokes behind Scheffler, but his performance was a celebration of his victory at the Masters in April, which allowed him to complete the Grand Slam. Regarding disappointments, three of the most recognized stars of the LIV Golf League, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, and Cameron Smith, failed to shine at Royal Portrush. Koepka missed the cut at the Masters, the PGA Championship, and The Open, while Smith hasn’t achieved good results since his victory at the 2022 Open Championship. The U.S. Ryder Cup team captain, Keegan Bradley, will surely be pleased with Xander Schauffele’s performance in recent weeks. Schauffele recovered from a rib injury to achieve a tie for eighth place at the Scottish Open and seventh at The Open. Chris Gotterup is emerging as a key factor for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, with his recent victory at the Scottish Open and his third-place finish at the Open, surprising many. Gotterup has risen in the world rankings and in the Ryder Cup standings. Regarding the Ryder Cup, Scheffler is already qualified for the U.S. team, and the following five golfers in the points standings, Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau, and Harris English, are also expected to be part of the team. Captain Bradley will make six selections, and Justin Thomas and Morikawa are expected to be considered, along with Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy, and Brian Harman. In the European team, Matt Fitzpatrick has shown improvement in his game, while Robert MacIntyre is also emerging as a strong candidate. The Hojgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus, could also be considered, although Nicolai needs to improve his ranking position.I don’t think the golf world expected to see someone as dominant as Tiger so soon, and here’s Scottie taking the throne of dominance.
Xander Schauffele
