Little over two months ago, Xander Schauffele was regarded as one of the most talented golfers to never win one of the sport’s biggest prizes. On Sunday, the American clinched the Open Championship to claim the second major of his career.
The world No. 3 tore away from a bunched field with a ruthless showing at Royal Troon in Scotland, powering to victory to swiftly add a Claret Jug to the PGA Championship trophy he lifted in May.
Having begun the final round among a group of six at one shot off the lead, a brilliant bogey-free six-under 65 saw Schauffele finish two strokes ahead of compatriot Billy Horschel and England’s Justin Rose at nine-under par overall.
It makes the Californian the first player to win two majors in a single season since Brooks Koepka in 2018, and seals an American clean sweep of the four men’s flagship events for the first time since 1982 following Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau’s triumphs at the Masters and US Open respectively.
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“I feel very honored. Hearing your name called with ‘Open Champion’ right after is something I’ve dreamt of for a very long time,” the 30-year-old said as he was presented with the Claret Jug.
Eight-time PGA Tour winner Horschel had led heading into the final round but his closing 68 was not enough to clinch a first major title, Rose shooting one better to join the 37-year-old in second and match his own personal best major showing since lifting the US Open in 2013.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence finished one shot behind Rose and Horschel in tied-fourth, with American Russell Henley a further stroke back. World No. 1 Scheffler finished in a share of seventh at one-under par overall.
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