Ewan Murray was at Portrush, and his verdict has landed. Here it is! Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler, and hats off to Harris English and Chris Gotterup for making it a US one-two-three. Thanks for reading this report. See you for the Ryder Cup in late September? OK, it’s a date!
-17: Scottie Scheffler
-13: Harris English
-12: Chris Gotterup
-11: Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Haotong Li
-10: Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy
-9: Bryson DeChambeau, Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Russell Henley
-8: Rickie Fowler, Nicolai Højgaard
-7: Jesper Svensson, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood, John Parry, Justin Rose, Rasmus Højgaard, Tyrrell Hatton
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More from Scottie Scheffler now. He talks to Sky Sports. “There’s obviously pressure … but nerves are a good thing, they show you care … they bring the best out of you … [birdie at 9] was extremely important … one of my greatest strengths is being able to reset like that … it was a silly mistake on 8, I got a little greedy … it’s a pretty special feeling to walk up the 18th knowing the trophy is in hand … I got a great reception from the crowd … it’s a pretty cool feeling … a lot of gratitude … a lot of thankfulness … every week is different, this week I was the best player but the beauty is we tee it up in Memphis again in a couple of weeks, and start all over back at even par.”
Which is pretty much the point he was making in that pre-tournament press conference. He’s not going to change, and we wouldn’t have him any other way. Well played, Scottie!
Birthday boy Chris Gotterup, 26, who followed up his victory at the Scottish Open last week with a third-place finish here, speaks to Sky Sports. “I knew I was playing well coming into these two weeks, but I didn’t know this well! … I’m gonna soak it up tonight … it’s been a great two weeks … I was surprised with my own comfort out there these last two weeks … I’ve worked hard on my mental game and golf game as well so it’s nice to see those pieces come together.”
Sky’s Sarah Stirk then wishes him happy birthday … “I’m gettin’ old,” he laughs … and then he’s presented with what looks like either a lemon or perhaps white chocolate cake. “Awesome! Appreciate it! Looks great! Thank you very much!” Maybe a wee bevvy to go with the cake? “I think so. I think so!”
Gotterup looks genuinely delighted with his cake. That’s a fun moment.
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Last year’s champion golfer Xander Schauffele, his defence over, talks to Sky. “I tried my very best … a little deflated … I gave myself a lot of looks but a frustrating day on the greens … there’s nothing quite like it [coming back as defending champion] … to go up on any tee box or green and get some sort of applause … it’s an awesome feeling for us players … people are shy to say it, but [Scheffler] is doing some Tiger-like stuff … extremely dominant … when you see his name up there, you’re kinda like [smiles wryly] great! … there is that sentiment … credit to him … he’s been playing incredible golf.”
Rory, naturally disappointed and yet bursting with pride and emotion as well, gives a sweet interview to Sky Sports. “[The reception on the walk up 18] meant a lot … I’ve had an unbelievable week … the support means the world to me … I really wanted to enjoy this week as much as I could … absolutely incredible … the reception I got will stay with me for a long time … I’ve done a good job of keeping my mind on the task in hand … but I allowed myself a moment walking up the last to try to soak it all in … this place, these people mean so much to me … for that to be reciprocated means a lot … I wish I could have been closer and given it a bit more of a run … but hats off to Scottie, who has been on a different level this week … a different level for the past couple of years … a very deserving champion!”
Scheffler then wanders over to talk to Sky Sports. “It’s a pretty special feeling … it’s been a tough week … a battle … played some really good golf … fortunate to be standing here holding the trophy … it’s pretty fun … I grew up waking up early to watch this tournament on TV … hoping and dreaming I’d get the chance to play in this championship … it’s pretty cool to be sitting here with the trophy … I felt a good amount of peace today … comfortable with my game … even with that little hiccup on 8 … every day’s a battle … it’ll take a little while for this to sink in … it’s a really cool feeling.”
Is he going out in Portrush later tonight to celebrate? “Ah, I think I’m gonna be heading back home … we did get out for breakfast each day but outside of that we’ll be heading back home.” Dialling back on the old people-pleasing-o-meter again there, and that’s fair enough.
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Scheffler thanks the R&A, then continues: “I wish I could have seen more of Portrush but it was a bit of a business week.” He’s then half-interrupted by some shouting, and enquires with a smile: “Is that boos, or good cheers? Couldn’t tell!” Slightly awkward, but he’s not a natural showman. Not everyone from Dallas can be like Lee Trevino. And to be fair, he hasn’t half entertained everyone with his sensational play.
“With a score of 267, the winner of the Gold Medal and the Champion Golfer of the Year … Scottie Scheffler!” He’s given the Claret Jug, and the auld trophy is hoisted into the air with a modest smile. Then it’s time for a speech. “I don’t know exactly what to say … thank you to the fans … I know I wasn’t the fan favourite today but I did hear a lot of USA and Dallas, Texas chants so I appreciate you guys coming out to support … the fan support all week was tremendous … a ton of fun … [to his family] I couldn’t do this without you … I love you very much … I can’t wait to get home and celebrate … I’ve got the best support team I could possibly have … thank you all very much.”
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… and in other Some Company To Keep news: Scheffler joins an elite club of players to win the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship before the age of 30. The other three? Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Scottie doesn’t look a man out of place.
Scottie Scheffler becomes only the 17th player to win the Open and at least one other major in the same year. The other members of this select club: Walter Hagan (PGA 1924), Bobby Jones (US Open 1926 and 1930), Gene Sarazen (US Open 1932), Ben Hogan (Masters and US Open 1953), Arnold Palmer (Masters 1962), Jack Nicklaus (Masters 1966), Lee Trevino (US Open 1972), Gary Player (Masters 1974), Tom Watson (Masters 1977 and US Open 1982), Nick Faldo (Masters 1990), Nick Price (PGA 1994), Mark O’Meara (Masters 1998), Tiger Woods (US Open and PGA 2000, Masters 2005, PGA 2006), Padraig Harrington (PGA 2008), Rory McIlroy (PGA 2014) and Xander Schauffele (PGA 2024). Not a bad crowd, huh?
Scottie Scheffler: Inevitable. Just as Rory McIlroy pointed out last night. OK, it wasn’t quite inevitable … Scottie momentarily cracked open the door with the inexplicable decision to take a shy for the green from a fairway bunker on 8 … but it was as near to inevitable as dammit, because he repaired the damage of that single mistake in short order, and never looked back. In fact, it was pretty much the only time all week he didn’t look inevitable, the only hole out of 72 in which he didn’t act in his usual cool, composed, absurdly talented fashion. The world number one now has four majors to his name, and is just a US Open victory away from the career slam. An extraordinary force of nature. And he’s delighted. Do you think this means nothing to him? That clearly couldn’t be further from the truth. The man’s on cloud nine! Inevitably.
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Scottie Scheffler: Champion Golfer of 2025!
Scheffler can’t make his birdie putt, but who cares?! He taps in for par, signs for a glorious 68, and keeps calm for a moment … before throwing off his cap, raising both arms in the air, waving them around a bit, then embracing his wife Meredith before gathering son Bennett into his arms. The gallery giving him his flowers now! What a noise!
-17: Scheffler
-13: English
-12: Gotterup
-11: Clark, Fitzpatrick, Li
-10: MacIntyre, Schauffele, McIlroy
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As Scottie Scheffler gets close to the green, Portrush breaks into warm applause for the champion-elect. He’s not getting the reception Rory did, but who expected that anyone else would? Shane Lowry perhaps, if he’d doubled up. Maybe. But it’s warm enough for Scheffler to break into a huge smile, the enormity of what he’s about to achieve betraying him. Haotong Li takes a couple of putts for his par, a round of 70, finishing at -11. He laughs heartily. He’s enjoyed himself over these last few holes. It’s been lovely to see. An Open specialist, Li will be back.
The scene’s set for Scottie. He splits the 18th fairway with his drive. Haotong Li is in the semi on the right. Li to go first. He whips an iron into the heart of the green. A wonderful final flourish that rolls up to 12 feet and sets up a chance for him to finish third, just as he did in 2017. Then over to Scheffler, who finds the green as well, and wanders up the fairway, preparing to secure his prize.
McIlroy in with 69
Rory McIlroy makes the walk up 18. He’s not going to win, so it’s not how he would have dreamt it … except it kind of almost certainly is exactly as he’d have dreamt it, because it’s the sort of ovation a winner would get. They love their man! A huge, rolling, never-ending holler that carries him up to the green. What emotion! McIlroy’s still got work to do, though, and keeps it together so he can nearly chip in from the swale at the back. Now that would have blown the roof off the sky. But there’s enough noise anyway. He tides up for par, a final round of 69, and finishes his week at -10. Yep, not how he would have dreamt it, but it’s a pretty special moment anyway. He acknowledges the gallery, shakes hands with Matt Fitzpatrick – par, 69, -11 – and turns again to wave everyone thanks and goodbye before disappearing down the tunnel. Nearly, but the home dream wasn’t meant to be. He’ll always have Augusta.
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Scottie Scheffler’s ball is in thick filth. So much grass atop it. No matter! He simply muscles out a wedge from 100 yards to 15 feet. That’s absurd. Most players would have simply hacked out. Not our Scottie! He can’t make the birdie putt, but that would have been ludicrous. Par will do! Then Haotong Li nearly holes out from the sand for eagle. That would have got them going. Li makes his birdie and rejoins the group at -11.
Scottish Open champ Gotterup shoots 67
Up on the 18th green, Chris Gotterup nearly grabs himself a share of second spot with his playing partner Harris English by draining a long birdie putt … but not quite. Par, a 67, and he’s currently in line to finish third at -12. Do you think, on the plane over the Atlantic last week, the pretty-much-unknown 26-year-old from New Jersey would have taken a win at the Scottish Open and third place at the Open? Answers on a postcard!
“Oh my God, in the bunker, shit, man!” Haotong Li there, so unfortunate in nearly driving the green at 17, only for his ball to kink right into the sand. All delivered with perfect comic timing and a huge winning smile, earning a big laugh from the gallery, and plenty of their love too, no doubt. He’s entertained all week. Scottie Scheffler’s drive isn’t so good, though, wide right and into some thick filth. Not ideal, but we’re too far gone for any dramatic twist.
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English cards 66
Harris English nearly drains a long birdie putt on 18. Not quite, but it’s par, a 66, and he’s the new clubhouse leader at -13. Meanwhile back on 17, Rory secures his sandy par to remain at -10.
Ah, the camera angle was a wee bit deceptive, and Rory has some room to get over the lip of the bunker. But he’s not got too much green to work with. So he earns the love of the gallery with a delicate splash out to six feet. He couldn’t do much better from there. A chance to get out of Dodge with a par. But before he can putt out, Matt Fitzpatrick walks in a 20-footer for back-to-back birdies. He’s -11.
Rory McIlroy sets about making a mess of 17. He flays his tee shot into the gallery down the right – again – then whips a wedge into a bunker on the left side of the green. He’s up against the face as well. This would be classic late-Sunday Open drama … had he been in contention. But, ah well. Still, work to do.
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Xander Schauffele finishes a fine defence of his title with a 68. He ends the week at -10, and will be proud of his efforts at the tail end of a season that’s otherwise underwhelmed … although following a two-major year was always going to be difficult. Meanwhile a disappointing end to an otherwise excellent week’s work for Tyrrell Hatton: a one-over 72 that drops him down the standings to -7. Another player close to making that major breakthrough who we must file under Next Year Maybe.
Scottie can’t make his birdie putt on 16. So he won’t be going away with a record of 2-2-2-2 on this famously challenging par-three. There goes that dream! But he’ll take a par that keeps him sitting pretty at -13. But his lead is only four now, because Harris English birdies the short par-four 17th to grab second place for himself. The 35-year-old Georgian has already tied for second at the PGA this year, and for 12th at the Masters; this shouldn’t be such a surprise.
-17: Scheffler (16)
-13: English (17)
-12: Gotterup (17)
Scottie Scheffler sends a low fade into the 16th. He’s 11-and-a-half feet away from making birdie on this difficult long par-three in all four rounds. Calamity Corner? I don’t think so!
Matt Fitzpatrick tramlines a 30-footer on 16. The birdie brings him back to -10, alongside Rory McIlroy, who had missed the green short and right, and not sent his wedge particularly close. But he makes the six-footer that remains. The gallery, long aware that Rory’s ship has sailed, holler in delight anyway. No point sulking. Party!
Harris English drains a 42-footer on 16. He joins Chris Gotterup in a share of second at -12. Meanwhile back on 15, Scottie Scheffler shaves the cup with a birdie effort, but par will do, as he quietly ambles his way to Open glory. But a birdie for Haotong Li, who’d sent his second from 160 yards to 16 feet. In goes the putt, and that’s a fine response to his double on the previous hole.
-17: Scheffler (15)
-12: English (16), Gotterup (16)
-11: Clark (F)
-10: MacIntyre (F), Schauffele (17), McIlroy (15), Li (15)
MacIntyre cards 67
A par for Bob MacIntyre at the last, and that’s a fine final round of 67. He finished in a tie for sixth here in 2019, his best finish at the Open, and on debut as well. As things stand, he’s tied fifth, and on course to beating that mark. Scotland still waits for its first men’s major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999 – Catriona Matthew won the Women’s British Open in 2009 – but MacIntyre has the game to put an end to the yearning. Next year, maybe.
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It’s not happened for Matt Fitzpatrick today. He finds a bunker from the tee at 15. Always out of position, he ends up with bogey, and like Li, he’s in danger of losing position and pennies. He’s -9. Birdie for Rory McIlroy, though. Too little, too late, but at least his nudging his way back up the leaderboard towards a high finish. At -10, second isn’t totally out of reach yet.
Haotong Li’s chip up from the back of 14 is clumsy. It sails 20 feet past the flag, and he can’t make the putt coming back. Double bogeys are never pretty, but that one was particularly scrappy. He drops back into the pack at -9, and all of a sudden a top-ten finish is far from secure. How ambitions and goals change so quickly on a major-championship Sunday.
Clark shoots 65
Brian Harman was in good nick coming into the weekend, a couple of shots off the lead. But he double-bogeyed 1 yesterday and never really recovered. The 2023 champion golfer has finished strongly, though, with birdies at 12, 17 and finally 18, the last reward for a 40-yard rake worthy of a big smile and a warm reception from the gallery. He’s gone round today with Wyndham Clark, who’s unable to make a 15-footer for a final birdie. Out in 33, he’s back in 32, and after a long period of indifferent, locker-bothering form, the erstwhile US Open champion is back, baby. He’s the new clubhouse leader at -11.
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Trouble for Haotong Li on 14. He finds a fairway bunker off the tee, then makes the schoolboy error of not finding the fairway with his chip out. Lashing from a tousled bank to the right of the fairway, ball above his feet, he gets a flyer that sends his third over the back and down a big bank. He’ll have work to do if he’s to get up and down and limit the damage to bogey. He’ll not be winning this Open, but these things could cost him position and plenty of pennies.
Wyndham Clark walks in a 20-footer on 17 for his eighth birdie of the day. It gives him a share of third spot at -11. Once he clears out of the road, Bob MacIntyre drives the green at the 401-yard par-four, a combination of slope and banks to the right of the fairway guiding his ball into the front of the dancefloor. Two putts later – so close to eagle, as well, his 25-foot effort curling right at the last turn – and that’s his fourth birdie in six holes. He’s -10 and his third top-ten finish at an Open is all but in the bag. Scottie Scheffler meanwhile misses his short-ish birdie putt at 13, but, well, y’know.
-17: Scheffler (13)
-12: Gotterup (14)
-11: Clark (17), English (14), Li (13)
-10: MacIntyre (17), Schauffele (15), Fitzpatrick (13)
Scottie Scheffler aims straight at the flag on the par-three 13th. His ball clears the bunker at the front, lands on its shoulder, pings forward, and rolls out to eight feet. This is a masterclass, and what makes it even more special is the complete lack of panic after his poor call in the fairway bunker at 8. He’s been a study in serene brilliance since. Incidentally if – and let’s be serious, when – he triumphs today, he’ll become the first player to win the Open having made double bogey in the final round since Padraig Harrington at the 2007 Open. Padraig’s came at the 72nd hole at Carnoustie, and was a wee bit more dramatic than today’s minor error. But a double’s a double’s a double, and the stat stands.
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Just as the pack threaten to get a little closer to Scottie Scheffler, the world number one pulls away again. From a swale to the side of 12, he chips up to six feet, and he’s not missing the straight putt for birdie. By comparison Haotong Li, putting up from a swale on the other side, applies too much juice and sends his ball 15 feet past. The result: just a par. The lead’s five again.
-17: Scheffler (12)
-12: Gotterup (13)
-11: English (13), Li (12)
The US Open runner-up Robert MacIntyre has been beavering away out of sight for most of the afternoon. But he’s nudging himself back into view along the closing stretch. Birdies at 12, 14 and now 15, and at -9, a third top-ten finish at the Open for the man from Oban is very much on. And with mention of Oor Bob, here’s Simon McMahon: “Golf seems in rude health right now, what with Scottie, Rory and Xander hoovering up majors, former winners Rahm, Fitzpatrick, DeChambeau continuing to compete, Oban’s own Bob ‘Robert’ MacIntyre making his push for the big time, perennial contenders like Hatton and Fleetwood, plus old timers like Rose, Westwood, DJ, and Sergio hanging in there. It’s enough to make the Rolex hour, and some of the more excitable fans, bearable.”
Chris Gotterup has another nibble into Scottie Scheffler’s lead. A magnificent tee shot into the par-three 13th. Six feet away. He tidies up for his birdie, and there’s just (!) four shots in it. However, Scottie Scheffler is greenside at the par-five 12th in two. News of what he gets up to there coming right up.
-16: Scheffler (11)
-12: Gotterup (13)
-11: English (13), Li (11)
-10: Clark (16), Schauffele (13), Fitzpatrick (12)
From the side of the par-five 12th green, Rory McIlroy gives a monster eagle putt a good chance of dropping. But it dies to the right on its final roll. A birdie, but it’s not enough for the Holywood star. He’s -9. Meanwhile up on 13, Harris English leaves a straight 20-foot birdie putt short, while Wyndham Clark – who couldn’t convert his birdie chance on 15 – leaves another one shy of the hole on 16. English remains -11, Clark -10.
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Xander Schauffele, having birdied the par-five 12th, then swishes his tee shot at 13 pin high. He’ll have a look at birdie from 12 feet. Before he can putt, his playing partner Tyrrell Hatton nearly holes a 50-footer for birdie … but nothing’s happening for High Wycombe’s finest (with apologies to fans of Howard Jones, a cutting-edge reference for the pop kids there) today. Hatton remains at -8 … and Schauffele stays at -10 when he misses his birdie chance.
The chasing pack finally wake up from their slumber. Haotong Li’s second into 11 disappears into a swale to the left of the green, but no matter, because he rakes in a Texas Wedge to get the crowd doing again. Harris English rakes a monster across 12 for eagle. And his playing partner Chris Gotterup misses his eagle effort from half the distance, but taps in for birdie. All three move to -11, and with Scottie Scheffler just making par on 11, the lead’s down to five.
-16: Scheffler (11)
-11: English (12), Gotterup (12), Li (11)
Rory’s travails on 10 have subdued the mood around Portrush. Everyone knows this is turning into a procession. The 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark hasn’t given up the ghost, mind you: out in 33, he’s subsequently birdied 11, 12 and 14, and has just fired his second at 15 into the heart of the green. He’ll have a long look at birdie from there. He’s currently in the group tied for second at -10 and going very well. Not good news for Portrush carpenters hoping to get a lucrative gig repairing lockers next week.
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A fine end to the week for Canada’s Corey Conners. Back in 30 strokes, and his 66 will guarantee a high finish. He’ll be ruing his underwhelming opening-day round of 74. It’s not quite a DeChambeauesque recovery, but it’s in the ballpark, and they’ve both ended the week at -9. He joins Bryson in the clubhouse lead.
Chris Gotterup can’t make his par saver on 11. He slips back to -10. Haotong Li isn’t good for his on 10, either, and drops back to -10 as well. Bogey for Harris English at 11. Everyone’s going backwards … except Scottie Scheffler, who doesn’t make his birdie putt, but his seven-shot lead, recently cut to four, is back to six again in short order. Crisis? What crisis?
-16: Scheffler (10)
-10: Gotterup (11), Fitzpatrick (10), Li (10)
Scottie Scheffler looks concerned as he wedges into 10. No idea why, because the ball screeches to a halt pin high, 20 feet to the left of the flag, before taking a right-angle and rolling to ten feet. Haotong Li meanwhile, having flayed his tee shot into deep trouble, is forced to chip back out onto the fairway. He sends his third into the heart of the green, but he’ll have a 16 footer for par. And that’s the dilemma that Chris Gotterup is faced with, after sending a flyer over 11 and failing to get his chip back close.
Double bogey at 10 for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy’s race is run. His tee shot at 10 disappears into rough down the left. His second gets a flyer, and airmails the green. So far over that he’s on the wrong side of a bank at the back. He tries to get too cute off a tight lie, and almost whiffs his chip. The ball lands apologetically on the upslope and bounces back down into the bespoke gallery that has formed a horseshoe around him. Second time, he gets the ball onto the green, but he’s a good 20 feet away. Two putts later, and that’s a double-bogey six that drops him back to -8. Any outside chance of a romantic home victory gone in a flash.
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Haotong Li makes his birdie putt. He’s out in 35. Realistically, he needed something lower. A fact rammed home when Scottie Scheffler tidies up for his birdie. What a way to respond to that double-bogey. He’s out in 34, and his lead is back to five. No signs of concern on his face, just the usual down-to-business look.
-16: Scheffler (9)
-11: Gotterup (10), Li (9)
-10: English (10), McIlroy (9), Fitzpatrick (9)
Li’s copped a half-decent lie on the bank to the left of 9, but he doesn’t have much green to play with. What a shot he manufactures, though. He stings his wedge into the bank to the left of the green, stunning the ball and kicking it right to six feet! That’s quite outrageous. Over to Scottie, who bounces a wedge from 100 yards to a similar distance. Bounce-back birdie coming up?
Scottie settles himself by battering his drive at 9 into the semi-rough down the right. That’ll be fine. Not so Haotong Li, who hoicks his tee shot into deep nonsense. Meanwhile up on 10, Chris Gotterup gets imaginative from the rough at the back of the green. He deliberately knocks his chip long and left of the hole, using the bank at the back to u-turn his ball to six feet. He makes his par putt, and that’s a magical momentum saver. He remains -11, four off Scheffler’s lead.
The chasing pack can’t rely on Scheffler offering them more gifts, though. They’ve got to do something themselves … and Rory McIlroy disappoints the gallery by cracking a monster 352-yard drive down 9, then leaving his chip 25 feet short. Two putts later, and what a waste. He remains at -10. Meanwhile Chris Gotterup finds rough at the back of the 10th green, pulling his approach, and the peloton is in danger of taking their collective foot off the pedal just as the leader wobbles for the first time this week.
Double bogey at 8 for Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler can’t make his bogey putt on 8, and that’s his first double bogey of the week. An incredibly daft decision to take a shy at the green from the bunker, and it’s cost him. All of a sudden, his seven-shot lead has been whittled down to four.
-15: Scheffler (8)
-11: Gotterup (9)
-10: English (9), McIlroy (8), Fitzpatrick (8), Li (8)
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The new US Open champion JJ Spaun nearly holes out from 176 yards for eagle on 18. What a sign-off that would have been! It’s a tap-in birdie, and he’s back in 30 strokes, signing for a 68. He doesn’t half like the back nine on a major Sunday! He ends the week at -6.
Scheffler fires his wedge straight at the flag. He’s shooting four. He lands 15 feet short of the pin, but he’s got a chance to salvage bogey. Elsewhere, Chris Gotterup birdies 9 to turn in 33, and out of absolutely nowhere, there’s a little bit of jeopardy for the world number one.
… and on 8, Scottie Scheffler makes an absurd unforced error. Instead of taking his medicine out of the fairway bunker, he takes a long iron and goes for the green. The face of the bunker is way too steep, and he slams his ball into it. He’s fortunate his ball doesn’t roll back into his deep footprint. Then he does what he should have done in the first instance, wedging out. The leader will do well to avoid double bogey now. Hmm.
“Gosh, dang it!” Some wholesome cussin’ from Scottie Scheffler, in response to his third poor tee shot in a row. This one finds a fairway bunker down the right of 8. Perhaps understandably, his levels of intensity have dropped a little. That can’t be said for Matt Fitzpatrick, who has clearly decided to have one last shy at the title. He follows birdie at 7 by firing an arrow straight at the flag on 8. Another birdie, and now he’s -10.
From the theatre to the pantomime, as a chorus of highly amused oohs and aahs cascade down from the gallery. They’re the response to Scottie Scheffler knocking an uncharacteristically heavy handed wedge 15 feet past the hole. A first bogey since the 11th on Friday coming up? Nope! In goes the par saver, and this is an almost super-human display of golf. Two huge up and downs yesterday afternoon, at 11 and 14, and the same again today, at 6 and 7. It’s all part of it. Wow.
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Harris English walks in a 25-footer on 8 to join the pack at -10. Meanwhile Scottie Scheffler takes his medicine out of the fairway bunker at 7 … then pulls his approach from 200 yards down a bank to the left of the green. Another up-and-down test coming up. “Two greens missed in a row, there’s a new stat!” quips the three-time winner Sir Nick Faldo on Sky Sports, his words just about audible over the theatrical hoisting of a large arched eyebrow.
Rory McIlroy recovers from his wild drive at 7. And how. He nearly holes out with his wedge from 80 yards, then tidies up for a birdie that raises him to -10. Back on the tee, Scottie Scheffler drives into a bunker. Let’s manage expectations: this is over. But it’s not quite over yet. Rory certainly isn’t giving it up.
-17: Scheffler (6)
-10: Gotterup (8), McIlroy (7), Li (6)
-9: DeChambeau (F), English (7), Fitzpatrick (7)
Matsuyama in with 66
Par for Hideki up the last. Out in 33, back in 33. A fine round, albeit one that unbelievably promised more when he was six-under for it through 12. A slightly diminuendo finish, with bogeys at 13 and 16, but overall he’ll take that. Whether it’s enough for his first top-ten finish at an Open since finishing tied for sixth on debut in 2013 is yet to be seen. It’s in the balance: he’s currently tied for 12th.
Birdie for Chris Gotterup at the par-five 7th, and the Scottish Open champion moves to -10. Back down at the tee, Rory McIlroy carves his drive into the thick rubbish down the right of the fairway. And is there a small chink of light for the peloton, as Scottie Scheffler comes up short of the par-three 6th, his ball funnelled into a valley by the false front, his chip back up none too close? Nope! He holes the 16-footer that remains, and punches the air with great determination. Scottie doesn’t care? Oh he cares!
-17: Scheffler (6)
-10: Gotterup (7), Li (6)
-9: DeChambeau (F), English (7), McIlroy (6)
-8: Fowler (F), N Højgaard, Schauffele (8), Hatton (8), Fitzpatrick (6)
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A 64 for Bryson!
We have a new clubhouse leader at -9. Bryson DeChambeau sends a forensic second straight at the 18th flag, then rattles in the 12-footer that remains for birdie and a 64. Out in 32, back in 32. He punches the air, arm raised in the triumphant style of John Bender from the Breakfast Club, and soaks up the acclaim. He’s box-office all right! That opening round of 78 so costly. How has he not won a major this year? He’s been outrageously good. Scottie and Rory are the reason he’s not won a major this year. What can you do? Next year, maybe. Don’t you forget about him.
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Rory McIlroy tries his best to trim that seven-shot lead to six. He knocks his tee shot at the par-three 6th pin high, then nearly drains the birdie putt. But it stays up on the high side, a dimple’s width to the left. The small margins … because seconds later, back on 5, Scottie Scheffler, having laid up from the tee, wedges from 90 yards to 14 feet, then rolls in the birdie putt. Eight clear momentarily … though his partner Haotong Li then follows him in for a birdie of his own to reduce the gap back to just (!) the seven.
-17: Scheffler (5)
-10: Li (5)
Seven-shot leads, then. If the King can ship one, with nine holes to go at the 1966 US Open, then you can be sure Scottie isn’t taking any liberties just yet.
Matt Fitzpatrick rolls in a 25-footer for birdie on 5. No celebration. He wears the expression of a man who knows the jig is already up. He returns to -9, as does his playing partner Rory McIlroy, who is also keeping things in perspective. And yet there’s a small bounce in his walk as he departs for the next tee. You’ve seen that bounce before. Tail up. He’s seven back, but won’t be giving this up just yet. The crowd roar him along, betraying a sliver of renewed belief.
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If … no, let’s get real … when Scottie Scheffler wins this Open, he’ll join an elite club of players to win the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship before the age of 30. The other three? Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. That is some company to be keeping. Scottie doesn’t look a man out of place.
Haotong Li drops another shot, the result of finding a fairway bunker at 4. But it’s another birdie for Scottie Scheffler, whose drive somehow evades the traps. He takes full advantage of the break, and sends his approach from 172 yards to seven feet. He walks in the putt, and this is all over. What a majestic display this is. What a majestic player he is.
-16: Scheffler (4)
-9: English (5), Gotterup (5), Li (4)
-8: Fowler (F), DeChambeau (17), N Højgaard (7), Schauffele (6), McIlroy (4), Fitzpatrick (4)
Hideki Matsuyama bounces back from bogey at 13 with birdie at 15 … then hands the shot back again at 16. He’s -7 and running out of steam a little bit after that earlier six-birdie blast.
Fowler cards 65
Rickie Fowler should have a major to his name. But another year goes by without the popular Californian nabbing a big one. He finishes up with three birdies in a row, though, and he’s back in 30 strokes, one off the Open record matched yesterday by Lee Westwood. A valedictory round of 65 and he ends the week at -8. Confidence restored, next year maybe. Make it happen, Rickie. Here, it’s been a while since we posted this. Any old excuse …
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Scottie Scheffler is in complete control of his emotions. Like that’s breaking news. A no-fuss par at 3. Meanwhile up on 4, the gallery falls into a subdued funk, as realisation sets in that their hero Rory McIlroy is already running out of holes, and of hope. From the centre of the fairway, he shoves his approach into thick rubbish to the right of the green. Unable to control the chip coming out, it twangs on the downslope and races off 40 feet past the hole. That leads to bogey, and he’s back to -8.
“Sergio reaching C-level meltdown on the tee at 2, then going on to make birdie definitely deserves a mention on the blog,” write Patrick and Kelly Della, clearly fans of our not-completely-officially-sanctioned SERGIO MELTDOWN-O-METER. Your wish etc. Oh my. Oh dearie me. Oh Sergio! You’re right, that’s a full C and no mistake. For the record, our hero finished with a 68, ending his week at -3. Gotta love Sergio!
Sergio Garcia snaps his driver in frustration after a poor tee shot on the second hole 😤 pic.twitter.com/rqWIdfnLbb
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 20, 2025
Chris Gotterup drains a monster left-to-right slinger on 4! That’s the line all right, like Xander Schauffele before him. Gotterup, the new Scottish Open champion, clearly likes a links. The 26-year-old from New Jersey one to watch at the Open in the coming years. He’s worth keeping an eye on now, actually, rising as he does to -9.
Haotong Li’s escape from the bunker at 2 is nearly a full-on blade. His ball whizzes through the green and into a depression on the other side, and he can’t get up and down. Bogey. Scottie Scheffler’s approach wasn’t all that, and he’s got to make do with par on a hole that’s been giving up birdies and eagles today. But despite handing 0.2 shots back to the field, his lead has increased. A reminder that he doesn’t have to make a move; the others do. (A fact hammered home on the par-three 3rd, where Matt Fitzpatrick airmails his tee shot over the green. His ball rests in a divot, he can’t scramble his par, and that’s bogey. Par for Rory.)
-15: Scheffler (2)
-10: Li (2)
-9: English (3), McIlroy (3)
-8: DeChambeau (15), R Højgaard (6), Schauffele (4), Hatton (4), Gotterup (3), Fitzpatrick (3)
Another birdie for Bryson DeChambeau! He whistles in a right-to-left slider from 30 feet on 15 and rises to -8. At the risk of belabouring the point, but it simply can’t go unannounced: he shot 78 on Thursday! This is turning into one of the great golfing what-ifs.
Rasmus Højgaard is this close to raking in a monster for eagle on 5, having driven the green. He tidies up for birdie and moves to -8. Back on 4, the defending champion Xander Schauffele fair rattles a left-to-right swinger into the cup for birdie. Had that not hit the hole, it was racing a long way past. But it did, and the Californian moves to -8 as well.
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… but nothing’s certain yet, of course. Up on the 2nd green, Rory McIlroy, having sent his approach into a swale to the right of the green, nearly holes out for eagle with a Texas Wedge. He taps in to move to -9. Par for Matt Fitzpatrick. Then coming behind, Scottie Scheffler comes up short of the green, while Haotong Li finds a bunker guarding the front right. A reminder that there’s a long way to go. Bogey meanwhile for Hideki Matsuyama at the long and notoriously difficult par-three 16th (which Scottie has birdied every day, naturally) and he slips back to -7.
Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li crack their drives down the middle of 2. Now then, we mentioned Henrik Stenson’s lowest winning total of 264 at Troon in 2016. If Scheffler wants to beat that mark, he’ll need to shoot 64 today. Meanwhile if Haotong Li wants to break the record for lowest total by a runner-up, he’ll need to card a final round of 63, which he’s done before at Birkdale in 2016. Should Li do that, he’d beat the mark of 267 set by both Phil Mickelson at Troon in 2016 and Jordan Spieth at Sandwich in 2021. Not that we’re making huge assumptions about the order in which everyone’s going to finish. Oh no no no.
Scheffler taps in for his birdie and moves five clear. All of a sudden, Li’s three-foot birdie putt, which looked a sure thing moments ago, looks double the length. So hats off to him for rapping it into the centre of the cup. Meanwhile birdie at 2 for Harris English, who is determined not to let this turn into a Watson-Nicklaus or Stenson-Mickelson style two-man duel.
-15: Scheffler (1)
-11: Li (1)
-9: English (2), Fitzpatrick (1)
-8: Hatton (3), Gotterup (2), McIlroy (1)
Haotong Li arrows his second at 1 to three feet. Gauntlet down! Scottie’s response? A 9-iron which lands softly ten feet to the right of the hole, then, using a mixture of spin and camber, pulls his ball back to kick-in distance! That’s simply sensational. Next!
Rory McIlroy’s birdie putt has a huge left-to-right swing. He doesn’t set it out wide enough. Opening par. And it’s the same for Matt Fitzpatrick, who chips up to three feet and tidies up for his saver. All good and well … but none of the chasing pack have made the early birdies they need. Well, Tyrrell Hatton did, but handed it back immediately. See also Rasmus Højgaard, who started with a birdie-birdie bang but has just bogeyed 4 to drop back to -7.
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The final group take to the tee. Haotong Li whip-cracks an iron down the middle. Then the leader Scottie Scheffler, who tugs at his iron slightly. It looks like heading into the thick stuff down the left, but takes a lucky bounce to the right and settles in the semi-rough. But you make your own luck, and Scottie has made only three bogeys all week. Here we go, then!
Rory McIlroy is out and about, soundtracked by the usual ozone-layer-bothering roars. An iron straight down the middle. An approach straight down the middle and over the flag. He’ll have a 20-foot putt coming back for birdie. Matt Fitzpatrick has some work to do, though, having dispatched his tee shot into the rough down the left, then sent a flyer over the back of the green. Meanwhile Hideki Matsuyama’s eagle putt at 12 shaves the hole, Tyrrell Hatton’s bunkered tee shot at 2 leads to bogey, and here’s how the top of the leaderboard looks right now.
-14: Scheffler
-10: Li
-9: Fitzpatrick
-8: Matsuyama (12), R Hojgaard (3), Hatton (2), English (1), Gotterup (1), McIlroy
-7: DeChambeau (13), Fleetwood (11), Hall (7), MacIntyre (3), Henley (3), Schauffele (2)
What Bryson DeChambeau would give to play his Thursday round again. A 78 had him almost certainly going home early, but he’s responded like the two-time major-winning champion he is: a 65 to avoid the cut with something to spare, a 68 yesterday, and now he’s five-under for his round today through 12 holes! Birdies at 3, 4, 7, 9 and 12. He’s -7 for the championship, and if he’d got his act together like this for his first round, he’d be thinking about breaking Henrik Stenson’s record for lowest winning total of 264, set at Troon in 2016, and it’d be Scottie Scheffler doing all the chasing today. But he didn’t, so he isn’t, and Scottie won’t be, so here we are. Still, what a response!
Tommy Fleetwood is too far back to dream, but he appears to be in the mood to make up as much ground as possible anyway. He’s out in 32 after birdies at 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9. The Southport star is -7. Meanwhile irritation early doors for Bob MacIntyre, who nearly rolls in a 40-footer for eagle at 2, but his ball stops one dimple shy. His playing partner Rasmus Hojgaard meanwhile starts birdie-birdie. They’re -7 and -8 respectively.
The chasing pack need birdies immediately if they’re to cause Scottie Scheffler any concern. Tyrrell Hatton flies out of the traps with a pretty much perfect birdie on 1, his tee shot down the middle his approach stuck to three feet, the putt straight into the cup. He moves to -9, though he’s found a fairway bunker with his drive at 2, so there goes any hope of eagle.
Three birdies in a row for the 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama. He moves to -7 after picking up strokes at 2, 5, 9, 10 and now 11, five under for his round like the aforementioned Maverick McNealy. Matsuyama tied for sixth on his Open debut at Muirfield in 2013, but hasn’t done much in the Championship since. He’s currently on target for just his second top-ten finish.
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None of the amateurs made the cut this year, so nobody will be awarded the Silver Medal. For the record, the best-performing amateurs this year were Cameron Adam, a 22-year-old from Fife, and Ethan Fang, a 20-year-old Texan who won the Amateur Championship this year and of whom big things are expected. Both finished their week at +3, a couple of shots shy of weekend survival.
Maverick McNealy is the hottest property out on the course right now. He’s five under for his round, having followed up eagle at 2 with birdies at 3, 9, 10, 13 and 14. Bogeys at 4 and 7 clearly didn’t derail his momentum. The 29-year-old Californian is finally beginning to deliver on all the early hype, and he’s -6 overall.
Lowry shoots 66
Low scoring, then. Well, yeah! The big story of the morning was Shane Lowry, who six years ago did what Scottie Scheffler is likely to do today: amble around Portrush with the Claret Jug as good as already pocketed. Lowry’s gone out in style, in more ways than one: he went out in 32 strokes, and then nearly holed out from the bottom of the big swale to the left of 18. Inches away from a sensational valedictory blow. A 66 to bid farewell, and he ends the week at -2. Not what he was dreaming of, but the 2019 champion golfer will always have … er … Portrush.
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Rain and possible thunderstorms were forecast for Sunday at the start of the week. But while the forecasters have got most things spot on, this call was way wide of the mark. It’s sunny and hot! Low scores ahoy! Not too much in the way of wind, either, though gusts may pick up a little later in the afternoon. The forecasters weren’t that far wide of the mark though: those showers and thunderstorms may heave into view in the evening, but by then everything most likely will be done and dusted. A glorious Open Sunday!
Preamble
Let’s not put too fine a point on it: the 153rd Open Championship is Scottie Scheffler’s to lose, and the final round at Portrush will most likely become a procession. Bigger 54-hole leads have been lost in the past … but Scheffler is of a different stripe to poor old Jean Van de Velde, who went into the final round at Carnoustie in 1999 five clear and so full of hope. It’s not totally beyond the realms that one of the chasing pack could overhaul the leader’s four-stroke advantage, but that’d surely take a perfect storm of a round in the mid-to-low 60s while the world number one suffers a series of absurdly bad bounces and/or an incomprehensible implosion. Having said all that, this is golf, so.
Here’s how the top of the leaderboard looked after the third round …
-14: Scheffler
-10: Li
-9: Fitzpatrick
-8: McIlroy, Gotterup, English, Hatton
-7: Schauffele
-6: Henley, N Højgaard, MacIntyre, R Højgaard, Harman
-5: Clark, Wallace, Lindell, Reitan, Åberg, Rose, Hall, Westwood
… and here’s today’s tee sheet (all times BST, GB&I unless stated). It’s on!
0830 Matti Schmid, Riki Kawamoto
0840 Dean Burmester, Phil Mickelson
0850 Sebastian Soderberg, Andrew Novak
0900 Shane Lowry, Jacob Skov Olesen
0910 Antoine Rozner, Viktor Hovland
0920 Adrien Saddier, Ryggs Johnston
0930 Romain Langasque, Jordan Spieth
0940 Francesco Molinari, Matthew Jordan
0955 Sergio Garcia, Justin Leonard
1005 Thomas Detry, Sepp Straka
1015 Aaron Rai, Jason Kokrak
1025 Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas
1035 Maverick McNealy, Henrik Stenson
1045 Takumi Kanaya, Jordan Smith
1055 Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler
1110 Akshay Bhatia, Jon Rahm
1120 Jesper Svensson, Thriston Lawrence
1130 Bryson DeChambeau, Nathan Kimsey
1140 Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau
1150 Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood
1200 JJ Spaun, John Parry
1210 Keegan Bradley, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
1225 Marc Leishman, Lucas Glover
1235 Sungjae Im, Dustin Johnson
1245 Corey Conners, Lee Westwood
1255 Harry Hall, Justin Rose
1305 Ludvig Åberg, Kristoffer Reitan
1315 Oliver Lindell, Matt Wallace
1325 Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman
1340 Rasmus Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre
1350 Nicolai Højgaard, Russell Henley
1400 Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton
1410 Harris English, Chris Gotterup
1420 Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick
1430 Haotong Li, Scottie Scheffler
