American Scottie Scheffler delivered a commanding performance to win his first British Open title by four shots after a closing 68 at Royal Portrush on Sunday.
The world number one, four clear of the field overnight, picked up three early birdies before his only significant error when he failed to get out of a bunker at the first attempt on the way to a double-bogey at the eighth hole.
Scheffler was never seriously threatened, however, as he claimed his fourth major crown and second of the year after winning the PGA Championship in May.
The 29-year-old finished on 17 under par, with Harris English and Chris Gotterup completing an all-American top three.
Relive how the action unfolded at Royal Portrush and find all the reaction to the123rd Open Championship below:
The Open 2025, Royal Portrush - Fourth round
- Scottie Scheffler secures four-shot victory in final round at Royal Portrush
- Rory McIlroy overcame the bizarre to produce brilliance in a gripping third round to keep hopes of a second Claret Jug alive
- The Open 2025 prize money, Claret Jug winner set to bank $3.1m (£2.4m)
- Leaderboard: -17: Scheffler, -13: English, -12: Gotterup, -11 Clark, Fitzpatrick, Li -10: MacIntyre, Schauffele, McIlroy
Scottie Scheffler is not the next Tiger Woods – The Open champion has a different way
19:38 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushYou could be mistaken for believing none of this truly matters to Scottie Scheffler, the new Champion Golfer of the Year. After all, he caused a stir earlier this week when he conceded that golf is just not “a fulfilling life” to him. But as the American cruised to a fourth major, eclipsing the field at Royal Portrush by four strokes with a dominant total of -17, the man’s presence in the game became apparent. The satisfaction is in the manner of his dominance. A unique dominance.
A yearning from the sport to elevate him into the same conversation as Tiger Woods has long since begun. A 10th consecutive win after holding the outright 54-hole lead, a habit that followed Woods throughout his career over a staggering run of 37 events. But Scheffler, so often unflappable and steely-eyed, sprinkled in a few moments at Royal Portrush to suggest he is carving out a path of his own, especially with his personality.
Scheffler is not the next Woods – The Open champion has a different way
Rory McIlroy gives honest reaction to dominant Scottie Scheffler victory at The Open
20:38 , Jack RathbornRory McIlroy could not hide his “admiration” towards Scottie Scheffler after the American stormed to victory in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
A fourth major championship of his career, in his unique way, Scheffler has now attracted comparisons with Tiger Woods.
And after McIlroy failed to find a spark to mount a late charge on Sunday, finishing in a tie for seventh on -10, Scheffler held his nerve to cruise to a four-shot victory at -17, leaving the Northern Irishman in awe of his rival.
“Admiration,” McIlroy remarked when asked to respond to his Ryder Cup rival’s achievement. “I think all you can do is admire what he does and how he does it.
Rory McIlroy gives honest reaction to dominant Scottie Scheffler victory at The Open
Scheffler on his pre-tournament thoughts:
20:04 , Mike Jones"I think we live in a day and age where clickbait is what people look for and you can shorten a five-minute clip into three words. I think it underestimates what I was trying to communicate.
"At the end of the day, I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for moments like these. I've worked my entire life to become good at this game. It’s one of the great joys of my life to be able to compete out here.
"To be able to win The Open at Portrush is a feeling that's hard to describe.
"I grew up a kid in Texas that wanted to play professional golf. I don't know why I'm so lucky that I get to live out those dreams. It's something I'm very grateful for and I encourage people to listen to all of those comments.
"Having success in life, whether it's work or golf, is not what fulfils the deepest desires of your heart. This is a cool feeling and I can't wait to get home and celebrate with the people that have helped me along the way. It’s just tough to describe when you haven’t lived it. Just because you win a golf tournament doesn’t make you happy - there’s more to life than playing golf. But I'm pretty excited to celebrate this one."
Scheffler on winning The Open
20:01 , Mike Jones"It’s a very special feeling. It takes a lot of work to get to this point in my career. This was a tough week - it was challenging. The course was playing really tough. I had to focus very hard over the course of the weekend.
"This one was different from the PGA (in May) because I had a decent lead to start the day. At the PGA, I felt like I struggled on the front nine and then was able to push forward and win it on the back nine.
"This one, I felt like I build up a lead. It got a little close there after the double on eight but as I bounced back at nine I was able to keep a pretty sizeable lead for most of the day."
'The feeling is pretty good'
19:34 , Mike JonesMore reaction from Scottie Scheffler who said: "I'm feeling tired, but feeling pretty good. This was a long week but it was a successful one and I did a good job this week of handling myself mentally and I'm fortunate to be here with the trophy.
"I just tried to keep my head down and execute shots, it’s a tough course. You’ve got to be focused and I did a good job of staying focused.
"It's hard to put into words right now. I’ll be bringing this one back home with me to have a better look."
Scheffler's US Open record
19:30 , Mike JonesThe only major Scottie Scheffler is missing is now the US Open.
He’s made eight appearances at the US Open and has finished in the top 10 four times, all of those coming in the past five years:
- 2025 - Tied for seventh
- 2024 - Tied for 41st
- 2023 - Third
- 2022 - Tied for second
- 2021 - Tied for seventh
- 2019 - Missed cut
- 2017 - Tied for 27th
- 2016 - Missed cut
Scottie Scheffler wins The Open
19:28 , Mike Jones
One of the greats?
19:23 , Mike JonesScottie Scheffler is only the fourth player after Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to win the Masters, the US PGA and The Open before he turns 30.
The 29-year-old is right in amongst some great players of the sport and he will only improve as time goes on.
Scheffler wants to 'get home and celebrate'
19:18 , Mike JonesWhat’s next for Scottie Scheffler?
He’s heading home to the United States and he’ll celebrate this win with his wife and family.
"Thanks to my wife and son - I love you very much and can’t wait to get home and celebrate,” Scheffler added.
"To my parents and the rest of the team, I can’t thank you guys enough. I've got the best support team. Everyone does such a great job of working together.
"This place was in tremendous condition, the course played amazing - a shoutout to the grounds crew.
"Thanks to Royal Portrush and the town here, what an amazing week - I wish I could’ve seen more of the town but it was a business week.
"I look forward to seeing you all at Birkdale next year - all the best."
More reaction from Scheffler
19:13 , Mike JonesThe new Champion Golfer of the Year says it’s ‘pretty cool’ to be three quarters of the way to a career grand slam and that he was comfortable with his game today.
Scheffler said: "I felt a good amount of peace today, I felt very in control, I was comfortable with my game, after that hiccup on the eighth, we bounced back on nine, every day is a battle, trying to get the best out of yourself and your game.
“I feel like I compete the best I can, inside the ropes, I don't think about it too much outside the ropes.
“It's hard to put into words [completing three quarters of the grand slam], right now it's a pretty cool feeling."
Scheffler reacts to winning The Open
19:08 , Mike JonesThe new Open champion Scottie Scheffler, addressed the crowd around the 18th green at Royal Portrush.
He said: "Thanks to the fans for all the support.
“I know I wasn’t the fan favourite today so I appreciate you guys coming out to support.
"Overall it’s been a great week, the fan support was tremendous. It was a really fun week to be able to play in front of such a great crowd."
Schauffele on new winner Scheffler
19:03 , Mike Jones2024 Open champion Xander Schauffele spoke about how good Scottie Scheffler is.
The defending champion said: "He's incredible. He really is.
"I don't think we thought the golfing world would see someone as dominant as Tiger come through so soon, and here's Scottie sort of taking that throne of dominance. You can't even say he's on a run. He's just been killing it for over two years now.
"He's a tough man to beat, and when you see his name up on the leaderboard, it sucks for us."
Four majors for Scheffler
18:57 , Mike JonesThis is the fourth major title that Scottie Scheffler has won in his career.
The 29-year-old won the Masters in 2022 and 2024, as well as the US PGA Championship earlier this year.
He also has an Olympic gold medal which he won in Paris last year.
Scheffler now needs to win the US Open to complete a career grand slam.
The Open final leaderboard
18:56 , Mike Jones-17: Scottie Scheffler
-13: Harris English
-12: Chris Gotterup
-11 Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick
-10: Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, Haotong Li
Scottie Scheffler wins The Open
18:50 , Mike Jones
Scottie Scheffler wins The Open
18:46 , Mike JonesScottie Scheffler hugs his caddie and shakes hands with playing partner Li Haotong.
He celebrates in front of the grandstand and goes over to hug his wife and child at the side of the green.
A huge smile on the face of the new Open champion.
Scottie Scheffler wins The Open!
18:42 , Mike JonesHaotong Li two putts for par and leaves the winning moment for Scottie Scheffler.
He draws some jovial groans out of the crowd as his birdie putt slides wide but tapping in for par brings the applause.
Scottie Scheffler is the Champion Golfer of the Year, he’s won the Open Championship and picks up his third major title.
Scheffler on the brink
18:39 , Mike JonesScottie Scheffler plays two perfect shots down 18, the first into the fairway and then second onto the middle of the green.
He’ll have a putt to birdie the hole and will probably need no more than two to win The Open.
The Claret Jug is already being engraved with his name as he’s four shots clear.
The crowd celebrates him as he walks onto the green and he acknowledges them back.
Haotong Li will tidy off his round first and leave the stage free for Scheffler.
McIlroy finishes seventh
18:32 , Mike JonesRory McIlroy responds well after a double bogey which threatened to derail his round.
His playing partner, Matt Fitzpatrick, makes a good par on the last and secures a tie for fourth place at -11.
McIlroy finishes further one back on -10 and drinks in the applause and cheers from the crowd watching on.
Not long to go now, Scottie Scheffler is coming up the last and he’s about to be crowned as Champion Golfer of the Year.
Loud cheers for McIlroy
18:29 , Mike JonesThis is Rory McIlroy’s home Open, being played a few miles from his childhood home.
There are lots of Norther Irish fans in the stands around the18th green and they cheer McIlroy on as he walks forward.
McIlroy takes his hat off to them but still has a bit of work to do.
He’s off the green and needs to get up-and-down in two.
Fitzpatrick makes birdie!
18:22 , Mike JonesMatt Fitzpatrick makes a great birdie on 17, his second in a row, to move into the top five.
It’s been a tough day for the Englishman whose challenge never really got going.
He’s ending his week well though and there’ll be a chance to birdie the last too.
Coming to a close
18:20 , Mike JonesThe 153rd Open Championship is flying towards it’s conclusion.
Harris English and Chris Gotterup are hoping to close out there rounds well with birdie putts on the 18th.
English slides his past the hole but makes par.
Gotterup leaves his just short of the hole. They currently sit second and third on the leaderboard but just didn’t have enough to take on Scottie Scheffler today.
Clark addresses Oakmont incident
18:09 , Mike JonesWyndham Clark was asked about an incident at Oakmont where he trashed a locker after a poor round recently.
Clark says he feels terrible for what happened and is trying to remedy the situation.
He said: “Yeah, so obviously I feel terrible with what happened. I'm doing anything I can to try to remedy the situation.
“We're trying to keep it private between Oakmont, myself and the USGA. I'm just happy we have a pathway moving forward, and like you said, I'm hoping we can get past this and move on and hope there's no ill-will towards me and Oakmont.
“I'm just trying to get past it. I want the best for Oakmont, the USGA and myself. Like I said, I'm very sorry for what I did and feel terrible, and hopefully in a few months we're past this, and it's something of the past.”
Clark reacts to final round
18:05 , Mike JonesWyndham Clark ended his week with rounds of 66 and 65 to finish on -11.
He spoke after his round today saying: “Yeah, I played, including last week, I played, what is that, six really good rounds. I just had two kind of sour ones.
“But at the end of the day, I played 16-under on the last three days. Excluding that first round, maybe we'd have a chance to win this thing.
“But really pleased. I putted amazing. I hit a lot of great shots. Felt like I was in a great place. I'm super pleased.”
Birdie for Fitzpatrick
17:59 , Mike JonesMatt Fitzpatrick has been a little quiet today.
But, he gets the crowd roaring over on 6 by rolling in a lengthy downhill putt for birdie!
That sends him back into the top five for the tournament and may spur him on for the final couple of holes.
Wyndham Clark now leads in the clubhouse
17:51 , Mike JonesA final round of 65 from Wyndham Clark has seen him pick up six shots today and sends him into the clubhouse at 11 under par for the tournament.
He is the new leader in the clubhouse and is up to fourth on the leaderboard.
McIlroy up to -10
17:49 , Mike JonesRory McIlroy is still providing some entertainment for the crowd and a birdie at 15 sends him into the top five.
Elsewhere, Haotong Li has double bogeyed the 14th meaning he falls away.
He’s down to -9 and with it goes his chance of winning the Open.
Scheffler leads by five
17:44 , Mike Jones
Birdie missed for Rory!
17:33 , Mike JonesMcIlroy is left with six feet on the 14th after an incredible second shot .
He takes a long time looking at the putt and lining it up seemingly undecided how it’ll run.
He sends it off the outside right edge but the ball goes straight and slides past.
McIlroy misses the chance to get to -10 but knocks in for par.
Scheffler makes par
17:29 , Mike JonesOn the 13th, Scheffler has a putt for birdie but somehow pushes it wide.
It’s not a drop shot as he taps in for par but it’ll feel like one in this moment.
Wyndham Clark is making his way down 17. Can he get into the clubhouse with another birdie or two?
McIlroy on the move again
17:25 , Mike JonesHe’s too far back now but Rory McIlroy is on the move again.
A birdie on 12 takes him to -9 and keeps him eight shots behind.
This round has summed up his week, some great work and some so-so shots combining to give and take.
'Scheffler remains dialled in'
17:19 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushScheffler remains dialled in. The strategy is nearly flawless, as demonstrated by that safe miss on 12 just a few feet left of the green.
If this was match play then Scheffler would be on the verge of a premature win. The crowd has started to really rally behind Haotong, loud cries of “Li” followed that booking drive down 12.
If he is playing for second, as he declared last night, he’s thrived with that mindset.
Scheffler once again proving incredibly reliable from that midrange with the putter. It’s an stress-free birdie to take another huge step towards the Claret Jug with six holes to play.
Birdie for Scheffler
17:18 , Mike JonesThe World No.1 is back up to -17 and has restored his five shot lead.
A birdie on the 12th, a well work par-5, for the leader gives him a cushion and keeps him well ahead of anyone else.
Back to back birdies
17:13 , Mike JonesA second birdie in a row for Chris Gotterup puts him within four shots of Scottie Scheffler.
The pack is moving but can Scheffler respond?
Yes. The leader chips his third shot onto the dancefloor on the par-5 12th and leaves a few feet for birdie to extned his lead again.
Eagle for English!
17:04 , Mike JonesThe chasers are moving again!
Harris English rolls in a fine eagle on the 12th and joins Li at -11.
Moments later, Gotterup leaves his eagle putt just right of the hole and has to settle for a birdie.
He’s hanging on to Scheffler coattails as well.
Birdie for Li!
17:02 , Mike JonesThe man from china is off the green on 11 but decides to take on a putt.
An undulating track across the turf sees his ball bounce and bobble but it strikes the flagstick and drops in for a birdie.
He’s up to -11 now.
Eagle chance for Gotterup
17:00 , Mike JonesChris Gotterup could be the one to ask some questions of Scottie Scheffler.
A brilliant shot on the 12th lands his approach within 15 feet of the pin and he’ll have the next putt for an eagle.
That would take him within four of Scheffler.
Schauffele and Clark pushing
16:57 , Mike JonesXander Schauffele is making a good defence of his title but it’s a little too late.
He’s up to -10 thru 12 holes and is playing well. Another few birdies and he could put some pressure on Scheffler.
Wyndham Clark is also making a late charge and has four holes left to improve on his -10 score.
1/100 for Scheffler to win
16:50 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushScheffler, 1/100 with the bookmakers after that bounce back birdie, has struck a beautiful iron from 147 yards to nine feet.
It’s been a seamless transition back to the plan and executing smart plays, which has contributed to a rather quiet corner of the course with Scheffler’s rivals dropping like flies.
Good signs for the chasers?
16:43 , Mike JonesThe last Open champion to make double bogey in their final round was Padraig Harrington in 2007.
Both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have made a double today.
Does that mean one of the chasers are more likely to win?
Probably not.
Double bogey for Rory
16:40 , Mike JonesA nightmare for Rory McIlroy’s chances. He was already on the brink trying to chase down Scheffler but a double bogey on the 10th has dropped him back to -8.
That’s eight shots behind the leader and, probably, the end of McIlroy’s chase.
Scheffler is too consistent to give up that many shots.
Birdies for Scheffler and Li
16:36 , Mike JonesA super end to the front nine for Scottie Scheffler who brushes off that double bogey with a birdie on nine.
Haotong Li has had a great week and is still in with a chance after a birdie on the same hole.
He’s now up to -11 and just five shots back. There are chances to score big on the back nine but Scheffler will need to drop more shots.
Scheffler can bounce back
16:30 , Mike JonesA 98-yard wedge into the ninth green means that Scottie Scheffler can bounce back immediately with a birdie.
He leaves himself a putt of about six feet to extend his lead once more.
A couple of holes ahead, Xander Schauffele leaves a birdie putt short of the hole and misses the chance to get to -10.
'One mistake has cost Scheffler'
16:28 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushA stunner on eight. One mistake has cost Scheffler two shots. A hushed silence after he missed the bogey putt, murmurings of hope, a lead whittled away and now just four to Gotterup and McIlroy now just five back.
A strange moment given it was really just the first bunker shot that Scheffler got badly wrong. He reset and played a mature third but the bogey putt just slipped by.
Scheffler was unflappable between green and tee box though and his drive on nine, after a rather lengthy pose, reminiscent of his warmup on the range several hours ago, stops in the first cut to present a chance to settle and bounce back immediately.
Huge momentum swing
16:20 , Mike JonesOver on the ninth hole Chris Gotterup rolls a putt in for birdie to take himself to 11 under for the tournament.
At the same time, Scheffler has a nightmare on the eighth and makes a double bogey.
That’s a three stroke swing and Scheffler’s lead is cut to just four now.
There’s an opening there for the chasers.
Fitzpatrick birdies
16:11 , Mike JonesThe chasing pack is lining up behind Scottie Scheffler with Matt Fitzpatrick the latest to reach 10 under par after a birdie on eight.
Rory McIlroy makes par there and remains seven behind.
Can one or both of them put on a run to challenge?
No dropped shots
16:09 , Mike JonesThere’s a bit of belief for the chasing pack as Scottie Scheffler isn’t playing well.
Well, that’s not exactly true but mistakes and errors are creeping into his game as his lead is more than comfortable.
On seven, two poor shots leave him at risk but another stellar putt secures a par.
But, on the eighth tee he finds the bunker with his drive and is out of position again.
This tournament may not be over yet if his form continues to dip.
Scheffler stays clear
16:02 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushThat was the most emotion I’ve witnessed from Scottie Scheffler.
A mediocre chip, by his standards, on six and as he lines up a lengthy par putt, a phone in the crowd startles the group.
Scheffler is unmoved, and slides the putt back and through, the ball drops and a powerful fist pump follows.
That par meant a lot to him, he stays at -17 and seven clear.
McIlroy moves again!
15:55 , Mike JonesThe Northern Irishman is within seven shots of Scheffler and gets into double figures for the first time.
A birdie on the par-5 seventh moves him back to second on the leaderboard.
Scheffler saves par!
15:51 , Mike JonesJust wehn you thinking there might be a chink in Scottie Scheffler’s armour he pulls off another cracker.
On six, he’s wide of the green off the tee then chips to 15 feet.
A lovely silky putt drops into the hole and Scheffler holds onto his lead.
The American celebrates with a fist pump.
'We're in the presence of greatness'
15:50 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortruchA lot of McIlory fans have held their spot on the green at five and have watched on in awe as Scheffler drains another mid-range putt.
We’re in the presence of greatness here.
Tiger Woods won by eight at St Andrews in 2000, the biggest Open Championship victory since 1913. Scheffler had matched that margin through five holes.
The reaction was stunning, with a little confusion as to how the American is able to separate with ease from this field.
New clubhouse leader
15:44 , Mike JonesWho’d have thought this after the first round?
Bryson DeChambeau makes a birdie on the final hole to move to -9 and is the new leader in the clubhouse.
That’s a fantastic comeback from the American who posted a score of seven over par on the opening day.
At the minute he’s got a share of third place which would be his best return at The Open.
A class of his own
15:38 , Mike JonesNobody’s going to catch Scheffler.
He’s playing calm and safe golf with no risks and he’s still recording birdies.
A third for his round drops on the fifth and he’s now eight shots ahead of the nearest chaser.
Sorry, make that seven as Haotong Li makes birdie too!
McIlroy with birdie chance
15:37 , Mike JonesMcIlroy has a putt that breaks from left to right on the sixth green.
It’s downhill and a long way from the hole. The crowd wills it to drop but the ball skims the edge of the hole and slides by.
He taps in for par and remains seven shots back.
Birdies for McIlroy and Fitzpatrick
15:31 , Mike JonesThe par-4 fifth hole is rewarding for Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy.
This duo need to make moves to trouble Scheffler and try to throw him off his game and both collect birdies on the fifth.
That takes them up to the group at -9 but it’s still a long way behind the leader.
Li drops back
15:29 , Mike JonesThe closest rival to Scottie Scheffler was Haotong Li who has had a poor start to his round and has bogeyed two holes.
He drops back to -9 and is seven shots behind the leader.
Scheffler extends lead
15:23 , Mike JonesHHe’s just so good.
A fortunate break off the tee to land between two bunkers helps Scottie Scheffler on the fourth.
He flicks a chip onto the green and leaves a five foot putt for birdie.
No mistakes the ball drops and the world No.1 is closing in on the Claret Jug.
'An air of resignation'
15:13 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushThere’s an air of resignation in the McIlroy group now.
Fitzpatrick is growing more and more irritated, stuffing his club into the rough after watching his second in three.
And McIlroy went right on four and it’s proven costly, moving back to -8 with Scheffler moving further away at -15.
There’s a polite applause and more encouragement, but both players urgently need a spark.
A bland round for Scheffler
15:12 , Mike JonesCommentary on Sky Sports has just said Scottie Scheffler is going to play a ‘bland round of golf’ today.
Rightly so.
No dropped shots thru three holes with Scheffler aiming for the bulky sides of the green and deciding to two putt.
A level par round will probably win him the tournament.
Fowler leads in the clubhouse
15:07 , Mike JonesRickie Fowler finishes his tournament with a round of six-under including three consecutive birdies on 16, 17 and 18.
That sends him into the clubhouse as the leader at -8 and he’s set the benchmark those on the course need to beat.
Gotterup on the move
15:04 , Mike JonesChris Gotterup has played well today with three consecutive pars before a supreme birdie on the fourth.
He joins the group at nine under par but that means he’s still six shots behind the leader.
It’ll be a tough task to catch Scheffler today.
Li scrambles for par, makes bogey
14:57 , Mike JonesHaotong Li is a bit scattergun on the second. A chip out of the greenside bunker is hit a bit thin and he goes over the back of the green.
A nice return putt leaves him with the chance to hold par and he slots his fifth shot wide to the left of the hold.
Li has to settle for bogey and drops back to -10.
Scheffler is more orthodox and plays safe with his approach which leaves a lot of green to cover. Two putts and he’s in for par.
Close from Hatton!
14:54 , Mike JonesOver on the fourth Tyrell Hatton has the chance to join the group at -9.
He plays a nice putt which just slides under the hole for and doesn’t drop.
A good par though and he’s still in the chase.
Scheffler in pole position, McIlroy birdies
14:47 , Mike JonesScottie Scheffler has the all the power today. A business-like and safe round will bring him the Claret Jug.
Not that he’s banking on that after making birdie on the 1st.
The chasing pack need to score low. Rory McIlroy collects a shot on the second. He finds the right edge of the green with his first two shots then rolls a superb putt inside of one foot for eagle.
A tap in brings him a birdie and takes him to -9.
Birdie for Scheffler!
14:40 , Mike JonesScheffler’s second shot makes this. A nine iron out of a slight bit of rough which targets the flag.
His ball rolls up a slight slope then falls back down and finishes within a foot of the hole.
Haotong Li is equally impressive though he’s got four or five feet for birdie.
That one drops as well. Perfect start for these two.
Quick start for Hojgaard
14:37 , Mike JonesRasmus Hojgaard makes birdies on the first and second to jump up the leaderboard on eight under.
The Dane is another player who can go low with these favourable conditions today.
Par for McIlroy
14:35 , Mike JonesRory McIlroy was aggressive with his second shot to the first green and leaves himself a long curving putt for biridie.
Really, he’s too far away to call it a proper opportunity but his first putt is a good one and he leaves himself a simple tap in for par.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, makes a par with a solid up-and-down from off the side of the green.
Scheffler aims for Claret Jug
14:33 , Mike JonesScottie Scheffler starts off his final round with a four shot lead over playing partner Haotong Li.
He sends his drive a little left but gets a good bounce and finishes in the first cut of rough.
All the players are now on the course or have completed their rounds.
Hatton starts with birdie
14:28 , Mike JonesLovely from Tyrell Hatton who gets his round off to the perfect start.
A fine drive to the middle of the fairway and a wedge shot aimed at the flag which lands just four feet from the hole.
A simple putt sends the ball in for a three and Hatton closes on Scheffler.
'A feverish atmosphere on first tee'
14:24 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushThe first tee is crackling with applause and whoops for McIlroy.
A feverish atmosphere lines the ropes as heads spin to see McIlroy’s iron softly drop into the fairway.
Wayne Riley says 64 is out there, but patience might be key here. The risk is accelerating too soon and handing Scheffler the Claret Jug.
McIlroy and Fitzpatrick, Ryder Cup teammates, stroll out together with caddy Harry Diamond between them.
All smiles, and we’re off.
McIlroy begins his round
14:22 , Mike JonesRory McIlroy is playing alongside Matt Fitzpatrick for his round today.
He shakes hands with some of the course workers before stepping onto the first tee to a loud round of applause.
McIlroy is teeing off first. He acknowledges the crowd, pulls an iron out of the bag and rattles his drive down the fairway settling it slightly to the left.
Fitzpatrick then tees off and pulls his shot further left and into the rough.
'A remarkable atmosphere'
14:16 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushScheffler and Li are suddenly forced to pause as an almighty cheer breaks out.
It’s McIlroy departing the range and setting off for the putting green. A remarkable atmosphere with a few minutes remaining until he begins.
Scheffler and McIlroy on the range
14:12 , Jack Rathborn at Royal PortrushThe driving range is rammed with barely 20m between Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
Rory is now crushing driver and the sound is just different.
Noticeably the entourage for McIlroy is in excess of 15. While Scheffler is tucked away to the side with half a dozen watching with intent.
Scheffler is holding his pose for 10-20 seconds, seemingly baffled by the exaggerated left to right shape on that one. It’s corrected on the next ball.
Fleetwood thru 9
14:09 , Mike JonesTommy Fleetwood’s front nine has ended in fine fashion as the Englishman is now down to -7 for the tournament.
He’s setting the pace today near the top of the leaderboard.
Can he set a score and put some pressure on the leaders?
McNealy climbing
14:03 , Mike JonesMaverick McNealy started his round with an eagle on the par-five second, and he's since added five more birdies to his card.
He’s thru 14 holes in this round so there’ll be no time to challenge for the title but he's sitting at six under par, which is currently a share of eleventh.
Fleetwood flying
13:50 , Mike JonesTommy Fleetwood has recorded four birdies in the first eight holes, along with a solitary bogey.
He’s now up to -6 for the tournament and is charging the best out there on the course at the minute.
The 2019 runner-up seems to have found his putting boots with three birdie putts in excess of 15 feet.
Lowry on who he thinks will win
13:42 , Mike JonesShane Lowry added: "Scottie’s very hard to beat. There is a low score out there but the problem is there’s probably a low score for him as well.
“I kind of expect him to win but you never know in this game. Golf doesn’t give you anything.
"I spoke to Rory last night and said if Rory can get off to a good start and get the crowd on his back, it maybe could make it difficult for Scottie. It will be interesting to see how it plays out."
Lowry on his final round of 66
13:35 , Mike JonesThe 2019 Open Champion said: "After the last 36 hours wasn’t much fun, it was nice to go out there today and enjoy it and put on a good show for the crowds.
“The crowds are amazing. I was pretty happy with my day’s work.
"It was obviously some 24-hour bug. I felt OK this morning. I still haven’t been eating much and probably still not 100% but it was nice to get off to a good start."
DeChambeau continues to charge
13:27 , Mike JonesBryson Dechambeau will be ruing his opening round right now.
A seven-over 78 kicked off his Open Championship on Thursday and he has since pulled back 12 shots.
Nine over Friday and Saturday and three more today to leave him five-under-par.
A round of par or better on Thursday would have put him right in the mix for the Claret Jug but he’s got a lot of work to do over the next 11 holes.
Fleetwood birdies again
13:20 , Mike JonesTommy Fleetwood is providing the blueprint for the chasing pack this afternoon.
He’s had birdie chances on four of the first five holes and rolls in his opportunity on the fifth to drop back to -4.
A bogey blemish on the fourth is spoiling his opening to the round but if someone can come out and take those early chance they can put some pressure on Scottie Scheffler.
The clubhouse leader
13:13 , Mike JonesLowry signs off with a round of 66 and is the leader in the clubhouse right now.
Rory McIlroy overcomes the bizarre to conjure thrilling charge at The Open
13:07 , Jack Rathborn“Oh god,” Rory McIlroy gasped as his ball fizzed a little higher than he anticipated. But then he burst into laughter, “I was on the golf ball!” The baffling moment on the 11th saw his second shot connect barely millimeters above a buried old golf ball, which proceeded to spit up and out of the ground at contact.
The most remarkable golf shot in one of the most remarkable rounds of golf, as a legion of McIlroy supporters weaved their way around the links on a baking day at Royal Portrush. McIlroy’s audacious charge towards the imposing presence of Scottie Scheffler at the top of the leaderboard may well fall short on Sunday, but his presence, as the Masters champion, back home in Northern Ireland, conjured a unique moment.
Rory McIlroy overcomes the bizarre to conjure thrilling charge at The Open
Saving the best to last
13:00 , Mike JonesShane Lowry is applauded off the course after slotting in a short par putt on the 18th.
The Open champion here in 2019, Lowry recorded a round of 66, five-under-par, today and is the leader in the clubhouse at -2.
Lowry’s is the lowest round of the day so far and shows that there are low scores available if you play well.
McIlroy has ‘half a chance’ of glory
12:54 , Mike JonesMasters champion Rory McIlroy accepts even his considerable talents may not be enough to reel in a six-shot gap to world number one Scottie Scheffler on the final day of The Open at Royal Portrush.
A third-round 66 lifted McIlroy to eight under par but he was always playing catch up to the American, whose 67 saw him extend his overnight lead to four – with the Northern Irishman a further two adrift.
“It was incredible, it was so much fun. I got off to the perfect start, three-under through four,” he said of his third round.
“To play those last seven holes at three-under I thought was a good effort. I played well, I rode my luck at times, but I feel like I’ve at least given myself half a chance..
“But he’s playing like Scottie. I don’t think it’s a surprise. Everyone’s seen the way he’s played or plays over the last two or three years.
“He’s just so solid. He doesn’t make mistakes. He’s turned himself into a really consistent putter as well so there doesn’t seem to be any weakness there.
“Whenever you’re trying to chase down a guy like that, it’s hard to do. But he’s incredibly impressive.”
Oh Tommy!
12:46 , Mike JonesAfter three decent holes, Tommy Fleetwood is left scrambling on the fourth to make par.
He leaves himself 20 feet or so and hits his putt nicely. The pace is good and the line isn’t too bad.
Unfortunately he slides it wide to the right and makes a bogey. That’s his ninth of the tournament and he gives back to shot he earned on the third.
Fleetwood is back down to -3.
Missed opportunity for Fowler
12:40 , Mike JonesRickie Fowler slips a swinging left-to-right putt wide of the hole on the eighth and misses the chance to move down to -4.
The American played a lovely approach to leave a chance at birdie though he wasn’t able to convert.
It’s been a good week for the 36-year-old who will be hoping to finish off in style.
Birdie for Fleetwood!
12:35 , Mike JonesTommy Fleetwood is suffering out there but in a good way.
After slipping his birdie putt wide on the 1st he leaves another just a few inches short on the second.
On the third hole the Englishman finally gets moving and draws a loud cheer out of the crowd with a birdie that drops him to -4.
Day 4 leaderboard
12:29 , Mike JonesHere’s how things look at the top of the leaderboard. Scottier Scheffler and Haotong Li will tee off at 2.30pm in the final pairing.
-14: Scottie Scheffler,
-10: Haotong Li,
-9: Matt Fitzpatrick,
-8: Rory McIlroy, Tyrell Hatton, Harris English, Chris Gotterup
-7: Xander Schauffele
Can Fitzpatrick win?
12:22 , Mike JonesMatt Fitzpatrick heads into the final round at Royal Portrush with a chance to lift the Claret Jug.
Trying to rein in Scottie Scheffler will be a monumental task but if Fitzpatrick is successful then he will become the first Englishman to to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992.
Scottie Scheffler reacts to securing four-shot lead at The Open entering final round
12:15 , Flo Clifford“A clean card around a major championship golf course is always nice. No bogeys. It was nice to set up the eagle, I felt I was doing the right things. Nice to judge that shot there and then make the putt.
“Staying patient with myself, I know what I need to do tomorrow. It’ll be a challenging and fun day.
“It’d be a lot of fun [to win The Open], but that’s not what I’m thinking about. As I go to sleep tonight, I’ll think about executing.”
Fleetwood underway
12:07 , Mike JonesTommy Fleetwood is underway for his final round of the week.
The popular Englishman begins his round at -3 and finds the middle of the fairway with his drive on the 1st.
His next shot, an iron approach, lands on the dancefloor and sets up a birdie chance on the very first hole.
It’s a tricky one but Fleetwood will fancy it. He starts the putt off to the left and watches it curl back towards the hole.
It needs to do a little more... but just slips by the side of the hole. Fleetwood pars with a tap in.
Tyrrell Hatton on the challenge of catching Scottie Scheffler
12:00 , Flo Clifford“To be honest, I saw the leaderboards out there. You kind of know that there's opportunities and you're sort of expecting guys to be making birdies, to be honest.
“So it's not surprising, especially with Scottie going out there and playing really well today. From my side, seeing the leaders getting a little bit further away, it didn't change how I went and played the next hole.
“I was still just playing it as I would if I was 70th in the tournament. It didn't change how I played.”
Scottie Scheffler arrives for final round at The Open
11:52 , Jack RathbornScottie Scheffler has slipped into The Open Clubhouse to begin his preparation for the final round at Royal Portrush.
The world’s best player is off at 2:30pm, arriving just over three hours before his tee time.
Out on the course, a possible Ryder Cup teammate for Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, puts an eagle putt in close on two, but moves to -2 overall after tapping in the birdie putt.
While Bryson is out and looking to add the final points available to him for the Ryder Cup standings, even if he is almost certain to be given a wildcard pick. From 184 yards, and in the thick rough on one, a towering iron clatters the lip of the bunker and trickles towards the hole. Stunning and he’ll have that to move to -3 and a tie for 29th.
Rory McIlroy overcomes the bizarre to conjure thrilling charge at The Open
11:45 , Flo Clifford“Oh god,” Rory McIlroy gasped as his ball fizzed a little higher than he anticipated. But then he burst into laughter, “I was on the golf ball!” The baffling moment on the 11th saw his second shot connect barely millimeters above a buried old golf ball, which proceeded to spit up and out of the ground at contact.
The most remarkable golf shot in one of the most remarkable rounds of golf, as a legion of McIlroy supporters weaved their way around the links on a baking day at Royal Portrush. McIlroy’s audacious charge towards the imposing presence of Scottie Scheffler at the top of the leaderboard may well fall short on Sunday, but his presence, as the Masters champion, back home in Northern Ireland, conjured a unique moment.
It epitomised how McIlroy remains one of the most engrossing athletes to watch in sport, all while Scheffler quietly dismantled both the course and field. There wasn’t a blemish in the world No 1’s round of 67, with his putter salvaging any minor wobbles. And while it secures a four-shot lead at -14 over Haotong Li at The Open 2025, the day belonged to McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy overcomes the bizarre to conjure thrilling charge at The Open
Lowry and Mickelson making big moves early on at Portrush
11:38 , Jack RathbornSome big moves early on the course, Maverick McNealy is up 15 places to T-29 and -2 through four holes. But look out for Shane Lowry, now -4 through 11 holes and back in the red at -1 overall for T-48.
It's been a turbulent week for the Irishman, but he's finishing on a high. Phil Mickelson, too, is making a late run, -3 through 13 holes and +2 overall, way back at T-57.
Lowry moves under par
11:30 , Flo CliffordShane Lowry has had an electric day so far, finding the green with his second on the ninth and notching three birdies in a row!
He’s back under par at Royal Portrush.
That run ends with par at the 10th, a par-four, but it’s been a good day out thus far for the 2019 champion.
Bryson DeChambeau prepares on the putting green
11:15 , Jack RathbornBryson DeChambeau is currently drilling some putting exercises on the putting green. It’s been a tumultuous week for the two-time US Open champion. There’s been real character to overcome the messy first round. From T-8 at St Andrews, DeChambeau has gone T-60 and M/C, so a good round today should elevate him from his current place at T-34.
What an experience for Nathan Kimsey today, who plays alongside Bryson on debut in the major championships. The world No 508 will hope to build on a sensational week in Portrush. The pair go out at 11:30am.
The Open 2025: Tee times and fourth round schedule at Royal Portrush
11:00 , Flo CliffordFourth Round - later starters
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, all times Local):
1030 Bryson DeChambeau, United States; Nathan Kimsey, England
1040 Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Tony Finau, United States
1050 Justin Thomas, United States; Tommy Fleetwood, England
1100 JJ Spaun, United States; John Parry, England
1110 Keegan Bradley, United States; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Africa
1125 Marc Leishamn, Australia; Lucas Glover, United States
1135 Sungjae Im, South Korea; Dustin Johnson, United States
1145 Corey Conners, Canada; Lee Westwood, England
1155 Harry Hall, England; Justin Rose, England
1205 Ludvig Aberg, Sweden; Kristoffer Reitan, Norway
1215 Oliver Lindell, Finland; Matt Wallace, England
1225 Wyndham Clark, United States; Brian Harman, United States
1240 Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark; Robert MacIntyre, Scotland
1250 Nicolai Hojgaard, Denmark; Russell Henley, United States;
1300 Xander Schauffele, United States; Tyrrell Hatton, England
1310 Harris English, United States; Chris Gotterup, United States
1320 Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Matt Fitzpatrick, England;
1330 Li Haotong, China; Scottie Scheffler, United States
Garcia breaks driver
10:45 , Flo CliffordFrustrations have boiled over for Sergio Garcia, who managed to rescue par on the first hole after a bad start, but has now broken his driver after another poor swing on the second!
Rules dictate he can’t replace the club for this round. Oh dear.
Bryson DeChambeau on how to fix pace of play in golf
10:30 , Jack Rathborn“It's very simple. It's not difficult at all. You eventually time everybody for their whole entire round. Very simple. Nobody wants to do it -- because people are too scared to get exposed, which I am an advocate for. I'd love to be timed, and I have no problem with that.
My putting, I'm more deliberate, take more time on that, but when it comes to iron shots, off the tee, I'm pretty fast. It's like D.J., he's really slow on the putting greens, and then he's incredibly fast on his full swing shots, second shots into it.
Everybody plays a different style of game, and that's just the way it is. I wish it was just a new system.”
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