Scheffler reigns supreme

Nature shapes The Open but legends shape history.

And, after he dominated the field to become Champion Golfer of the Year, there is no doubting that Scottie Scheffler has joined the all-time greats.

The American realised his dream to win The 153rd Open with a performance that will live long in the memory for its relentlessness, its efficiency and its immense skill.

Scheffler did not just win at Royal Portrush. He almost lapped the field while doing so, with a four-shot margin of victory that felt like even more.

Sundays at The Open are supposed to be filled with tension, drama and second-guessing to the very end but Scheffler’s brilliance ensured this was a victory march to the Claret Jug on a warm and still Sunday on the Antrim coast.

All anyone could do was doff the cap and acknowledge the performance.

Joining the greats

Links golf might be forged by nature but, at this great Championship, Scheffler played golf that is forged from the gods.

The Texan now adds the Claret Jug to his two Masters titles and the PGA Championship he won in May, leaving just the US Open to complete the career Grand Slam.

He is just the second world No.1 to win The Open since the Official World Golf Ranking started in 1986, joining Tiger Woods. And when a statistic comprises of just Woods and one other, it tells you all you need to know.

Indeed, this victory was Woods-esque.

The great Tiger made winning an artform in his pomp to the extent that whenever he held a 54-hole lead, the rest of the field knew they were playing for second place.

In what his contemporaries will hope is just a coincidence and not an omen, Scheffler’s fourth major title comes 1,197 days after his first – the exact same as Woods.

At The Open, the chasing pack threw all they had at this brilliant course in the desperate hunt for birdies – clinging to the hope that they might make it close.

But they were never getting near Scheffler.

Harris English, Chris Gotterup, Wyndham Clark, along with Haotong Li, Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick all – at one time or another – looked set to make a charge.

But Scheffler charged with them. Had he gone round in level-par, it would have been tense, but anyone who watched him record scores of 68-64-67 in the first three days knew that was never likely.

With four birdies on the front nine and another on the back, Scheffler crushed any chance they had.

The Texan is a different character to Woods, who is a three-time Champion Golfer, but his trophy cabinet is growing almost as quickly.

Golf has seen his likes before, a player so dominant that winning is almost second nature. But Scheffler’s ability, creativity and talent makes it a joy to watch regardless.

“It’s a pretty special feeling," he said. "I grew up waking early watching this (The Open) on TV. It’s pretty cool to be standing with the trophy.

"It has been a great week, it was a ton of fun to play here and the course was in tremendous condition. I got to play with Shane (Lowry) and the support he got was really special.

"To my family, my wife and son, thanks so much for the support, I couldn’t do any of this without you. I can’t wait to get home and celebrate."

Scheffler makes statement start

With a four-shot overnight lead, Scheffler arrived with the Claret Jug in his sights. But nerves can do funny things, and winning The Open is rarely straightforward – even for the greats.

Yet Scheffler was unperturbed on a calm day made for low scoring around the Dunluce Links, and indeed just wanted in on the fun.

He arrowed his tee shot down the heart of the 1st fairway and followed up with a 9-iron that was as much a statement as it was an approach shot. It finished just 16 inches from the hole, and the birdie putt was inevitable.

Scheffler has a knack for making golf look simple and he repeated that opening-hole recipe on 4 and 5: a straight tee shot, a gorgeous approach and a simple putt for birdie.

His early-round form was in contrast to those nearest on the leaderboard. Li might have birdied the 1st but he bogeyed 2 and 4, while Tyrrell Hatton fell out of contention with dropped shots on 2 and 5.

The majority of spectators were following McIlroy as he looked to harness the magic of Super Saturday and make a charge.

He birdied the 2nd and was riding the crest of an emotional wave but Scheffler carried the appearance of a man laser-focused on the task at hand. He knew he was spoiling the party – but he cared not a jot.

‘Cool, calm and collected’ was the verdict of one spectator as Scheffler strode with purpose on to the 5th green. ‘Inevitable’ was the reaction when he drained the birdie putt.

On the 6th, a voice from beyond the green cried ‘give us a smile, Scottie’. He didn’t. What he gave instead was an uncharacteristically emotive fist pump after a nerveless 16-footer to save a crucial par.

He did not want to leave the door even slightly ajar.

McIlroy, in contrast, put together a neat round of 69 but was never in contention.

Scheffler overcomes brief hiccup

By the 6th hole, Scheffler was on 17-under-par and eight shots clear, leading statisticians to start thumbing through the record books. Since 1908, only Woods has won The Open by such a margin.

However, while those here started to even ponder if the 13 strokes Old Tom Morris won by in 1862 was entering the equation, Scheffler stalled.

A double-bogey on 8 after failing to escape a fairway bunker saw the mood at Royal Portrush change, and hope for a battle at the top began to build.

Li birdied 9, while Fitzpatrick also pulled within five with birdies on 5, 7 and 8. But Scheffler responded as Champions do – with a birdie on the very next hole.

From there, he regained his composure and did not drop another shot. He picked up another birdie at 12 and went close at 16.

The par-3 is known as Calamity Corner, such is its reputation for being a card-wrecker. But Royal Portrush might want to rename it Scheffler Corner, after three birdies and a par across four attempts.

The chasing pack

As Scheffler remained at the summit, English, Gotterup and Clark emerged from the pack.

English recorded an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and finished second, while Gotterup found five birdies to come third, as both went round in 67.

Clark was two shots better, with a 65 backing up a pair of 66s, as he signed off on 11-under-par. Like Bryson DeChambeau, who finished nine-under after a 64, Clark will rue a disappointing first round.

He finished on the same score as Fitzpatrick and Li, while Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele and McIlroy were T7 and a shot further back.

But the day belonged to Scheffler. Normally so unflappable, he had to dab his eyes as he walked to the 18th green amid a standing ovation from the thousands gathered in the iconic horseshoe grandstand.

They lined the fairway 10 deep and when the marshals opened the ropes and allowed spectators onto the course, they sprinted to the edge of the green for a glimpse of greatness.

Waiting there for Scheffler were wife Meredith and son Bennett, who was oblivious to what was going on.

But in the years to come, he will learn about his father’s storied career. And the iconic chapter that was The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.