Schauffele Shines at Royal Troon: Claims Second Major of 2024

Americans sweep Majors for first time since 1982

July 21, 2024

By Carter Rennyson

Xander Schauffele emerged from a crowded leaderboard by firing an impressive final round of 65 to win The Open Championship. Schauffele also won the PGA Championship back in May, becoming the first golfer since Brooks Koepka in 2018 to win multiple majors in a season. Schauffele will now set his sights on the Olympics in Paris, where he will look to add another gold medal to his collection.

Sunday afternoon at Royal Troon was a battle. The winds picked up and blew at difficult angles, making it tough to gauge distances. However, Schauffele navigated the course masterfully and did not make a bogey. He got off to a slow start but birdied holes six and seven to get going. He added four birdies on the back nine to post 9-under and take home the Claret Jug.

Justin Rose showed why he is still one of the best players in the world at age 43 this week. He was fired up all week and showed off his competitive nature. He finished in a tie for second with Billy Horschel at 7-under. Rose still has the game to win another major championship, but this was one of his best opportunities in a while. Rose should still be in consideration for a spot on the 2025 Ryder Cup team captained by Luke Donald.

Billy Horschel was a surprise 54-hole leader this week. He birdied the first hole but could never reach that next level he needed today. He closed with three birdies on the last three holes, but it was too little too late. This was Horschel’s second top-ten at a major this year. It is good to see Horschel playing well again after he struggled mightily last season. Perhaps this finish will catapult him toward more success later in the season.

The two surprise stories of the week were South African Thriston Lawrence and Englishman Daniel Brown. Lawrence, the 2022 DP World Tour Rookie of the Year, introduced himself to the world after a strong finish. Lawrence already has four DP World Tour victories in his career, and his aggressive style of play was fun to watch. Daniel Brown came into The Open Championship having only made two cuts since March. However, he found his game this week. Brown was the leader after round one and carried that momentum throughout the rest of the tournament. He finished at even par in a tie for tenth but showcased his great putting and steady demeanor. Brown will most likely be remembered for his viral trip down 18 on Saturday, where he enjoyed a cigarette and stopped to take selfies with the fans.

The rest of the top ten was full of big-name players such as Russell Henley, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, and Scottie Scheffler. Rahm booked his first top ten in a major this season and looked like the Jon Rahm of old. Scheffler’s putting woes haunted him this week, but his ball-striking was sub-par on Sunday afternoon as well. Scheffler has some work to do before the Olympics and the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Schauffele gave us one of the most impressive rounds of golf in recent years with his bogey-free 65. Xander has risen to new heights and is now one of the premier players in the game of golf. Look out for Schauffele to add a few more majors to his resume over the next five years.

Royal Troon was a great host for The Open Championship, and the treacherous Scottish climate made it all the more exciting. Next year, The Open heads to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Shane Lowry won in 2019.

In two weeks, the Olympic Golf Competition begins at Le Golf National in Paris. The tournament will feature many of the game’s best players, including Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, and Viktor Hovland. It is an exciting time in the golf world as the 2024 PGA season comes to an end, but the Olympics, FedEx Cup Playoffs, and Presidents Cup will be some big events to look forward to.