Schauffele dominates nal round to win second major of the season

TROON, Scotland — After a career spent knocking on the door of greatness, Xander Schauffele pushed it open at the PGA Championship in May, and walked brashly through it this week at The Open Championship.

On Sunday at Royal Troon, Schauffele claimed the Claret Jug and became just the 16th player in golf history to win two major championships in a single season.

“It took me forever to win one, to win two is something else,” Schauffele said.

In a week when calamity often overshadowed artistry, the 30-year-old American delivered a links golf masterclass final round at Royal Troon, shooting a bogey-free six-under par 65 to reach nine-under for the week and win the Claret Jug by two strokes over Justin Rose and Billy Horschel.

“I just can’t wait to drink out of it,” Schauffele said while holding the trophy.

“It really is a dream come true to be holding this and it definitely hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “I can’t wait to sit back and have a moment with this Claret Jug.”

As Schauffele marched up the 18th fairway with a threestroke lead, his father Stefan — wearing dark sunglasses and a panama hat — was ushered quickly from the clubhouse to the back of the 18th green so he could witness what he had missed two months earlier at Valhalla in Louisville, his son rolling in a putt to win a major championship.

That day, it was a six-foot birdie putt that just lipped in for the win. On Sunday at Royal Troon, it was more of a coronation with golf fans watching Schauffele tap in for par and a larger chapter in golf’s history book.

The timing worked out just as perfectly as the rest of the day did for Schauffele, as his entire family was together to greet him and he shared a hug with his mother, his wife, and finally his father, as Stefan wiped tears from his eyes.

When asked what would be the first drink poured into the legendary jug, Schauffele said he would pass the question over to the man who has shepherded his golf game and career over the years.

“My dad’s here with me so I’m going to let him do the honour, whatever he wants,” Xander said.

Having recently moved to Hawaii, Stefan wasn’t there to celebrate his son’s win at Valhalla.

Rose (67) and Horschel (68) finished the week tied for second at seven-under, one shot clear of South African Thriston Lawrence (68) who finished in solo third place.

The Englishman Rose had to go through open qualifying to earn a spot in the field this week for his 21st Open Championship. Playing in the same group as Schauffele, and after the winner had already tapped in for par, Rose made one final birdie and turned to salute the hearty Scottish crowd.