Schauffele wins British Open
TROON, Scotland - American Xander Schauffele emerged from a tightlybunched leaderboard to win the 152nd British Open with a supreme blemish-free Ɲnal-round 65 at Royal Troon on Sunday.
Beginning the day among a group of players one stroke behind leader Billy Horschel, unƞappable world number three Schauffele was in total control as he produced an immaculate display to Ɲnish on nine-under 275.
When Schauffele tapped in for par on the 18th green the Claret Jug was his, even if South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who had earlier led the tournament, was still to Ɲnish his round.
Justin Rose, bidding to become the Ɲrst Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, was left to ponder what might have been as he Ɲnished two shots back in tied second place having barely put a foot wrong over the weekend.
American Horschel birdied the 18th to join Rose on seven under and Lawrence was fourth on six under with another
American Russell Henley Ɲfth on Ɲve under and Ireland’s 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry sixth on four under.
The 30-year-old Schauffele had not won a major until dominating this year’s PGA Championship in May when he Ɲnished on a record 21-under-par to edge out Bryson DeChambeau.
He took his new-found swagger to the Ayrshire coast, however, to claim the Open in commanding fashion.
Precision golf meant he hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and he hit nine of 14 fairways.
“Hearing your name called with ‘Open champion’ after it is something I’ve dreamt of for a very long time,” Schauffele said after being presented with the Claret Jug.
Schauffele’s victory means the last seven majors have all been won by Americans and for the Ɲrst time since 1982 Americans have swept all four majors in a season.