Honestly, watching Scottie Scheffler walk down the 18th fairway at Royal Portrush felt a lot like watching a movie where you already knew the ending. No surprises. Just cold, hard efficiency. People kept waiting for the wheels to fall off, especially after that messy double bogey on the 8th hole, but he just doesn't rattle.
Scottie Scheffler won the Open Championship today, and he did it with the kind of "ho-hum" brilliance that is starting to make the rest of the professional golf world look like they’re playing a different sport. He finished at 17-under par. That’s four shots clear of Harris English.
It wasn’t even that close.
Why The Open Championship leaderboard felt like a foregone conclusion
By the time Sunday morning rolled around in Northern Ireland, the vibe was less "who's going to win?" and more "can anybody actually make Scottie sweat?" He started the final round with a four-shot cushion over Haotong Li. Then, he birdied the very first hole. He basically slammed the door before the coverage even hit the main networks.
Most people think links golf is supposed to be this chaotic, unpredictable beast where the wind ruins your life and a bad bounce sends you into a Gorse bush. Scheffler treats it like a math problem.
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He shot 68-64-67-68.
Think about that. Four straight rounds in the 60s at Portrush. That second-round 64 was the dagger. While guys like Rory McIlroy were fighting for their lives just to stay in the conversation for the local fans, Scottie was out there looking like he was playing a casual weekend round at his home club in Dallas.
The moment it almost got interesting (but didn't)
There was a tiny window of hope for the chasing pack. On the par-4 8th, Scheffler found a fairway bunker. Then he didn't get it out. He took a double bogey. Suddenly, a seven-shot lead shrank to four. The crowd at Portrush—who were desperately pulling for Rory or even Robert MacIntyre—perked up.
"Is this it?" we all wondered. "Is the pressure finally hitting him?"
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Nope. He birdied the 9th immediately. That’s the Scottie Scheffler experience. He doesn't let mistakes compound. He just resets. It's almost boring how good he is at moving on. Harris English played a fantastic final round, carding a 66 to finish solo second, and Chris Gotterup (who has been on an absolute tear since winning the Scottish Open) grabbed third. But they were playing for the silver medal.
The Tiger Woods comparisons are actually real now
For a long time, golf analysts were hesitant to compare anyone to Tiger. It felt like sacrilege. But after today, the stats are getting weird. Scheffler is now only the second World No. 1 to win the Claret Jug since the rankings began in 1986. The other guy? Tiger Woods.
He also joined an elite club—players who have won the Masters, the PGA Championship, and The Open before turning 30. We’re talking Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tiger. That's the list. That's the whole list.
What people get wrong about Scheffler’s dominance is that they think it’s just about his ball-striking. Sure, his "dancing feet" follow-through looks goofy, but the ball goes exactly where he wants it to. However, it's the mental side. He talked after the round about how winning doesn't define his happiness, and ironically, that lack of desperation is exactly why he wins so much. He doesn't need the Claret Jug to feel like a whole person, so he’s free to just go out and take it.
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How the top of the leaderboard shook out:
- Scottie Scheffler: -17 (Winner)
- Harris English: -13
- Chris Gotterup: -12
- Wyndham Clark: -11
- Matt Fitzpatrick: -11
- Haotong Li: -11
Rory McIlroy finished T-7 at 10-under. It’s another "what if" week for Rory, who looked great in flashes but just couldn't find that extra gear to keep pace with the Texan. Bryson DeChambeau also made a late Sunday charge with a 64, but he started too far back to really threaten the lead.
What this means for the rest of the 2026 season
We are living in the Scheffler Era. Period. He’s now three-quarters of the way to a career Grand Slam. All he needs is the U.S. Open. Fun fact: next year’s U.S. Open final round falls right on his 30th birthday. If you're a betting person, you might want to look at those odds early.
The $3.1 million winner's share is a nice perk, but the real prize is the historical momentum. He’s won four majors in about 1,200 days. That's the exact same pace Tiger set.
If you want to improve your own game after watching that masterclass, don't try to copy his footwork. Instead, look at his target selection. He rarely takes aim at "sucker pins" when he's in the lead. He hits it to 20 feet, takes his two-putt, and moves on. It's a lesson in discipline that most amateurs—and honestly, most pros—simply don't have the patience for.
Next Steps for Golf Fans:
- Watch the highlights of Scheffler's recovery on the 9th hole; it was the turning point that killed any hope of a comeback.
- Check the Ryder Cup standings, as this win virtually locks several players into the top spots for the late September clash.
- Keep an eye on Chris Gotterup; finishing 3rd in a major right after a win in Scotland suggests he's the next big American star.
The Claret Jug is heading back to the States, and unless someone figures out how to make Scottie Scheffler blink, it might be a long couple of years for everyone else on the PGA Tour.