It felt inevitable. By the time Scottie Scheffler reached the 18th green at Royal Portrush in July 2025, the drama had mostly evaporated, replaced by a sense of historical awe. If you're wondering who won the british open last year, the answer is Scottie Scheffler, and he did it with the kind of clinical precision that makes other pro golfers look like they're playing a different sport.
He didn't just win; he dismantled one of the toughest links courses on the planet.
Scheffler finished at 17-under-par. That was four strokes clear of the field. While the crowds in Northern Ireland were desperately screaming for Rory McIlroy or a local hero to make a charge, the world number one just kept hitting greens. He played "spoiler," as he later put it, but he did it with such class that the 280,000 fans in attendance couldn't help but roar when he finally lifted the Claret Jug.
How Scottie Scheffler Won the British Open Last Year
The 153rd Open Championship was a masterclass in staying calm. Royal Portrush is a beast. The Dunluce Links can ruin a scorecard in three holes if the wind kicks up, but Scheffler seemed to have an invisible shield against the elements.
Honestly, the tournament was won on Friday. While others were struggling to find fairways, Scottie carded a 7-under 64. It was the low round of the week. That propelled him into a lead he never really looked like giving up, despite a few wobbles.
The Sunday "Scare" that wasn't
Every major win has a moment where things could go south. For Scheffler, it was the par-4 8th hole on Sunday. He found a fairway bunker, tried to get aggressive, and ended up staying in the sand. He walked off with a double-bogey.
Suddenly, the lead was cut to four. The chasing pack, led by a gritty Harris English, saw a glimmer of hope.
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It lasted about fifteen minutes.
Scheffler responded with a birdie on the 9th. Then another on the 12th. He basically slammed the door shut and locked it. By the time he was walking down the 18th fairway with his son, Bennett, the celebration had already started.
The 2025 Open Championship Leaderboard
While Scottie was in a league of his own, the rest of the leaderboard was a fascinating mix of veterans and newcomers. Harris English finished solo second at 13-under, playing some of the best golf of his career. Chris Gotterup, who had won the Scottish Open just a week prior, proved his links-golf chops by taking third.
- Scottie Scheffler: -17 (Winner)
- Harris English: -13
- Chris Gotterup: -12
- Matt Fitzpatrick: -11 (T4)
- Li Haotong: -11 (T4)
- Wyndham Clark: -11 (T4)
Rory McIlroy, the man everyone came to see, finished T7 at 10-under. It wasn't the fairy-tale ending Northern Ireland wanted, but seeing him compete at the top of the leaderboard added an electric energy to the week that you just don't get at other majors.
The Statistical Freak Show
If you look at the "strokes gained" data, Scheffler's putting was actually the secret weapon. He led the field in putting on greens that are notoriously difficult to read. Usually, it's his ball-striking that carries him, but at Portrush, the flat stick was on fire.
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He also joined an elite group. With this win, Scheffler became one of only four players to win the Masters, the PGA Championship, and The Open before the age of 30. The others? Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.
That is the air he's breathing right now.
Why Portrush 2025 Still Matters
People will talk about this tournament for years because it solidified the "Scheffler Era." There was a time when critics said he couldn't putt well enough to win multiple majors in a single season. He proved them wrong by winning the Masters and The Open in the same calendar year.
Also, the attendance was a record-breaker. 280,000 people! That's a lot of Guinness and a lot of rain gear. The atmosphere at the 153rd Open showed that the R&A's decision to keep returning to Northern Ireland is probably the best move they’ve made in decades.
What to watch for next
If you are following the tour this year, the big question is whether Scottie can complete the career Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. He’s currently the betting favorite for almost every tournament he enters, and for good reason.
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Next Steps for Golf Fans:
- Check the 2026 Schedule: The Open moves to Royal Birkdale next. Start looking at travel and tickets early; they sell out almost instantly.
- Analyze the Swing: If you’re a golfer, don’t try to copy Scottie’s footwork (it’s weird), but do look at his tempo. It never changed, even after that double-bogey on the 8th.
- Rewatch the Highlights: The R&A’s official YouTube channel has an hour-long "Official Film" of the 2025 tournament. It’s worth a watch just for the cinematography of the Irish coastline.
Scheffler is the man to beat. Whether he's playing at Augusta or in the wind-swept dunes of Portrush, he has figured out the formula for winning under pressure.