On a Sunday morning at Royal Portrush, just hours before Scottie Scheffler was set to begin his triumphant final round at The Open Championship, the previous Portrush champion, Shane Lowry, sank a remarkable shot on the fourth green. His reaction perfectly encapsulated the sport`s fickle nature: “This game,” he quipped, “will drive you mad.”
While most golfers in the tournament felt the sport`s emotional swings, displaying their frustration or elation, Scheffler presented a stark contrast. Players like Shane Lowry, known for their expressive play, or Rory McIlroy, whose emotions are integral to his game, highlight the common struggles and triumphs within the sport.
Yet, Scottie Scheffler operates differently. On the course, his demeanor remains remarkably composed, his emotions seemingly locked away. Fellow golfer Xander Schauffele aptly described this as a `blackout` mode, where Scheffler enters a focused state, unaffected by external pressures, solely concentrating on executing each shot perfectly.
Occasionally, glimpses of Scheffler`s frustration emerge – a putt veering unexpectedly, a wedge falling short, or a slope failing to yield the anticipated ball reaction. However, these rare moments seldom derail his performance. Jordan Spieth observed, “You won`t see that much emotion as he continues to strike it like this. The only time you`re going to see it is when he`s on the greens if he misses putts because he`s not missing many shots.”
Sunday`s final march at Royal Portrush was a true masterclass from Scheffler, showcasing his command over the game. This victory marked his fourth major championship and completed the third leg of his career Grand Slam, further solidifying his unparalleled approach to golf.
Schauffele commented on Scheffler`s ascendance, stating, “I don`t think we thought the golfing world would see someone as dominant as Tiger come through so soon. And here`s Scottie taking that throne of dominance. He`s a tough man to beat, and when you see his name up on the leaderboard, it sucks for us.”
Scheffler`s path to victory on Sunday appeared effortless to observers. He methodically progressed through the first four holes, sinking three birdies with minimal reaction, as the crowd, largely rooting for McIlroy, quietly conceded defeat. On the fifth green, Scheffler calmly drained another birdie putt, extending his lead to seven shots, met only by polite applause. When his approach shot on the par-3 sixth fell short, the galleries cheered his misfortune. Undeterred, Scheffler chipped onto the green, sank a crucial 16-foot putt for par, and delivered a powerful, Tiger-esque fist pump – the most overt display of emotion he had shown all week. “Bloody hell,” one fan muttered. “This is over,” another added. Indeed, the outcome had been clear for a while, perhaps as early as Friday when Scheffler shot 64.
“The crowd, I think, wanted somebody else to win this week,” Scheffler admitted. “And I kind of got to play spoiler a little bit, which was fun as well.”
Unlike the Masters, where he has become a crowd favorite, at The Open, Scheffler was perceived more as an unstoppable external force. Fans had heard of his greatness, but on Sunday, as most yearned for a miracle from McIlroy, they were instead confronted with the undeniable inevitability of Scheffler`s game. By the time he reached the 18th green, holding a four-shot lead, the thousands-strong Northern Ireland crowd had no choice but to rise in a standing ovation.
“He`s been on a different level all week,” McIlroy conceded. “He`s been on a different level for the last two years. He is the bar that we`re all trying to get to.”
The historical significance of Scheffler`s achievements, with his distinct golf swing and the comparisons to Tiger Woods he typically deflects, is immense. But perhaps even more remarkable is his creation of a `Goliath` figure in golf, compelling every peer to strive to overcome him. When Woods dominated, the gap between him and others was often attributed to his superior athleticism. Today, with nearly all tour players prioritizing fitness, hitting the ball long, and utilizing advanced equipment, consistency and mental fortitude become the true differentiators. Over the past three years, Scheffler has been unrivaled in both. On Sunday, he reiterated his unique philosophy.
“This is amazing to win The Open Championship, but at the end of the day, having success in life, whether it be in golf, work, whatever it is, that`s not what fulfills the deepest desires of your heart,” Scheffler stated. “Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it? Oh, my gosh, yes, this is a cool feeling. … It`s just tough to describe when you haven`t lived it. It`s something I actually talked to Shane about this week was just because you win a golf tournament or accomplish something, it doesn`t make you happy.”
As the final putt dropped on the 18th, Scheffler shared a hug and a smile with his caddie, Ted Scott. Then, as his family rushed towards him by the green, he finally let his guard down. He removed his white Nike hat, raised both arms in the air, and with a face contorted in pure ecstasy, let out a powerful yell.
Scheffler has consistently expressed that trophies, accolades, Tiger comparisons, and historical achievements do not bring him ultimate fulfillment. Being a father and a husband, he says, does. Whether one takes him at his word or not, hints of his true self were evident across that 18th green on Sunday.
While his family awaited the trophy ceremony, Scheffler`s son, Bennett, playfully swung a plastic club in the grass. His mother, Diane, and wife, Meredith, savored the moment, while his father, Scott, captured the scene on his phone – the surrounding fans, the iconic yellow Open scoreboard displaying `Scheffler -17`. Scott chatted with nearby marshals, reminiscing about Scottie`s childhood, praising his resilience after a double bogey on No. 8, acknowledging his son`s place in golf history, all while echoing the same humble message Scottie himself espouses at every turn.
“He doesn`t ever think about that, he never has. He`s just like, `At the moment, I`m good at what I do,`” Scott said. “I always told him the joy was in the journey. You never know what you`ll find along the way.”
As Spieth aptly put it, “He doesn`t care to be a superstar. He`s not transcending the game like Tiger did. He just wants to get away from the game and separate the two. I think it`s more so the difference in personality from any other superstar that you`ve seen in the modern era and maybe in any sport. I don`t think anybody is like him.”
In some ways, this detached approach seems convenient, but with Scheffler, its authenticity is quickly apparent. Unlike Woods and many predecessors, Scheffler does not crave the spotlight; he actively tries to avoid it. Yet, his game relentlessly propels him into it.
“There`s two Chipotles that I eat at home,” Scheffler revealed. “There`s one right where I grew up, kind of near SMU`s campus. If I was to go to that Chipotle and try to eat nowadays, it would be very difficult for me. There`s another one in a different part of town that I`m not going to tell you where it is, but if I go there, nobody recognizes me ever.”
As dusk fell on the summer night in Portrush, Scheffler returned to the 18th green, now the most celebrated figure in the arena, for the trophy ceremony. Soon, R&A CEO Mark Darbon`s words echoed: “The champion golfer of the year, Scottie Scheffler.” His family members exchanged smiles.
“I don`t think I`m anything special just because some weeks I`m better at shooting a lower score than other guys are,” Scheffler reflected. “In some circles, like right now I`m the best player in the world. This week I was the best player in the world. I`m sitting here with the trophy. We`re going to start all over in Memphis, back to even par, show goes on.”
Scheffler is right. The show will continue, but the evidence continues to mount: the game that so often confounds others is the one he is consistently mastering.
