Troon, Scotland. There are four major championships in professional golf and while a number of talented golfers at the elite level may break through and capture one of them the wherewithal to secure a second is reserved only for the most talented.
Xander Schauffele broke through the major championship barrier when winning the PGA Championship this past May. At the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland, the San Diego native pushed his credentials even higher securing the Claret Jug and becoming the "champion golfer of the year."
For the talented player who had never won a major prior to 2024 - he has now won two such events. In addition, Schauffele becomes the 21st golfer to have won two major championships in a calendar year - the last to do it was Brooks Koepka in 2018. And he becomes just the sixth golfer to have won the PGA Championship and The Open in the same year – joining Walter Hagen, Nick Price, Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy.
Schauffele started the final round one shot behind leader Billy Horschel. He then scored a final round of six-under-par 65 which provided a two-shot winning margin over Horschel and Englishman Justin Rose. His round was the lowest of the day by two shots and he finished the event with a 275 total.
Xander's final round was a superlative effort – one with no blemishes on the card. As the leading contenders reached the final nine holes it was his stellar play that broke away from the rest. The momentum started when birdieing the most difficult hole on the course at the par-4 11th. Others followed at 13, 15 and 16. Two airtight pars at the 17th and 18th sealed the triumph.
How good was Schauffele's play over the more demanding inward half of holes at Royal Troon? The field scoring average was plus two. Xander bettered that by six strokes.
Consider that in 2018 Schauffele ranked 64th in his approach play to the green. In 2024 he has now risen to 5th. Having more looks at birdie opportunities has placed him in better position to max out potential low rounds. His overall swing speed has also increased to deal with the emphasis on length and his talent with the putter has also been improved.
Breaking through the major-less barrier had long been an issue for Schauffele. Close finishes had happened previously (seven top-five finishes but with no success). This year has clearly elevated his standing in the sport.
His play at Valhalla during the PGA Championship also featured a closing round of 65 - mirroring what he did at Troon. That feat matched the two final round 65s scored by Jack Nicklaus when winning the 1967 US Open and 1986 Masters respectively.
The final round had no fewer than 23 players within six shots of the lead and with five, including Schauffele, just one shot behind Horschel. Fortunately, final round weather cooperated when compared to Saturday's miserable afternoon conditions.
Schauffele was paired with Rose and the two demonstrated shotmaking prowess throughout the round. Rose, the 2013 US Open winner was looking to break the record for the longest span between majors with a win.
Rose needed to qualify for The Open this year and his 67 in the final round was ample proof the 43-year-old still has game to compete at the highest of levels.
While Schauffele had not won a major prior to this year his overall play had produced seven wins on the PGA Tour coming into 2024. His talents also produced a gold medal in golf at the 2022 Summer Olympics in Japan. And his familiarity with links golf was bolstered with a 2022 triumph at the Scottish Open.
The win at Troon now elevates Schauffele to the second slot in the world golf rankings - trailing only leader Scottie Scheffler.
He will also be part of the four-man USA contingent (joining Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark) competing in the men's golf competition at the Paris Summer Olympic games (August 1-4).
Consistency has been the hallmark for Schauffele and doing so in the majors this year was clearly evident as he was the only golfer to finish in the top ten in all of them. The USA dominance was front and center at the four majors with each won by Americans (Scheffler at The Masters and Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open). That is the first time that has happened since 1982. The winning streak for American golfers in the major events now stretches to seven (7).
For Schauffele his success came through preparation prior to arriving at Troon. He played in the Scottish Open the week prior where he finished T15. He stressed his arrival from the States was beneficial in getting acclimated to the conditions he would face with links golf.
"It's essential - just getting used to the time zone change in trying to get acclimated is a no-brainer. Then there's the wind fluctuations and the green speeds are slower," said Schauffele. "It's a completely different style of golf. So many different variables come into play."
The most important personal dimension for Schauffele was the calmness demonstrated at the most stressful moments in the championship.
"Winning at Valhalla gave me confidence in knowing I had done this before and could do so again. "I felt like I really controlled it today – all those tough losses in the past - I reeled myself in - so that did not happen. My mindset was I left it all out there."
How would Schauffele asses his play in the final round?
"At the very tip top."
Links golf harkens to the place and time where the sport originated. This year's Open Championship demanded of its participants to adjust as called upon to successfully handle the changing circumstances that were dictated.
Schauffele rightly celebrated as his wife, parents and extended family were on hand to share in his joy. To his credit, Schauffele saluted his long-time caddie Austin Kaiser for the steadiness provided and the bond the two have with one another dating back to the time when they intersected with one another at San Diego State University.
Major championships determine one's legacy in golf. Xander Schauffele waited quite some time to secure his first major win. With two in a single year the potential for more such wins is within reach.
"X" indeed marks the spot where even more buried treasure can be unearthed by this determined player.
Will that happen?
We shall see.
Related: Justin Rose narrowly misses out on winning the Open
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