PGA TOUR
Xander Schauffele Crowned The Open Champion
Xander Schauffele delivered a superb bogey-free 6-under 65 on Sunday to win The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon by two shots. It was the 30-year-old American’s second major success this season after claiming his maiden major victory two months ago at the PGA Championship. He becomes the first player since Brooks Koepka in 2018 to win two majors in the same year.
Schauffele began the final round one shot behind 54-hole leader Billy Horschel. The Californian covered the outward nine hole in 34 shots with back-to-back birdies at the 6th and 7th holes. The world No. 3 got busy on the inward stretch posting birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th holes for a stunning 4-under 31 back nine.
Schauffele fired rounds of 69, 72, 69 and 65 to reach 9-under. He banks the first prize of US$3.1million.
America’s Horschel and England’s Justin Rose shared second place at 7-under. Horschel held the 54-hole lead at a major for the first time in his career. The 37-year-old from Florida carded a 3-under 68 final round for his career best finish at a major championship. Rose, aged 43, was looking for his second major title after securing the 2013 US Open. The former world No. 1 signed for a 4-under 67 on Sunday.
South Africa’s Thirston Lawrence was the surprise of the tournament producing a 3-under 68 final round to get to 6-under for solo fourth place.
Adam Scott was the best-placed Australian finishing in a tie for 10th place at even par. The 44-year-old Tour veteran returned an even par final round. It was Scott’s 20th career top 10 result at a major championship. Fellow Queenslander Jason Day was one shot further back at 1-over after he fired a 3-under 68 on Sunday. Day moved up to a tie for 13th place.
The PGA TOUR returns to US soil for next week’s 3M Open to be staged at TPC Twin Cities, Minnesota. America’s Lee Hodges is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Xander Schauffele -9
T2. Justin Rose -7
T2. Billy Horschel -7
4. Thirston Lawrence -6
5. Russell Henley -5
6. Shane Lowry -4
T7. Jon Rahm -1
T7. Sungjae Im -1
T7. Scottie Scheffler -1
Australians
T10. Adam Scott E
T13. Jason Day +1
MC. Min Woo Lee
MC. Elvis Smylie
MC. Jasper Stubbs
MC. Cam Smith
