Xander Schauffele shoots a flawless 65 to win the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon by two shots, claiming his second Major of the season

All week the players at Royal Troon had waited for weather conditions that would work in their favour. It was a long wait but at least those conditions did arrive just in time for the back nine on Sunday.

The rain was nowhere to be seen and the wind had dropped, still playing its part but very much more manageable than on any other day this week.

Admittedly the low scores weren't there for the majority of the field but the ones that had battled the conditions best over the first three days continued to do so, with eight of the top 10 going under par.

Whilst we spent the front nine watching the jostling for position between Billy Horschel, Justin Rose and Thriston Lawrence, some of us (well, I definitely did) took our eyes off what potentially was coming from behind.

I should have known better as I written last night that proven Major Champions were in the mix:

"There is just the small matter of PGA Champion Xander Schauffele also at three-under-par, plus Masters Champion and World Number one Scottie Scheffler a further shot back at two-under-par. Current proven Major Champions lurking in the shadows but ready to rise to the top and take the glory..."

Xander Schauffele took control on the back nine

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 21: Xander Schauffele of the United States walks on the 18th green on day four of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 21, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Xander Schauffele - image credit Charlie Crowhurst/R&A

And that's exactly what Xander Schauffele did, he took his two-under-par front nine and made the turn at five-under-par. With his cool, calm demeanour he just edged his way to the top of the leaderboard, birdies on 11, 13, 14 and 16 gave him a three shot advantage as he stood on the final tee.

Often so difficult to read, the American looked unflappable and all the noise around him not being able to close out on a final round had died away. He proved he could do it at the PGA Championship back in May and now, no longer the nearly man, he handled the pressure with ease.

"It's all part of the process. It is an incredible feeling to be up here with the Claret Jug. It is just a result at the end of the day, and I really do believe that. Sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don't. When you're playing, today I felt like I really controlled a lot of it. I kind of grabbed onto it, and there was no chance I was going to let go of it. I was pretty aware of that and really wanted to make sure I did that. But for the most part, all those tough losses in the past or those moments where I let myself slip up and dream too early on that back nine, I was able to reel myself in today and make sure that didn't happen.

Afterwards, he referenced a feeling of calm coming down the stretch and that his caddie felt physically sick on the 18th tee. The 30-year-old nearly holed one final birdie on the last, but a six-under-par 65 was enough to win by two shots at nine-under-par.

"It's an honour. I've always dreamt of doing it. That walk up 18 truly is the coolest with the yellow leaderboards and the fans and the standing ovation. It really is one of the coolest feelings I've ever had in my life. I got chills walking down and quickly had to zap myself back into focus because the tournament wasn't over yet."

Schauffele becomes the first play to win the PGA Championship and The Open in the same year since Rory McIlroy achieved the feat ten years ago in 2014.

Justin Rose and Billy Horschel take second place

I can't help but feel disappointment for both Justin Rose and Billy Horschel. What a story it would have been for either of them to win their first Open Championship, especially Rose. They both have to settle for a share of second, two shots back at seven-under-par.

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 21: Justin Rose of England tees off on the first hole on day four of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 21, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Justin Rose - image credit Luke Walker/R&A

Rose, who was near flawless with one bogey and a round of that was four-under-par, came close with putts just not quite dropping on a number of occasions. However, he has no regrets:

"Gutted when I walked off the course and it hit me hard because I was so strong out there today. I kind of got off to the start I wanted. I really played the way I wanted to today. I got off on the front foot. I played my way right into the tournament early doors. Felt comfortable with it all day. Did a lot of the hard things really well on the golf course today."

Talking about the Champion Golfer of the Year, Rose said:

"I think probably one of his most unappreciated ones is his mentality. He's such a calm guy out there. I don't know what he's feeling, but he certainly makes it look very easy. He plays with a freedom, which kind of tells you as a competitor that he's probably not feeling a tonne of the bad stuff. He's got a lot of runway ahead and a lot of exciting stuff ahead, I'm sure."

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 21: Billy Horschel of the United States leaves the first tee on day four of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 21, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Billy Horschel - image credit Luke Walker/R&A

Horschel started the day one-shot in the lead, a nervy tee shot on the third showed how much the final round meant to him. Of the leaders, he probably struggled the most and was level par through 10 holes. The 37-year-ols then steadied the ship and with three birdies on the final three holes, had some consolation for being within touching distance of his first Major.

Horschel, like Rose, shared the feeling of disappointment:

"I'm disappointed. I should feel disappointed. I had a chance to win a major. I was in a really good position. I just made a few too many mistakes today when I didn't need to. But we'll look back on this in an hour, I'll be very happy with how I played, I'll be very happy with what I did this week. I did a lot of great things that I can take on to the next few years of majors, and hopefully one of these will be my time to step through the door and hold one of them."

And his thoughts on Schauffele:

"I played with Xander in the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic, the week before Erin Hills. He had just qualified for the U.S. Open, and I walked off the golf course after playing 18 holes with him, and I said, this kid is going to be really good. I was really impressed with his game at that time. To see him improve, to see him grind and work hard and do everything the right way and have that attitude of trying to do everything you can to get better day in and day out, he deserves everything that he's gotten this year and what he's going to get in the future."

Now onto the Olympics in Paris

What a week it has been at Royal Troon. At first it looked like a low score was never going to be possible, with Henrik Stenson's 2016 target of -20 totally out of reach but Xander Schauffele proved that you can get to (nearly) within 10 shots.

This year has become a (sort of) coming of age for Schauffele as he has finally shown his true potential. Now it's less than two weeks until the Paris Olympics with the American set to defend his Olympic Gold medal - if you're a betting person then I know who your money should be on.

View the full 2024 Open Championship leaderboard here.