Written By Aidan Mastandrea
As the 153rd Open Championship returned to Royal Portrush for the first time since 2019, it was the last chance of the year for a golfer to etch their name in the history books as a major champion. The 2025 major season came to an end in a way that has become customary recently, as world number one Scottie Scheffler pulled away from the field, winning by four strokes to lift his first claret jug.
Scheffler got out of the gates quickly during Thursday’s first round, posting a score of three-under-par, sitting just one shot back of the leaders.
Weather was certainly a factor over the first two rounds – as is typical for the Open Championship. Scheffler played through harsh rain, enroute to a Friday round of 64 to take the 36-hole outright lead.
“Fortunately, it didn’t pour the whole time,” Scheffler said after his round. “We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather.”
While Scottie Scheffler plotted his way to the lead over the first two days of the tournament, many eyes were focused on Rory McIlroy. Growing up just an hour down the road from Portrush, the world number two has become a hero to many Northern Ireland natives. The fans poured into the gates to watch as McIlroy attempted to put on a more memorable display than when he missed the cut in 2019.
“It’s been an amazing week, just — I feel so thankful and just so lucky that I get to do this in front of this crowd,” McIlroy said.
The reigning Masters winner wasn’t able to get the victory, but got plenty of hometown support and gave the fans much to cheer for all week. His tournament was highlighted by a 55-foot eagle putt on the 12th hole that sent the crowd into a frenzy on Saturday.
Despite McIlroy’s best efforts to use the crowd support to spur momentum, Scheffler’s masterful play continued into the third round. He put a stranglehold on the tournament with a bogey-free round of 67 in perfect weather conditions– giving himself a four-shot cushion.
The talent of Scheffler, paired with his large lead made it a near impossible task for the chasing competitors.
“Four shots behind– kind of like playing for second,” Haotong Li, the #111 ranked player in the official world golf rankings said before the final round.
Li played in the final pairing with Scheffler and shot a one-under-par round to finish in a tie for fourth place.
Americans Harris English and Chris Gotterup did their best to make things interesting down the stretch, ultimately finishing in second and third place respectively.
However, the outcome was never in doubt. Scottie Scheffler has continued to solidify himself as a cut above the rest of the golfing landscape and as he tapped in for par on the final hole, he elevated his legacy even further.
Most people believed that the likes of Tiger Woods would never be replicated in the game of golf, and while not quite there, Scheffler has continued to dominate the sport. He now adds ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ to his illustrious resume.