The Open 2025 live: Scottie Scheffler wins 153rd Open with composed and controlled final round
Scheffler cruised to a four-shot win at Royal Portrush in his bid to win a first Open Championship at -17, with Harris English second, Chris Gotterup third, and the trio of Wyndam Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick and Haotong Li in third
American Scottie Scheffler delivered a commanding performance to win his first British Open title by four shots after a closing 68 at Royal Portrush on Sunday.
The world number one, four clear of the field overnight, picked up three early birdies before his only significant error when he failed to get out of a bunker at the first attempt on the way to a double-bogey at the eighth hole.
Scheffler was never seriously threatened, however, as he claimed his fourth major crown and second of the year after winning the PGA Championship in May.
The 29-year-old finished on 17 under par, with Harris English and Chris Gotterup completing an all-American top three.
Relive how the action unfolded at Royal Portrush and find all the reaction to the123rd Open Championship below:
Scottie Scheffler is not the next Tiger Woods – The Open champion has a different way
You could be mistaken for believing none of this truly matters to Scottie Scheffler, the new Champion Golfer of the Year. After all, he caused a stir earlier this week when he conceded that golf is just not “a fulfilling life” to him. But as the American cruised to a fourth major, eclipsing the field at Royal Portrush by four strokes with a dominant total of -17, the man’s presence in the game became apparent. The satisfaction is in the manner of his dominance. A unique dominance.
A yearning from the sport to elevate him into the same conversation as Tiger Woods has long since begun. A 10th consecutive win after holding the outright 54-hole lead, a habit that followed Woods throughout his career over a staggering run of 37 events. But Scheffler, so often unflappable and steely-eyed, sprinkled in a few moments at Royal Portrush to suggest he is carving out a path of his own, especially with his personality.
Scheffler is not the next Woods – The Open champion has a different way
Jordan Spieth on his Ryder Cup 2025 prospects
“I've got to win. I've got to work my way in. I think statistically I'm playing good enough, but I'm just not finishing high enough, and I didn't have enough points from -- I didn't have enough points to get off to a good start from last year, and then I essentially missed four elevated events and it's based on money, and that's a killer. So I needed to make it up.
“Hartford was really a dagger for that because I was playing well coming into it. I felt really good off of Oakmont. Felt like Hartford was a good track for me, and then I just had a random spout.
“So that was a huge bummer, and then I knew I was going to have a few weeks off; we were having a baby, so I just dropped in FedExCup. It was just poor timing. Hartford really stung. So I was putting a lot on this week. But I just was really rusty to start.
“So this was going to be -- I thought if I finished high here, I could write it off. So it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I also couldn't really expect to come in and just play like I had just finished third last week. I only played two rounds of golf in the last four weeks. I'm going to have to probably add an event and work my way as far as I can.
“I think if I can make it to the TOUR Championship, that means that I've played well in the Playoffs, in big events, and it may come down to if Keegan picks himself or not and opens up a spot. It may come down to how other guys are playing that are on the bubble.”
Bryson DeChambeau reacts to weekend surge to secure top-10 finish at The Open
“Yeah, look, it was fair conditions the past few days. I always told you guys I like it when it's fair conditions. I can play well. I still have to crack the code when it's raining and windy. But I feel like we're getting close to some opportunities and solutions for that. It just takes a long time to develop stuff, I'm starting to learn.
“It was a fun three days. I was really proud of the way I turned it around and gave myself actually some hope on the third round, after I was 3-under. That first nine I thought, okay, if I go shoot 4- or 5-under on the back and give myself a chance on Sunday, throw myself up there and go out and play just as good as I did, like I did today, I could be right up there and giving Scottie a run.
“Scottie's in a league of his own right now. I played with him a lot in college, and he was not that good, so he's figured out a lot of stuff since then. It's really impressive to see and something we can all learn from for sure.”
Shane Lowry reacts to Rory McIlroy describing Scottie Scheffler as 'inevitable'
“I saw that interview, and I thought he probably regrets saying that word. I think -- yeah, it's -- honestly I think, if we -- if Scottie's feet stayed stable and his swing looked like Adam Scott's, we'd be talking about him in the same words as Tiger Woods.
“I just think because it doesn't look so perfect, we don't talk about him like that. I think he's just incredible to watch, and his bad shots are really good. That's when you know he's really good.”
Rory McIlroy reflects on emotional home major championship at Portrush
“ I tried as best as I could to keep my emotions in check, especially walking up the last there and that reception. Yeah, look, it's been an awesome week. I've gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a Claret Jug, and that's just because one person was just a little bit better than the rest of us.
“It's been an amazing week, just the -- I feel so thankful and just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of this crowd. Hopefully I'll have one or two Opens left here, if the R&A decide to keep coming back, probably one while I'm still competitive and another one while I'm more gray than I already am.
“It's just been incredible to come back here and to play and at least feel like I had a chance today going out there. Just an awesome week.”
Scottie Scheffler reacts to ‘silly’ Tiger Woods comparisons after dominant victory at The Open
Scottie Scheffler has dismissed comparisons between himself and Tiger Woods after his dominant four-stroke victory at the Open Championship, labelling the talk as “silly”.
The American triumphed at Royal Portrush, retaining a four-stroke advantage overnight to post a final round of 68 to finish ahead of Harris English in second, with a late charge from Rory McIlroy and others failing to materialise.
And after Scheffler clinched the Claret Jug, his fourth major championship and second of the year, in the same number of days since his first triumph at the 2022 Masters as Woods did between the 1997 Masters and 2000 Open Championship (1,197), many people in the game have placed the 29-year-old in the same bracket as the legendary 15-time major winner.
Scheffler reacts to ‘silly’ Woods comparisons after dominant Open win
Rory McIlroy gives honest reaction to dominant Scottie Scheffler victory at The Open
Rory McIlroy could not hide his “admiration” towards Scottie Scheffler after the American stormed to victory in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
A fourth major championship of his career, in his unique way, Scheffler has now attracted comparisons with Tiger Woods.
And after McIlroy failed to find a spark to mount a late charge on Sunday, finishing in a tie for seventh on -10, Scheffler held his nerve to cruise to a four-shot victory at -17, leaving the Northern Irishman in awe of his rival.
“Admiration,” McIlroy remarked when asked to respond to his Ryder Cup rival’s achievement. “I think all you can do is admire what he does and how he does it.
Rory McIlroy gives honest reaction to dominant Scottie Scheffler victory at The Open
Scheffler on his pre-tournament thoughts:
"I think we live in a day and age where clickbait is what people look for and you can shorten a five-minute clip into three words. I think it underestimates what I was trying to communicate.
"At the end of the day, I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for moments like these. I've worked my entire life to become good at this game. It’s one of the great joys of my life to be able to compete out here.
"To be able to win The Open at Portrush is a feeling that's hard to describe.
"I grew up a kid in Texas that wanted to play professional golf. I don't know why I'm so lucky that I get to live out those dreams. It's something I'm very grateful for and I encourage people to listen to all of those comments.
"Having success in life, whether it's work or golf, is not what fulfils the deepest desires of your heart. This is a cool feeling and I can't wait to get home and celebrate with the people that have helped me along the way. It’s just tough to describe when you haven’t lived it. Just because you win a golf tournament doesn’t make you happy - there’s more to life than playing golf. But I'm pretty excited to celebrate this one."
Scheffler on winning The Open
"It’s a very special feeling. It takes a lot of work to get to this point in my career. This was a tough week - it was challenging. The course was playing really tough. I had to focus very hard over the course of the weekend.
"This one was different from the PGA (in May) because I had a decent lead to start the day. At the PGA, I felt like I struggled on the front nine and then was able to push forward and win it on the back nine.
"This one, I felt like I build up a lead. It got a little close there after the double on eight but as I bounced back at nine I was able to keep a pretty sizeable lead for most of the day."
'The feeling is pretty good'
More reaction from Scottie Scheffler who said: "I'm feeling tired, but feeling pretty good. This was a long week but it was a successful one and I did a good job this week of handling myself mentally and I'm fortunate to be here with the trophy.
"I just tried to keep my head down and execute shots, it’s a tough course. You’ve got to be focused and I did a good job of staying focused.
"It's hard to put into words right now. I’ll be bringing this one back home with me to have a better look."
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