Xander Schauffele’s Open title, 2024 main season in overview

Test in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular subjects within the sport, and be part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we break down Xander Schauffele’s Open Championship victory and put a bow on the 2024 main season.

Xander Schauffele performed a flawless Sunday of golf en path to successful the Open Championship and claiming his second main of the season (and profession) following his PGA Championship victory two months in the past. What did he do higher than everybody else at Royal Troon, and what’s been the distinction for Xander this 12 months in comparison with years previous?

Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): The straightforward reply is that the work he’s accomplished with Chris Como has taken his ball hanging to a brand new stage. His tee shot on 15 Sunday actually struck me. As somebody who has traditionally performed a draw, Schauffele needed to arise there, purpose left and let the wind carry his ball again to the best and into the green. He unleashed one 343 yards, lifeless middle. This 12 months, he’s the one participant inside the highest 12 in Strokes Gained: Off the tee, tee to inexperienced, strategy and placing. The previous two seasons, he was outdoors the highest 30 in SG: Off the tee, so there’s been a transparent enchancment with the driving force as he’s develop into not solely one of many longest gamers on Tour, however one of many extra correct. The extra intangible reply is that he merely has developed that killer intuition that had been missing for thus a few years on the largest stage. That’s exhausting to develop, however he was stoic down the stretch Sunday and at Valhalla two months in the past.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): What he did higher at Royal Troon than anybody else was he kicked it into excessive gear on the weekend. His Saturday 69 got here within the dreadful afternoon wave, and his bogey-free Sunday was as stress-free as they arrive. It appears that evidently getting over the hump at Valhalla has opened the floodgates. There might be many extra majors in X’s future.

Josh Sens, senior author (@JoshSens): Like so many winners of this event prior to now, he held on properly by the worst of the circumstances, after which charged when issues turned benign. Schauffele has lengthy been identified for his psychological power, a make-up constructed for majors. Now that he has additional sturdied his swing, he’s obtained the mechanics to match. Each had been on show this week. That’s a potent combo.

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): I feel flawless is the true key phrase within the query. For each of his main wins this 12 months, Schauffele gained firing closing rounds of 65 each instances. Bogey-free on Sunday at Troon, and one bogey at Valhalla. That’s unbelievable! When others had been wilting, he had the arrogance and presence of thoughts — to not point out the shot high quality and clutch placing — to push on to victory. He’s been shut so many instances that it appeared prefer it was solely a matter of time earlier than he cracked the code. And now he’s accomplished it twice.

Schauffele is simply the sixth participant within the final 25 years to win a number of majors in a season, becoming a member of an inventory that features Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka. Is that this one epic heater? Or are the floodgates open and this major-winning model of Xander is right here to remain?

Hirsh: Nicely, the commonality between three of these 5 names (Harrington, McIlroy, Spieth) is after successful a number of majors in a season, they mixed to win only one (Spieth on the 2017 Open) afterward. Brooks has gained two extra since he gained two in 2018, making Tiger the true outlier. My cash is that Xander would possibly win one other one, however that is the clear peak of his profession.

Melton: I feel it’s the latter. Xander has put himself in competition many instances prior to now, and now he’s realized easy methods to shut. I absolutely anticipate him to knock off a number of extra majors earlier than his profession ends.

Sens: Heading into this week, he had 14 prime 10s and two runners-up in 24 majors. This 12 months isn’t a lot an epic heater however an instance of what occurs when a participant who has been banging reliably on the door for a very long time lastly breaks by. I’d be shocked if we don’t see extra of the identical down the road.

Marksbury: If there’s something we’ve realized over time, it’s that successful majors is tough. Schauffele has made it look straightforward. It’s superb to suppose that his main tally is now equal to Scheffler’s. I positively imagine he has the bandwidth to win extra, however a two-major season is extraordinarily particular and never one thing I anticipate to see with any regularity going ahead.

This was the tenth time Royal Troon has hosted an Open. How would you grade the course as a serious championship venue and take a look at?

Hirsh: I beloved the course and the setup. The Open relies on climate and it was actually enjoyable to look at the perfect on the planet slog by some nasty circumstances this week. The Postage Stamp eighth would be the par-3 I wish to play most on the planet. I feel among the criticisms and comparisons to the USGA over Saturday’s setup had been unfounded. The distinction is the U.S. Open performs in areas with predictable climate whereas the Open doesn’t. Solely the final couple teams actually needed to wrestle on the again 9 Saturday, they usually had fairly favorable circumstances on the entrance line. That’s simply how hyperlinks golf works. I give Troon an A.

Melton: I actually loved watching this week. I’ve by no means been out to Troon (or some other Open rota course for that matter), so it’s tough to guage from afar, however I feel it’s within the prime half when grading Open programs.

Sens: Cherished it. What I beloved much more was the climate. All of the rota programs are nice. They’re higher when the weather kick in. This week produced all of the quirks and randomness you would hope for at an Open (shock contenders; big-name flops), after which, finally, a marquee winner. Undecided you would ask for extra, besides maybe extra white-knuckle moments on the ultimate holes. However blame Schauffele for that. Not the course.

Marksbury: Agree, Josh. The climate is what makes the Open the Open! Getting a style of the brutality on Saturday made for nice viewing. Troon gave us an thrilling leaderboard and a very good champion in Xander. What extra may you ask for?

Who gained The Open with out successful The Open?

Hirsh: Justin Rose has one other main in him.

Melton: Thriston Lawrence. His solo-fourth place end will get him an invitation again subsequent 12 months, plus an exemption into the Masters besides. The ​​$876,000 paycheck ain’t too unhealthy, both.

Sens: I can’t prime these calls however will go along with 20-year-old Callum Scott, a Scot, ending as prime newbie on residence turf. He had tears in his eyes developing 18 for good cause.

Marksbury: I’ll go along with Daniel Brown. He went from an under-the-radar DP World Tour participant to an Open contender with cult-hero standing, because of a captivating cig-and-selfie session on the 18th gap on Saturday. I’m a brand new fan!

Scottie Scheffler tied for seventh at Royal Troon, however his straightforward stroll to PGA Tour Participant of the Yr simply obtained just a little extra fascinating. Scheffler has six wins this season (together with the Masters and Gamers) however Schauffele now has two majors (however no different wins). With a few of 2024 nonetheless left to play out, is Scheffler nonetheless the front-runner?

Hirsh: I’m nonetheless going with Scheffler. Schauffele has performed properly in different tournaments this 12 months, however I feel six wins (when one is a serious and one other is a Gamers) trumps two majors and no different wins. We’re speaking about Participant of the Yr, not Participant of the Majors. Sustained excellence actually means one thing. That mentioned, if Schauffele was to catch and go Scheffler at East Lake and add one other win, or perhaps a fourth, that might be a distinct story.

Melton: I feel Scottie remains to be the front-runner due to his full physique of labor (six wins, plus a serious), however Xander has actually made the choice a lot more durable.

Sens: Robust name. It’s neck and neck. However given the primacy of majors – particularly in our divided period after we solely see all the largest weapons in these 4 occasions – I’ll put Xander forward, if solely by a half a nostril.

Marksbury: It’s nonetheless Scottie in my guide. However as Jack talked about, the Olympics and FedEx Cup — and recency bias — means there’s lots left to think about. And it ain’t over ’til it’s over.

Schauffele’s PGA and Open titles highlighted the 2024 main season, though now that each one 4 are full, which professional is strolling away most dissatisfied?

Hirsh: Most dissatisfied in himself? Positively Tiger. The dude has no comprehension of mediocrity. His worst profession end on the Masters adopted by three MCs has gotta harm for him. Whether or not his personal expectations are real looking? That’s one other debate for an additional day.

Melton: Jon Rahm. Since bolting for LIV and a assured payday, he’s not been the identical dominant participant he as soon as was. A T7 end at Troon salvages his main season a bit, however finally 2024 will go down as a misplaced 12 months.

Sens: You guys are being very type to Rory McIlroy.

Hirsh: Oh yeah, forgot about that man.

Marksbury: All stable picks there, guys. Rahm was the primary participant who jumped to thoughts for me. However within the curiosity of selection, I’ll faucet Wyndham Clark. After a banner 12 months in 2023, it appeared like main mediocrity could be a factor of the previous. However this 12 months’s finishes — MC, MC, T56, MC — go away a lot to be desired for the present World No. 5.