Xander Schauffele expressed how a “sense of calm” contributed to his victory at the British Open on Sunday, securing his second major title just two months after winning the PGA Championship.
The 30-year-old golfer from California delivered a flawless final round at Royal Troon, finishing with a six-under-par score to emerge as the champion with the Claret Jug.
With a total score of nine-under par for the championship, Schauffele sealed the win two shots ahead of Justin Rose from England and Billy Horschel from the USA.
Schauffele, who set a major record of 21-under-par during his PGA win at Valhalla in May, becomes the first player to win two majors in a single year since Brooks Koepka in 2018.
His victory in Scotland completes an American sweep of the major titles in 2024.
Reflecting on his win, Schauffele shared, “I thought winning the PGA would help me, and it actually did. I had this sense of calm, a calm I didn’t have when I played earlier at the PGA.”
“I was telling my caddie Austin (Kaiser) that I felt pretty calm coming down the stretch and he said he was about to puke on the 18th tee.”
Describing the win at the Open as a “dream come true,” Schauffele credited his calm demeanor for his success.
Schauffele began the final round tied for second place with five other players, just a shot behind overnight leader Horschel.
He played a solid front nine under favorable conditions on the links course, making the turn at two-under par for the day after birdies on the sixth and seventh holes.
He then surged ahead at the start of the back nine as his closest competitors struggled, allowing him to take the lead and maintain it until the end.
Schauffele’s superb approach shots and precise putting secured his victory, with a two-shot lead by the 14th hole and ultimately clinching the championship.
Other notable contenders like Billy Horschel and Thriston Lawrence had moments of brilliance but ultimately fell short as Schauffele maintained his composure and played flawlessly.
– Mentality –
Rose and Horschel put up strong performances but couldn’t catch up to Schauffele’s steady play, finishing tied for second place along with Lawrence and a few others.
The challenging weather conditions and tough course setup led to many top players struggling, with notable names like Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tiger Woods missing the cut.
Despite the difficulties, Schauffele’s calm mentality and consistent play stood out, earning him a well-deserved victory at the British Open.
