Scottie Scheffler still had 20 holes left to play in this Open Championship. In golf, leads can vanish in an instant. Thick rough, deep bunkers, and the weight of history at the oldest major can unravel even the best. The memory of Jean van de Velde’s collapse still haunts the tournament. Yet, Scheffler’s odds to win the Claret Jug were as short as 1-8. The outcome seemed almost inevitable. Twenty holes. Was this dominance even real?
Describing Scheffler’s form is becoming a challenge. Calm, extraordinary, unstoppable. While no one will rival Tiger Woods’ influence on the sport, it’s fair to say Scheffler is shaping up to be just as dominant. By Sunday evening on the Causeway Coast, he could be a four-time major champion, closing in on a career grand slam. This is only his 24th major start as a pro. One of them, bizarrely, included an arrest that briefly derailed his campaign.
Before the pandemic, Scheffler was relatively unknown outside golf circles. Yet his confidence—or perhaps certainty—is well-founded. He has won the last nine tournaments after holding a 54-hole lead. Since the spring of 2024, he has been chasing his 12th victory.
His current advantage stands at four strokes. Li Haotong’s 69 left him closest to Scheffler’s 14 under par. For Li, this marks his first final-group appearance in a major, a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent career. Scheffler’s rounds of 68, 64, and 67 made it look effortless.
Early on Saturday, a brief contest emerged when Matt Fitzpatrick eagled the 3rd to draw level. Scheffler responded with two birdies by the 7th, but Fitzpatrick kept pace with one of his own. Scheffler then moved to 13 under with another birdie at the 8th.
On the back nine, Scheffler pulled off two improbable par saves after finding thick rough on the 11th and 14th. The notoriously difficult 16th, nicknamed *Calamity*, surrendered to a birdie. Fitzpatrick faltered at the short 13th, and though he birdied the 15th, another error at the 17th left him at nine under after a 71.
Scheffler insists he won’t overthink his position—a strength that keeps him unshaken no matter the pressure. “I enjoy competing,” he said. “This is why we train so hard, for moments like these. Winning majors isn’t easy, but I’ve given myself a chance. Tomorrow, I’ll focus on hitting the fairway, then the green. That’s all there is to it.” Simple, refreshingly simple. A stark contrast to Matti Schmid, who carded a 79.
Read next
"US Open viral moment: Tennis star hands cap to boy after catching video"
Polish Tennis Player Meets Young Fan After Cap Incident at US Open
Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak has reunited with the young boy who appeared to have a hat taken from him by a spectator at the end of a match during the US Open in New York.
Majchrzak asked
Ayuso rebounds to take maiden Vuelta stage victory while Træen retains red jersey
Juan Ayuso Rallies to Win Stage Seven of the Vuelta a España
Spanish rider Juan Ayuso made an impressive comeback just one day after struggling in the Pyrenees, attacking alone on the final climb to secure victory in the seventh stage of the Vuelta a España.
Torstein Træen kept the
"Weekly sports quiz: hair trivia, historic wins, big defeats, and a fresh venue"
Government Announces New Measures to Tackle Rising Energy Costs
In response to growing concerns over escalating household expenses, officials have unveiled a series of steps aimed at reducing financial pressure on consumers. The decisions follow months of deliberation and aim to address widespread dissatisfaction with current pricing structures.
A spokesperson