Xander Schauffele Wins Second Major Championship of the Year at The Open
Xander Schauffele claimed victory at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon on Sunday, earning his second major championship of the year. Schauffele, who had never won a major before this year, became the first player to win two majors in the same year since Jack Nicklaus.
“It was hard. It was very difficult,” Schauffele said after the final round. “I think winning the first one helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through, and it was very helpful and what has been the back nine’s I’ve ever played in a tournament.”
Weather conditions at Royal Troon eased up on the final day, but the final nine holes remained challenging. Billy Horschel entered the day as the leader, but Schauffele played a bogey-free round and pulled away with three birdies in a four-hole stretch to secure the victory.
Despite being in contention earlier on, Horschel and Justin Rose tied for second, just two strokes behind Schauffele. The win also marked a historic moment for American golfers, as U.S. players swept all four majors in the same year for the first time since 1982.
“It’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year,” Schauffele said. “It took me forever to win just one and to have two now is just something else.”
Schauffele’s victory at The Open solidifies his place among the top golfers in the world and cements his status as a major contender in future tournaments.
