The name of Scottie Scheffler (-17) is already inscribed on the Claret Jug. And although the THE OPEN, this immense Major, grandfather and father of the others, is above any name, its history has certainly been especially honoured with this inscription. If nothing strange happens, moreover, it won’t be the last time his name is chiselled into the base of the trophy, because this American player is aiming for heights unreachable for all those not named Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan or Gary Player.
Scottie cleared any hint of uncertainty about the final winner today with a wonderful second shot on the 1st hole, very much in the manner that a links demands, using the contour of the green to leave a given birdie. Until reaching the 8th hole, it was truly the triumphant walk of a titan unreachable for the rest, but golf always presents a penultimate ambush to overcome. Scheffler was hit with a fair double bogey on that 8th hole, but then the American was going to show the world once again what his powers are…
He had stepped out of his bubble a few minutes after holing a par putt on the 6th from over four metres (he played a bad 7th hole and a horrible 8th hole). But he returned to it naturally to deliver a display of madness. Pay close attention to the fact: since signing the double bogey, with ten holes to play and the Claret Jug at stake again, Scheffler was going to hit all the greens in regulation and was actually going to leave himself up to nine reasonable birdie chances, from distances ranging from one and a half to seven metres, many of them around three metres away, a true feat on a Major Sunday, with victory at stake and no need to push the machine. He would only hole two of them, he didn’t need much more, but truly, it must be insisted, his end of the round could have been apotheotic and record-breaking.
It is also worth noting, it is true, that the rest of the contenders, who already had it very difficult, did not push too hard or at the right moment. Neither Rory, nor Fitzpatrick, nor Haotong Li or Hatton; none managed to produce that electric and vertiginous start that could put the World Number One in trouble, that would make him think, that would really tense him. The final stretch may have lacked emotion, but let’s leave it be, this marriage had to happen sooner or later in whatever way: if the Open is honoured by the inclusion of Scheffler in the record, even more honour is gained by the player with the beautiful and traditional label of ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ that the Open winner receives. He has been, champion golfer of the year, for quite a few seasons now, he is simply unapproachable for the rest.
Exactly: he is in another dimension. This year, even in the two Majors where he has been seen less, has plugged in less, or simply has not been as accurate, he ended up appearing in the top ten by default. If there is any player who could achieve the Grand Slam in a single year, it would certainly be him. It really seems like an impossible goal, let’s not go crazy: Jack and Tiger couldn’t do it and that says almost everything. But only Scheffler seems capable of reopening this debate.
He already has four Majors at just 29 years old. Not bad at all. And next year, when June approaches (and perhaps he has increased that count, let’s not rule it out) we will all go crazy, and we will surely drive him crazy too, the wait for you, Scottie, with the possibility of completing his particular Grand Slam Career at Shinnecock Hills, where the US Open will be played, the only one missing from his record. Let’s see how he handles such monstrous expectations. Let him ask Rory. The lad’s shoulders, however, seem sufficiently broad, as long as a stray ravioli or a grumpy cop doesn’t cross his path.
