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Ewan Murray was at Portrush, and his verdict has landed. Here it is! Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler, and hats off to Harris English and Chris Gotterup for making it a US one-two-three. Thanks for reading this report. See you for the Ryder Cup in late September? OK, it\u2019s a date!<\/p>\n
-17: Scottie Scheffler
-13: Harris English
-12: Chris Gotterup
-11: Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Haotong Li
-10: Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy
-9: Bryson DeChambeau, Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Russell Henley
-8: Rickie Fowler, Nicolai H\u00f8jgaard
-7: Jesper Svensson, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood, John Parry, Justin Rose, Rasmus H\u00f8jgaard, Tyrrell Hatton<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.47 EDT<\/p>\n More from Scottie Scheffler now. He talks to Sky Sports. \u201cThere\u2019s obviously pressure \u2026 but nerves are a good thing, they show you care \u2026 they bring the best out of you \u2026 [birdie at 9] was extremely important \u2026 one of my greatest strengths is being able to reset like that \u2026 it was a silly mistake on 8, I got a little greedy \u2026 it\u2019s a pretty special feeling to walk up the 18th knowing the trophy is in hand \u2026 I got a great reception from the crowd \u2026 it\u2019s a pretty cool feeling \u2026 a lot of gratitude \u2026 a lot of thankfulness \u2026 every week is different, this week I was the best player but the beauty is we tee it up in Memphis again in a couple of weeks, and start all over back at even par.\u201d<\/p>\n Which is pretty much the point he was making in that pre-tournament press conference. He\u2019s not going to change, and we wouldn\u2019t have him any other way. Well played, Scottie!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Birthday boy Chris Gotterup, 26, who followed up his victory at the Scottish Open last week with a third-place finish here, speaks to Sky Sports. \u201cI knew I was playing well coming into these two weeks, but I didn\u2019t know this well! \u2026 I\u2019m gonna soak it up tonight \u2026 it\u2019s been a great two weeks \u2026 I was surprised with my own comfort out there these last two weeks \u2026 I\u2019ve worked hard on my mental game and golf game as well so it\u2019s nice to see those pieces come together.\u201d<\/p>\n Sky\u2019s Sarah Stirk then wishes him happy birthday \u2026 \u201cI\u2019m gettin\u2019 old,\u201d he laughs \u2026 and then he\u2019s presented with what looks like either a lemon or perhaps white chocolate cake. \u201cAwesome! Appreciate it! Looks great! Thank you very much!\u201d Maybe a wee bevvy to go with the cake? \u201cI think so. I think so!\u201d<\/p>\n Gotterup looks genuinely delighted with his cake. That\u2019s a fun moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.37 EDT<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s champion golfer Xander Schauffele, his defence over, talks to Sky. \u201cI tried my very best \u2026 a little deflated \u2026 I gave myself a lot of looks but a frustrating day on the greens \u2026 there\u2019s nothing quite like it [coming back as defending champion] \u2026 to go up on any tee box or green and get some sort of applause \u2026 it\u2019s an awesome feeling for us players \u2026 people are shy to say it, but [Scheffler] is doing some Tiger-like stuff \u2026 extremely dominant \u2026 when you see his name up there, you\u2019re kinda like [smiles wryly] great! \u2026 there is that sentiment \u2026 credit to him \u2026 he\u2019s been playing incredible golf.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rory, naturally disappointed and yet bursting with pride and emotion as well, gives a sweet interview to Sky Sports. \u201c[The reception on the walk up 18] meant a lot \u2026 I\u2019ve had an unbelievable week \u2026 the support means the world to me \u2026 I really wanted to enjoy this week as much as I could \u2026 absolutely incredible \u2026 the reception I got will stay with me for a long time \u2026 I\u2019ve done a good job of keeping my mind on the task in hand \u2026 but I allowed myself a moment walking up the last to try to soak it all in \u2026 this place, these people mean so much to me \u2026 for that to be reciprocated means a lot \u2026 I wish I could have been closer and given it a bit more of a run \u2026 but hats off to Scottie, who has been on a different level this week \u2026 a different level for the past couple of years \u2026 a very deserving champion!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scheffler then wanders over to talk to Sky Sports. \u201cIt\u2019s a pretty special feeling \u2026 it\u2019s been a tough week \u2026 a battle \u2026 played some really good golf \u2026 fortunate to be standing here holding the trophy \u2026 it\u2019s pretty fun \u2026 I grew up waking up early to watch this tournament on TV \u2026 hoping and dreaming I\u2019d get the chance to play in this championship \u2026 it\u2019s pretty cool to be sitting here with the trophy \u2026 I felt a good amount of peace today \u2026 comfortable with my game \u2026 even with that little hiccup on 8 \u2026 every day\u2019s a battle \u2026 it\u2019ll take a little while for this to sink in \u2026 it\u2019s a really cool feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Is he going out in Portrush later tonight to celebrate? \u201cAh, I think I\u2019m gonna be heading back home \u2026 we did get out for breakfast each day but outside of that we\u2019ll be heading back home.\u201d Dialling back on the old people-pleasing-o-meter again there, and that\u2019s fair enough.<\/p>\n Scheffler with his son Bennett and the old claret jug. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.50 EDT<\/p>\n Scheffler thanks the R&A, then continues: \u201cI wish I could have seen more of Portrush but it was a bit of a business week.\u201d He\u2019s then half-interrupted by some shouting, and enquires with a smile: \u201cIs that boos, or good cheers? Couldn\u2019t tell!\u201d Slightly awkward, but he\u2019s not a natural showman. Not everyone from Dallas can be like Lee Trevino. And to be fair, he hasn\u2019t half entertained everyone with his sensational play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWith a score of 267, the winner of the Gold Medal and the Champion Golfer of the Year \u2026 Scottie Scheffler!\u201d He\u2019s given the Claret Jug, and the auld trophy is hoisted into the air with a modest smile. Then it\u2019s time for a speech. \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly what to say \u2026 thank you to the fans \u2026 I know I wasn\u2019t the fan favourite today but I did hear a lot of USA and Dallas, Texas chants so I appreciate you guys coming out to support \u2026 the fan support all week was tremendous \u2026 a ton of fun \u2026 [to his family] I couldn\u2019t do this without you \u2026 I love you very much \u2026 I can\u2019t wait to get home and celebrate \u2026 I\u2019ve got the best support team I could possibly have \u2026 thank you all very much.\u201d<\/p>\n Scheffler poses with the Claret Jug. Photograph: Henry Nicholls\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.23 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 and in other Some Company To Keep news: Scheffler joins an elite club of players to win the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship before the age of 30. The other three? Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Scottie doesn\u2019t look a man out of place.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler becomes only the 17th player to win the Open and at least one other major in the same year. The other members of this select club: Walter Hagan (PGA 1924), Bobby Jones (US Open 1926 and 1930), Gene Sarazen (US Open 1932), Ben Hogan (Masters and US Open 1953), Arnold Palmer (Masters 1962), Jack Nicklaus (Masters 1966), Lee Trevino (US Open 1972), Gary Player (Masters 1974), Tom Watson (Masters 1977 and US Open 1982), Nick Faldo (Masters 1990), Nick Price (PGA 1994), Mark O\u2019Meara (Masters 1998), Tiger Woods (US Open and PGA 2000, Masters 2005, PGA 2006), Padraig Harrington (PGA 2008), Rory McIlroy (PGA 2014) and Xander Schauffele (PGA 2024). Not a bad crowd, huh?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler: Inevitable. Just as Rory McIlroy pointed out last night. OK, it wasn\u2019t quite inevitable \u2026 Scottie momentarily cracked open the door with the inexplicable decision to take a shy for the green from a fairway bunker on 8 \u2026 but it was as near to inevitable as dammit, because he repaired the damage of that single mistake in short order, and never looked back. In fact, it was pretty much the only time all week he didn\u2019t look inevitable, the only hole out of 72 in which he didn\u2019t act in his usual cool, composed, absurdly talented fashion. The world number one now has four majors to his name, and is just a US Open victory away from the career slam. An extraordinary force of nature. And he\u2019s delighted. Do you think this means nothing to him? That clearly couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. The man\u2019s on cloud nine! Inevitably.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.52 EDT<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler: Champion Golfer of 2025!<\/p>\n Scheffler can\u2019t make his birdie putt, but who cares?! He taps in for par, signs for a glorious 68, and keeps calm for a moment \u2026 before throwing off his cap, raising both arms in the air, waving them around a bit, then embracing his wife Meredith before gathering son Bennett into his arms. The gallery giving him his flowers now! What a noise!<\/p>\n -17: Scheffler Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates victory. Photograph: Tom Shaw\/R&A\/Getty ImagesScheffler tosses his cap away. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.56 EDT<\/p>\n As Scottie Scheffler gets close to the green, Portrush breaks into warm applause for the champion-elect. He\u2019s not getting the reception Rory did, but who expected that anyone else would? Shane Lowry perhaps, if he\u2019d doubled up. Maybe. But it\u2019s warm enough for Scheffler to break into a huge smile, the enormity of what he\u2019s about to achieve betraying him. Haotong Li takes a couple of putts for his par, a round of 70, finishing at -11. He laughs heartily. He\u2019s enjoyed himself over these last few holes. It\u2019s been lovely to see. An Open specialist, Li will be back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The scene\u2019s set for Scottie. He splits the 18th fairway with his drive. Haotong Li is in the semi on the right. Li to go first. He whips an iron into the heart of the green. A wonderful final flourish that rolls up to 12 feet and sets up a chance for him to finish third, just as he did in 2017. Then over to Scheffler, who finds the green as well, and wanders up the fairway, preparing to secure his prize.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>McIlroy in with 69<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy makes the walk up 18. He\u2019s not going to win, so it\u2019s not how he would have dreamt it \u2026 except it kind of almost certainly is exactly as he\u2019d have dreamt it, because it\u2019s the sort of ovation a winner would get. They love their man! A huge, rolling, never-ending holler that carries him up to the green. What emotion! McIlroy\u2019s still got work to do, though, and keeps it together so he can nearly chip in from the swale at the back. Now that would have blown the roof off the sky. But there\u2019s enough noise anyway. He tides up for par, a final round of 69, and finishes his week at -10. Yep, not how he would have dreamt it, but it\u2019s a pretty special moment anyway. He acknowledges the gallery, shakes hands with Matt Fitzpatrick \u2013 par, 69, -11 \u2013 and turns again to wave everyone thanks and goodbye before disappearing down the tunnel. Nearly, but the home dream wasn\u2019t meant to be. He\u2019ll always have Augusta.<\/p>\n Northern Ireland\u2019s Rory McIlroy on the 18th. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.19 EDT<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler\u2019s ball is in thick filth. So much grass atop it. No matter! He simply muscles out a wedge from 100 yards to 15 feet. That\u2019s absurd. Most players would have simply hacked out. Not our Scottie! He can\u2019t make the birdie putt, but that would have been ludicrous. Par will do! Then Haotong Li nearly holes out from the sand for eagle. That would have got them going. Li makes his birdie and rejoins the group at -11.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Scottish Open champ Gotterup shoots 67<\/p>\n Up on the 18th green, Chris Gotterup nearly grabs himself a share of second spot with his playing partner Harris English by draining a long birdie putt \u2026 but not quite. Par, a 67, and he\u2019s currently in line to finish third at -12. Do you think, on the plane over the Atlantic last week, the pretty-much-unknown 26-year-old from New Jersey would have taken a win at the Scottish Open and third place at the Open? Answers on a postcard!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOh my God, in the bunker, shit, man!\u201d Haotong Li there, so unfortunate in nearly driving the green at 17, only for his ball to kink right into the sand. All delivered with perfect comic timing and a huge winning smile, earning a big laugh from the gallery, and plenty of their love too, no doubt. He\u2019s entertained all week. Scottie Scheffler\u2019s drive isn\u2019t so good, though, wide right and into some thick filth. Not ideal, but we\u2019re too far gone for any dramatic twist.<\/p>\n Li Haotong of China plays off the 17th tee. Photograph: Peter Morrison\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.33 EDT<\/p>\n English cards 66<\/p>\n Harris English nearly drains a long birdie putt on 18. Not quite, but it\u2019s par, a 66, and he\u2019s the new clubhouse leader at -13. Meanwhile back on 17, Rory secures his sandy par to remain at -10.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ah, the camera angle was a wee bit deceptive, and Rory has some room to get over the lip of the bunker. But he\u2019s not got too much green to work with. So he earns the love of the gallery with a delicate splash out to six feet. He couldn\u2019t do much better from there. A chance to get out of Dodge with a par. But before he can putt out, Matt Fitzpatrick walks in a 20-footer for back-to-back birdies. He\u2019s -11.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rory McIlroy sets about making a mess of 17. He flays his tee shot into the gallery down the right \u2013 again \u2013 then whips a wedge into a bunker on the left side of the green. He\u2019s up against the face as well. This would be classic late-Sunday Open drama \u2026 had he been in contention. But, ah well. Still, work to do.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy plays his second shot on the 17th hole after taking a free drop, having sliced his tee shot over a fence. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.03 EDT<\/p>\n Xander Schauffele finishes a fine defence of his title with a 68. He ends the week at -10, and will be proud of his efforts at the tail end of a season that\u2019s otherwise underwhelmed \u2026 although following a two-major year was always going to be difficult. Meanwhile a disappointing end to an otherwise excellent week\u2019s work for Tyrrell Hatton: a one-over 72 that drops him down the standings to -7. Another player close to making that major breakthrough who we must file under Next Year Maybe.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie can\u2019t make his birdie putt on 16. So he won\u2019t be going away with a record of 2-2-2-2 on this famously challenging par-three. There goes that dream!<\/a> But he\u2019ll take a par that keeps him sitting pretty at -13. But his lead is only four now, because Harris English birdies the short par-four 17th to grab second place for himself. The 35-year-old Georgian has already tied for second at the PGA this year, and for 12th at the Masters; this shouldn\u2019t be such a surprise.<\/p>\n -17: Scheffler (16) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler sends a low fade into the 16th. He\u2019s 11-and-a-half feet away from making birdie on this difficult long par-three in all four rounds. Calamity Corner? I don\u2019t think so!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Matt Fitzpatrick tramlines a 30-footer on 16. The birdie brings him back to -10, alongside Rory McIlroy, who had missed the green short and right, and not sent his wedge particularly close. But he makes the six-footer that remains. The gallery, long aware that Rory\u2019s ship has sailed, holler in delight anyway. No point sulking. Party!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Harris English drains a 42-footer on 16. He joins Chris Gotterup in a share of second at -12. Meanwhile back on 15, Scottie Scheffler shaves the cup with a birdie effort, but par will do, as he quietly ambles his way to Open glory. But a birdie for Haotong Li, who\u2019d sent his second from 160 yards to 16 feet. In goes the putt, and that\u2019s a fine response to his double on the previous hole.<\/p>\n -17: Scheffler (15) Share<\/a>MacIntyre cards 67<\/p>\n A par for Bob MacIntyre at the last, and that\u2019s a fine final round of 67. He finished in a tie for sixth here in 2019, his best finish at the Open, and on debut as well. As things stand, he\u2019s tied fifth, and on course to beating that mark. Scotland still waits for its first men\u2019s major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999 \u2013 Catriona Matthew won the Women\u2019s British Open in 2009 \u2013 but MacIntyre has the game to put an end to the yearning. Next year, maybe.<\/p>\n Robert MacIntyre of Scotland tees off on the 18th hole. Photograph: Oisin Keniry\/R&A\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.20 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s not happened for Matt Fitzpatrick today. He finds a bunker from the tee at 15. Always out of position, he ends up with bogey, and like Li, he\u2019s in danger of losing position and pennies. He\u2019s -9. Birdie for Rory McIlroy, though. Too little, too late, but at least his nudging his way back up the leaderboard towards a high finish. At -10, second isn\u2019t totally out of reach yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Haotong Li\u2019s chip up from the back of 14 is clumsy. It sails 20 feet past the flag, and he can\u2019t make the putt coming back. Double bogeys are never pretty, but that one was particularly scrappy. He drops back into the pack at -9, and all of a sudden a top-ten finish is far from secure. How ambitions and goals change so quickly on a major-championship Sunday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Clark shoots 65<\/p>\n Brian Harman was in good nick coming into the weekend, a couple of shots off the lead. But he double-bogeyed 1 yesterday and never really recovered. The 2023 champion golfer has finished strongly, though, with birdies at 12, 17 and finally 18, the last reward for a 40-yard rake worthy of a big smile and a warm reception from the gallery. He\u2019s gone round today with Wyndham Clark, who\u2019s unable to make a 15-footer for a final birdie. Out in 33, he\u2019s back in 32, and after a long period of indifferent, locker-bothering form, the erstwhile US Open champion is back, baby. He\u2019s the new clubhouse leader at -11.<\/p>\n Wyndham Clark of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 18th. Photograph: Luke Walker\/Getty Images for HSBCShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.20 EDT<\/p>\n Trouble for Haotong Li on 14. He finds a fairway bunker off the tee, then makes the schoolboy error of not finding the fairway with his chip out. Lashing from a tousled bank to the right of the fairway, ball above his feet, he gets a flyer that sends his third over the back and down a big bank. He\u2019ll have work to do if he\u2019s to get up and down and limit the damage to bogey. He\u2019ll not be winning this Open, but these things could cost him position and plenty of pennies.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Wyndham Clark walks in a 20-footer on 17 for his eighth birdie of the day. It gives him a share of third spot at -11. Once he clears out of the road, Bob MacIntyre drives the green at the 401-yard par-four, a combination of slope and banks to the right of the fairway guiding his ball into the front of the dancefloor. Two putts later \u2013 so close to eagle, as well, his 25-foot effort curling right at the last turn \u2013 and that\u2019s his fourth birdie in six holes. He\u2019s -10 and his third top-ten finish at an Open is all but in the bag. Scottie Scheffler meanwhile misses his short-ish birdie putt at 13, but, well, y\u2019know.<\/p>\n -17: Scheffler (13) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler aims straight at the flag on the par-three 13th. His ball clears the bunker at the front, lands on its shoulder, pings forward, and rolls out to eight feet. This is a masterclass, and what makes it even more special is the complete lack of panic after his poor call in the fairway bunker at 8. He\u2019s been a study in serene brilliance since. Incidentally if \u2013 and let\u2019s be serious, when \u2013 he triumphs today, he\u2019ll become the first player to win the Open having made double bogey in the final round since Padraig Harrington at the 2007 Open. Padraig\u2019s came at the 72nd hole at Carnoustie, and was a wee bit more dramatic than today\u2019s minor error. But a double\u2019s a double\u2019s a double, and the stat stands.<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler of the United States tees off on the 13th hole. Photograph: Alex Pantling\/R&A\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.18 EDT<\/p>\n Just as the pack threaten to get a little closer to Scottie Scheffler, the world number one pulls away again. From a swale to the side of 12, he chips up to six feet, and he\u2019s not missing the straight putt for birdie. By comparison Haotong Li, putting up from a swale on the other side, applies too much juice and sends his ball 15 feet past. The result: just a par. The lead\u2019s five again.<\/p>\n -17: Scheffler (12) Share<\/a><\/p>\n The US Open runner-up Robert MacIntyre has been beavering away out of sight for most of the afternoon. But he\u2019s nudging himself back into view along the closing stretch. Birdies at 12, 14 and now 15, and at -9, a third top-ten finish at the Open for the man from Oban is very much on. And with mention of Oor Bob, here\u2019s Simon McMahon: \u201cGolf seems in rude health right now, what with Scottie, Rory and Xander hoovering up majors, former winners Rahm, Fitzpatrick, DeChambeau continuing to compete, Oban\u2019s own Bob \u2018Robert\u2019 MacIntyre making his push for the big time, perennial contenders like Hatton and Fleetwood, plus old timers like Rose, Westwood, DJ, and Sergio hanging in there. It\u2019s enough to make the Rolex hour, and some of the more excitable fans, bearable.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Chris Gotterup has another nibble into Scottie Scheffler\u2019s lead. A magnificent tee shot into the par-three 13th. Six feet away. He tidies up for his birdie, and there\u2019s just (!) four shots in it. However, Scottie Scheffler is greenside at the par-five 12th in two. News of what he gets up to there coming right up.<\/p>\n -16: Scheffler (11) Share<\/a><\/p>\n From the side of the par-five 12th green, Rory McIlroy gives a monster eagle putt a good chance of dropping. But it dies to the right on its final roll. A birdie, but it\u2019s not enough for the Holywood star. He\u2019s -9. Meanwhile up on 13, Harris English leaves a straight 20-foot birdie putt short, while Wyndham Clark \u2013 who couldn\u2019t convert his birdie chance on 15 \u2013 leaves another one shy of the hole on 16. English remains -11, Clark -10.<\/p>\n Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy reacts after missing an eagle putt on the 12th hole. Photograph: Paul Childs\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.16 EDT<\/p>\n Xander Schauffele, having birdied the par-five 12th, then swishes his tee shot at 13 pin high. He\u2019ll have a look at birdie from 12 feet. Before he can putt, his playing partner Tyrrell Hatton nearly holes a 50-footer for birdie \u2026 but nothing\u2019s happening for High Wycombe\u2019s finest (with apologies to fans of Howard Jones, a cutting-edge reference for the pop kids there) today. Hatton remains at -8 \u2026 and Schauffele stays at -10 when he misses his birdie chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The chasing pack finally wake up from their slumber. Haotong Li\u2019s second into 11 disappears into a swale to the left of the green, but no matter, because he rakes in a Texas Wedge to get the crowd doing again. Harris English rakes a monster across 12 for eagle. And his playing partner Chris Gotterup misses his eagle effort from half the distance, but taps in for birdie. All three move to -11, and with Scottie Scheffler just making par on 11, the lead\u2019s down to five.<\/p>\n -16: Scheffler (11) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rory\u2019s travails on 10 have subdued the mood around Portrush. Everyone knows this is turning into a procession. The 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark hasn\u2019t given up the ghost, mind you: out in 33, he\u2019s subsequently birdied 11, 12 and 14, and has just fired his second at 15 into the heart of the green. He\u2019ll have a long look at birdie from there. He\u2019s currently in the group tied for second at -10 and going very well. Not good news for Portrush carpenters hoping to get a lucrative gig repairing lockers next week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.57 EDT<\/p>\n A fine end to the week for Canada\u2019s Corey Conners. Back in 30 strokes, and his 66 will guarantee a high finish. He\u2019ll be ruing his underwhelming opening-day round of 74. It\u2019s not quite a DeChambeauesque recovery, but it\u2019s in the ballpark, and they\u2019ve both ended the week at -9. He joins Bryson in the clubhouse lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Chris Gotterup can\u2019t make his par saver on 11. He slips back to -10. Haotong Li isn\u2019t good for his on 10, either, and drops back to -10 as well. Bogey for Harris English at 11. Everyone\u2019s going backwards \u2026 except Scottie Scheffler, who doesn\u2019t make his birdie putt, but his seven-shot lead, recently cut to four, is back to six again in short order. Crisis? What crisis?<\/p>\n -16: Scheffler (10) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler looks concerned as he wedges into 10. No idea why, because the ball screeches to a halt pin high, 20 feet to the left of the flag, before taking a right-angle and rolling to ten feet. Haotong Li meanwhile, having flayed his tee shot into deep trouble, is forced to chip back out onto the fairway. He sends his third into the heart of the green, but he\u2019ll have a 16 footer for par. And that\u2019s the dilemma that Chris Gotterup is faced with, after sending a flyer over 11 and failing to get his chip back close.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Double bogey at 10 for McIlroy<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy\u2019s race is run. His tee shot at 10 disappears into rough down the left. His second gets a flyer, and airmails the green. So far over that he\u2019s on the wrong side of a bank at the back. He tries to get too cute off a tight lie, and almost whiffs his chip. The ball lands apologetically on the upslope and bounces back down into the bespoke gallery that has formed a horseshoe around him. Second time, he gets the ball onto the green, but he\u2019s a good 20 feet away. Two putts later, and that\u2019s a double-bogey six that drops him back to -8. Any outside chance of a romantic home victory gone in a flash.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy and his caddie Harry Diamond walk off the tenth green. Photograph: Warren Little\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.20 EDT<\/p>\n Haotong Li makes his birdie putt. He\u2019s out in 35. Realistically, he needed something lower. A fact rammed home when Scottie Scheffler tidies up for his birdie. What a way to respond to that double-bogey. He\u2019s out in 34, and his lead is back to five. No signs of concern on his face, just the usual down-to-business look.<\/p>\n -16: Scheffler (9) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Li\u2019s copped a half-decent lie on the bank to the left of 9, but he doesn\u2019t have much green to play with. What a shot he manufactures, though. He stings his wedge into the bank to the left of the green, stunning the ball and kicking it right to six feet! That\u2019s quite outrageous. Over to Scottie, who bounces a wedge from 100 yards to a similar distance. Bounce-back birdie coming up?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scottie settles himself by battering his drive at 9 into the semi-rough down the right. That\u2019ll be fine. Not so Haotong Li, who hoicks his tee shot into deep nonsense. Meanwhile up on 10, Chris Gotterup gets imaginative from the rough at the back of the green. He deliberately knocks his chip long and left of the hole, using the bank at the back to u-turn his ball to six feet. He makes his par putt, and that\u2019s a magical momentum saver. He remains -11, four off Scheffler\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The chasing pack can\u2019t rely on Scheffler offering them more gifts, though. They\u2019ve got to do something themselves \u2026 and Rory McIlroy disappoints the gallery by cracking a monster 352-yard drive down 9, then leaving his chip 25 feet short. Two putts later, and what a waste. He remains at -10. Meanwhile Chris Gotterup finds rough at the back of the 10th green, pulling his approach, and the peloton is in danger of taking their collective foot off the pedal just as the leader wobbles for the first time this week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Double bogey at 8 for Scheffler<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler can\u2019t make his bogey putt on 8, and that\u2019s his first double bogey of the week. An incredibly daft decision to take a shy at the green from the bunker, and it\u2019s cost him. All of a sudden, his seven-shot lead has been whittled down to four.<\/p>\n -15: Scheffler (8) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.38 EDT<\/p>\n The new US Open champion JJ Spaun nearly holes out from 176 yards for eagle on 18. What a sign-off that would have been! It\u2019s a tap-in birdie, and he\u2019s back in 30 strokes, signing for a 68. He doesn\u2019t half like the back nine on a major Sunday! He ends the week at -6.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Scheffler fires his wedge straight at the flag. He\u2019s shooting four. He lands 15 feet short of the pin, but he\u2019s got a chance to salvage bogey. Elsewhere, Chris Gotterup birdies 9 to turn in 33, and out of absolutely nowhere, there\u2019s a little bit of jeopardy for the world number one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 and on 8, Scottie Scheffler makes an absurd unforced error. Instead of taking his medicine out of the fairway bunker, he takes a long iron and goes for the green. The face of the bunker is way too steep, and he slams his ball into it. He\u2019s fortunate his ball doesn\u2019t roll back into his deep footprint. Then he does what he should have done in the first instance, wedging out. The leader will do well to avoid double bogey now. Hmm.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cGosh, dang it!\u201d Some wholesome cussin\u2019 from Scottie Scheffler, in response to his third poor tee shot in a row. This one finds a fairway bunker down the right of 8. Perhaps understandably, his levels of intensity have dropped a little. That can\u2019t be said for Matt Fitzpatrick, who has clearly decided to have one last shy at the title. He follows birdie at 7 by firing an arrow straight at the flag on 8. Another birdie, and now he\u2019s -10.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n From the theatre to the pantomime, as a chorus of highly amused oohs and aahs cascade down from the gallery. They\u2019re the response to Scottie Scheffler knocking an uncharacteristically heavy handed wedge 15 feet past the hole. A first bogey since the 11th on Friday coming up? Nope! In goes the par saver, and this is an almost super-human display of golf. Two huge up and downs yesterday afternoon, at 11<\/a> and 14<\/a>, and the same again today, at 6 and 7. It\u2019s all part of it. Wow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.08 EDT<\/p>\n Harris English walks in a 25-footer on 8 to join the pack at -10. Meanwhile Scottie Scheffler takes his medicine out of the fairway bunker at 7 \u2026 then pulls his approach from 200 yards down a bank to the left of the green. Another up-and-down test coming up. \u201cTwo greens missed in a row, there\u2019s a new stat!\u201d quips the three-time winner Sir Nick Faldo on Sky Sports, his words just about audible over the theatrical hoisting of a large arched eyebrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rory McIlroy recovers from his wild drive at 7. And how. He nearly holes out with his wedge from 80 yards, then tidies up for a birdie that raises him to -10. Back on the tee, Scottie Scheffler drives into a bunker. Let\u2019s manage expectations: this is over. But it\u2019s not quite over yet. Rory certainly isn\u2019t giving it up.<\/p>\n -17: Scheffler (6) Share<\/a>Matsuyama in with 66<\/p>\n Par for Hideki up the last. Out in 33, back in 33. A fine round, albeit one that unbelievably promised more when he was six-under for it through 12. A slightly diminuendo finish, with bogeys at 13 and 16, but overall he\u2019ll take that. Whether it\u2019s enough for his first top-ten finish at an Open since finishing tied for sixth on debut in 2013 is yet to be seen. It\u2019s in the balance: he\u2019s currently tied for 12th.<\/p>\n
-13: English
-12: Gotterup
-11: Clark, Fitzpatrick, Li
-10: MacIntyre, Schauffele, McIlroy<\/p>\n
-13: English (17)
-12: Gotterup (17)<\/p>\n
-12: English (16), Gotterup (16)
-11: Clark (F)
-10: MacIntyre (F), Schauffele (17), McIlroy (15), Li (15)<\/p>\n
-12: Gotterup (14)
-11: Clark (17), English (14), Li (13)
-10: MacIntyre (17), Schauffele (15), Fitzpatrick (13)<\/p>\n
-12: Gotterup (13)
-11: English (13), Li (12)<\/p>\n
-12: Gotterup (13)
-11: English (13), Li (11)
-10: Clark (16), Schauffele (13), Fitzpatrick (12)<\/p>\n
-11: English (12), Gotterup (12), Li (11)<\/p>\n
-10: Gotterup (11), Fitzpatrick (10), Li (10)<\/p>\n
-11: Gotterup (10), Li (9)
-10: English (10), McIlroy (9), Fitzpatrick (9)<\/p>\n
-11: Gotterup (9)
-10: English (9), McIlroy (8), Fitzpatrick (8), Li (8)<\/p>\n
-10: Gotterup (8), McIlroy (7), Li (6)
-9: DeChambeau (F), English (7), Fitzpatrick (7)<\/p>\n