TROON, Scotland — Xander Schauffele won the British Open on Sunday for his second major of the year, delivering a masterpiece at Royal Troon with a 6-under 65 to overcome a two-shot deficit and give the Americans a sweep of the four majors for the first time since 1982.
Schauffele, who faced questions at the start of the season about whether he could win a major, now has two of them with the brand of golf that hasn’t been seen in 90 years of the four majors.
He won the PGA Championship at Valhalla by making a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 65. In a final round at Royal Troon set up for big drama — six players one shot behind, nine players separated by three shots — Schauffele made a tense Sunday look like a nice walk along the Irish Sea.
He is the first player to win two majors with closing rounds of 65 in the same year. Jack Nicklaus is the only other player to do it in his career.
He won by two shots over American Billy Horschel (68) and Justin Rose (67), the 43-year-old from England who had to go through 36-hole qualifying just to get into the field.
Back in the U.S., in Sylvania, Ohio, Chanettee Wannasaen won the Dana Open for Children for her second LPGA Tour title, birdieing the final two holes to hold off Haeran Ryu by a stroke.
Three strokes ahead of playing partner Ryu entering the round, Wannasaen closed with a 4-under 67 to finish at 20-under 264 at Highland Meadows. The 20-year-old Thai player won the Portland Classic last year.
Ryu shot 65, also birdieing the final two holes. The South Korean player had six birdies and a bogey on the back nine.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.