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Scotty Scheffler had a remarkable 2024 with six wins, including the Masters & Players Championship, and top 10 finishes in three of the four majors. He had his best statistical season in the last 25 years. It’s truly remarkable that anyone else has put together a year that’s in the same stratosphere.
Xander Schauffele won his second major of the year and his second in three tries on Sunday, clinching the 2024 British Open Championship at Royal Troon in an unprecedented finish. He shot a bogey-free six-under 65 in the final round, his best round of the week. With the claret jug in hand, he was perfect. The 11th par 4, the 11th par 4, in the heavy holes of the route, was a huge performance of its performance. He was the only bird in the hole all day, followed by the other three and nine people behind and nine. Schauffele called it “the best trick I’ve ever played.”
But that’s not all. Schauffele’s 65 points capped one of the best seasons in major history.
Schaffler, who scored just 72 points in the final round, was one of the players who got Schauffele in the dust on Sunday. And while Schauffele beating Schaeffler in his second major this year rather than the other way around may not be in line with their performances all season, it does highlight the leap Schauffele has made in his career since he campaigned so impressively, as it is. Scheffler has amassed, especially considering his starting point. Although the win total still leans in Scheffler’s favor, consider that Schauffele, who has averaged about 2.0 to 2.2 hits over the last five years, is closer to 3.0 this season. That’s best-player-on-the-planet level.
The “strokes gained” statistic itself does not win majors, but championships tend to unveil what has been true over the long arc of a season, and what has been true for seven straight months of 2024 is that Schauffele is playing like someone who is the best player in the world. Looking ahead to 2024, Scheffler’s numbers will remain staggering. But that shouldn’t — and won’t — overshadow Schauffele’s ability to put together one of the greatest golf campaigns of this century.
Winning two majors in a career is rare. Schauffele is just the 89th player in the history of golf to achieve that feat. Winning two major tournaments in the same year is even rarer. “It was tough,” Schauffele said of the final round. “It was very difficult. I think winning (the PGA Championship) helped me a lot on the back nine today.” I felt a certain calmness, which served me very well against one of the toughest nines I’ve ever played in a tournament. “I mean, winning two major tournaments in one year is a dream come true. It took me a long time to get one and now to get two is something else.” When the Masters began, there were only 28 instances of a golfer winning two majors in the same year. Schauffele recorded 29. He is also just the sixth golfer to win the PGA Championship and British Open Championship in the same year, the first since Rory McIlroy in 2014.
When asked if he ranks with those golfers as one of the greatest players of his generation, Schauffele refused to speculate, leaving that to those who analyze the game.
“I’m just trying to win as many of these things as I can and play the best golf as I can and be a decent guy,” he said. Sunday marked Schauffele’s 13th consecutive top 25 finish worldwide and his 16th in 17 starts so far this year. Schauffele played 27 majors before his first PGA Championship victory, and had 12 top-10 finishes (44.4%) and six top-five finishes (22.2%) in those 27 majors. Schauffele played some great golf. Add in his two major wins and a T7 split finish at the U.S. Open and he’s won or finished in the top 10 in 50 percent of his career major starts.
That may not be enough to steal what Scheffler has accomplished on the PGA Tour, but the fact that it shines brightly enough to make you want to look away from Scheffler’s stellar efforts in 2024 is astounding. Examples of golfers who have finished in the top 10 in every major and won at least two Masters titles in their time make up a player’s profile. Just look at these names!
PLAYERYEAR WONMASTERSU.S. OPENPAA Arnold
Even if he didn’t have the equipment to match his game, Schauffele was always admired by his peers. That’s happening now, and the accolades are rolling in.
Justin Rose, who finished tied for second behind Schauffele and played alongside him in the penultimate match of the tournament on Sunday, was ecstatic. “A guy at the top of his game. A guy that has all the attributes that make him a great player and a great champion,” said Rose of Schauffele. “I think one of the things that’s probably most overlooked is his mentality.