Cigar-loving Xander Schauffele smoked the rest of the field to be crowned Open champion at Royal Troon.
Schauffele was left puffing on one of his favourite Montecristo No.2s, after shooting a final round 65 to lift the Claret Jug. The American star striped his ball around the Ayrshire links with faultless precision to see off a host of challengers.
These included Justin Rose, who threatened to become the first Englishman to win the championship in 32 years, before wilting in the heat of his rival’s red hot golf on the back nine. Rose, who is now 43, did little wrong and held the joint lead heading towards the turn following an impressive outward nine of 33. And he raised his cap to the galleries after birdying the final hole, to finish in a tie for second place with a round of 67.
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But like all the rest, Rose had no answer to the birdie blitz of Schauffele down the stretch, as the San Diego native charged to the biggest title of his career. The 30-year-old birdied three of four holes between 11 and 14, to complete a bogey-free round and finish on a winning score of nine under par, two shots clear of the field. The stunning triumph caps an astonishing summer for Shauffele.
Having waited years to land his first Major title and gone so close on several occasions in the past, Schauffele has now landed two in just two months. And he will now jet home to put the most famous silverware in golf on his mantlepiece alongside the Wanamaker Trophy, having won the PGA Championship at Valhalla in May.
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(Image: Getty Images)
The last player to win both of these in the same year was Rory McIlroy a decade ago, The same McIlroy that Schauffele is about to overtake as the new world No.2. Throw in a winning cheque for $3.1m, and it’s not been a bad few weeks work, for someone who has gone from the nearly man of golf to the main one.
Even world No.1 Scottie Scheffler could do nothing to stop Schauffele from taking all the glory. Scheffler was in the chasing pack alongside fellow Americans Billy Horschel and Russel Henley, 2019 champion Shane Lowry, shock contender Dan Brown and South African Thriston Lawrence.
Horschel had been the overnight leader with a one shot advantage, but despite birdying the opening hole never managed to get going. Lowry spluttered around Troon as well, finishing with a closing 68 and sixth place. While at one point it looked like the unheralded Lawrence would take the crown.
(Image: R&A via Getty Images)
Lawrence went out in a nerveless four under par 32 – and stood on the 10th tee looking down on the rest. He was one clear of Rose and two ahead of Schauffele, but bogeyed the 12th to lose his momentum as Schauffele put on the afterburners to overtake him.
As Schauffele walked up the final hole his name was being engraved onto the base of the Claret Jug. He’d written another chapter of a familiar story, having become the seventh Yank to triumph at Troon in the last eight championships held here.
His family were waiting to congratulate him at the back of the 18th green, including his emotional dad Stefan. The man who first introduced his son to cigars at the age of 10, now watching him continue to set the game of golf on fire.
Stefan previously told Cigar Aficionado how he taught his son from an early age. He said: “You need to realise that you don’t inhale at a very early age. I gave him Montecristos when he was 12 for birthdays, special occasions, New Year’s. No inhaling. You do it once and then you know.”
Schauffele added: “I smoked with my dad when I was younger. He taught me how to handle them, storing them correctly. My dad would let me take a few puffs here and there. Dip it in Cognac. Taught me as many things as you can teach a kid about a cigar.
“I don’t really drink or smoke just because of golf and the need to perform at a high level. In terms of celebrating and having a good time, to me a cigar is always part of that equation.”