Xander Schauffele: American passes ultimate examination to win at Royal Troon

As Xander Schauffele enjoys being the first American to win all four men's majors in 42 years, it is important to consider the frustratingly beautiful nature of top-level golf in the UK.

Without a doubt, it is the sport in its most authentic and superior state.

Schauffele emerged victorious at the prestigious Open held at Royal Troon, where the challenging course pushed the top golfers to their limits, battling against harsh weather conditions.

In the end, the tournament was won by the deserving player, as the 30-year-old Olympic gold medalist secured his second major win of 2024. Despite Scottie Scheffler's recent victories, it is clear that Schauffele truly earned the title of 'champion golfer of the year'.

This tournament had a bit of everything - unexpected contenders, well-known players getting knocked out, and an impressive display to claim the championship.

The four days spent on the Ayrshire coast felt like a completely different experience compared to the hot and challenging conditions at Valhalla in May, where Schauffele secured his first major title by winning the US PGA.

Troon was a tough test. The strong winds on the first days challenged the belief that scores are typically lower on the front nine and higher on the difficult back nine, for those who have the skill.

The classic Troon course threw a curveball at the golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, who were used to playing in different conditions. The surprise challenges perplexed even the most seasoned players.

Highly anticipated newcomer Ludwig Aberg was also eliminated early, showing the shooting weaknesses of many top players.

Strict requirements of the PGA Tour, where hitting the ball far and accurately to greens that are easy to land on is usually the most successful strategy, were not what was needed last week.

The challenging bunkers with high walls caused fear for players in this Open field. Shots had to be carefully shaped to navigate the wind and land the ball in the right places.

Finesse is crucial when making chip shots on the narrow fairways. Putters are often the best choice for these shots. It is important to keep the ball close to the ground and use the unique features of the golf course creatively.

Staying mentally strong while facing the challenging weather conditions on Saturday afternoon was important to keep our chances of winning the title alive. This is what playing golf at its most difficult level is all about.

Justin Rose and Billy Horschel, who were leading after 54 holes, played with great intensity, making crucial putt shots to stay at the top of the leaderboards displayed in yellow color near the final hole.

Shane Lowry was really mad about how difficult the course was set up. He was frustrated that he needed to use drivers to reach the green on the long 17th hole.

He made only a few mistakes during his Saturday round of 77, which ended his chance of winning a second Open title. He had a valid argument, to some degree.

However, today's top golfers have access to advanced equipment, which adds an interesting challenge to the game. Unfortunately, on a cold Saturday afternoon, it was his unreliable putter that ultimately led to his downfall.

This was golf being played in the same way as it was by the game's Scottish founding fathers in the 1800s, when the first Opens were held nearby at Prestwick.

Schauffele showed a great deal of composure during the challenging four-day tournament. He only had six bogeys, with two of them occurring in the difficult conditions of the third round.

Avoiding the sand traps was a crucial rule to follow. He only encountered three of them, and managed to successfully recover from two of those situations.

Don't underestimate the small eighth hole, also known as the Postage Stamp. The golfer made three birdies on that hole, but feels like he missed out on getting a hole-in-one after a great shot on his last attempt at the challenging par three.

Titled man hit 16 out of 18 greens accurately. He was the sole player to score a birdie on the difficult 11th hole, where his precise six-iron shot from the rough landed within three feet of the hole, considered by many as the best shot of the competition.

His precise shot on the par-five 16th hole showed great skill and expertise, especially after watching his closest competitor, Rose, hit a 300-yard drive onto the green.

The golfer from England was very close to challenging Schauffele until the very end with just one bad shot on the 12th hole. The bogey he got on that hole was the only mistake in an impressive round of links golf between them.

Pulling ahead with four birdies on the back nine, the winner showcased exceptional skill in hitting the ball and precise putting. This is what makes a golfer a true champion, deserving of being a part of the top event of the year.

"I really loved walking up the 18th hole with the yellow leaderboards, the fans cheering, and the standing ovation," Schauffele said as he held onto the Claret Jug tightly.

"It is definitely one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had."

Schauffele is the sole golfer who has placed in the top 10 in every single major tournament. He broke a scoring record at the PGA Championship with a 21 under par finish, but his performance in Scotland, where he scored nine under, was even more remarkable.

He is the 11th consecutive newcomer to win the Open - a streak that began when Phil Mickelson achieved a similar surprise victory in 2013.

This record demonstrates that the tournament is really up for grabs and recognizes the top player of the week. This is essentially what competitive golf is all about.

Schauffele was already considered one of the top two players in the world, and the challenging conditions of links golf made it clear that only a player of his caliber could come out on top.

The 152nd Open was a memorable event that will go down in history. Looking forward to seeing what Royal Portrush has in store next year.