Xander Schauffele tames Royal Troon to win Open and second major of 2024

Listen, he’s the second best player this year in the world. No one has played better than him in my opinion.

He’s got two majors. I don’t know if he’s won anywhere else before the PGA, but he’s been up there consistently, having chances to win.

Obviously Scottie has got five or six wins and a major, but what Xander has done this year, the consistency he plays with – he’s taken his game to another level.

He deserves to hold that Claret Jug right now.

I can’t wait to drink out of it. My dad’s here so I’ll let him do the honours of choosing.

It really is a dream come true to be holding it. It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet. My brain is still grinding on this amazing property. I can’t wait to sit back and have a moment with this Claret Jug.

I thought [winning the PGA] would help me and it actually did. I had this sense of calm, a calm I didn’t have when I played earlier at the PGA. For some reason, I was calm and collected. I was telling my caddie Austin that I felt pretty calm coming down the stretch and he said he was about to puke on the 18th tee!

I just told myself to just hit it down there and keep moving along!

I’d like to thank my entire family, my team, they know who they are. It’s been quite a journey, I feel very honoured. Hearing your name called with Open champion after it is something I’ve dreamt of.

I watched the highlights of Phil and Henrik from 2016 to motivate myself, and I suppose that worked out very nice.

I’d like to thank Royal Troon and the green-keeping staff. I’m from San Diego so I don’t know how you manage this weather and get the course looking this good.

I’ve been in Scotland for two weeks and you guys have made it like a second home for me. I can’t wait to come back.

You need to hole everything on a day like today, especially to beat someone like Xander, who’s in the form he’s in.

It looks like he’s kind of half running away with it again. He did that on me at the PGA, and he’s done it again today.

He just doesn’t really hit many bad shots, does he? I went there two back at the PGA, and I felt like I shot a decent score, and I wasn’t anywhere near him.

He’s obviously good when he’s out in front. Now that he’s got one, it looks like he’s going to get another one.

How could you not look back on it positively, a chance to win The Open? Obviously the critics and whatnot will say that I probably should have won from where I was yesterday afternoon, but it’s not easy out there. It’s not easy to win tournaments like this.

I did everything I could. Unfortunately, I came up short. Hopefully over the next five to 10 years I give myself another few chances in tournaments like this and get one more.