It's Scottie Scheffler vs. The Field at Royal Portrush

Between 2022 and the beginning of 2024, the golf world often pondered how many tournaments Scottie Scheffler would win if only his putter didn’t stink. Following a putter change during the front half of 2024, Scottie has delivered some clarity on that question. Nobody strategizes, thinks, or executes better than the top-ranked player in the world. When nobody putts better than him, either, you might as well start engraving his name in the trophy.

Scottie leads the field at the 2025 Open Championship in putting this week and, accordingly, leads the tournament by four shots. His Saturday round was a clinic, the world’s best iron talent painting a masterpiece on one of golf’s greatest canvases.

Scheffler found just one bunker on Saturday, his third bunker of the week. He hit iron shot after iron on a string. After a rare miscue on No. 11 with a short iron in hand, Scheffler got up and down from the thick native area, burying a 10-footer with a gentle left-to-right break and quietly pumping his fist with the type of confidence that’s all too familiar for everyone else in the field.

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Golf is a crazy game, full of surprising twists and turns. This tournament is not over, but nobody eliminates surprising twists and turns like Scottie Scheffler, who is staring down his fourth major championship win in four years. Barring extraordinary developments or a run-in with Constable Gillis on the way to the golf course tomorrow morning, he’ll be your 2025 Open Champion Golfer of the Year.

Sunday Storylines

Can someone shoot 62 on Sunday and cross their fingers that Scottie will play uncharacteristically poorly? Sure, anything is possible. Who could that be, though?

Best Chance of Contending – Rory McIlroy trails Scheffler by six shots. If anybody can overpower Royal Portrush, get red hot, and post a barrage of birdies to threaten Scheffler’s lead, it’s the grand slam champion with every single fan on his side.

Worst Chance of Contending – Everyone else. All due respect to Haotong Li, the chances of anyone four or more shots back catching Scottie are slim to none. It is possible. But only by definition.

The Wind – After three days of winds out of the south, the forecast calls for winds out of the north in the final round. No. 16, Calamity Corner, will now play with the wind out of the right and down, versus into and off the left. The adjustment should not be too difficult for players, however, as the expected winds are mild. Advantage Scheffler. The forecast could change, but without high winds, it is nearly impossible to envision Scheffler finding any sort of trouble that could derail his quest for a fourth major title.

‍This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.