Xander Schauffele wins The Open Championship 2024 and receives a total of 3.1 million US-Dollars from the record prize pot. However, the record prize money is just one of many impressive and surprising statistics.
Schauffele wins the double and completes major sweep for the US
The newly crowned Champion Golfer of the Year, Xander Schauffele, is the first player since Brooks Koepka (2018) to win two majors in one calendar year. He is also the first golfer since Rory McIlroy (2014) to win the PGA Championship and The Open in one calendar year. The parallel: both triumphed at the PGA Championship in Valhalla. Schauffeles’ victory also continues an impressive run at the Open Championship. Since 2013, there have only been first-time winners of the Claret Jug at the Open Championship. This is the longest streak in the history of the tournament, together with the period from 1994 to 2004. Ernie Els in 2012 was the last “non-debut winner”. The proud golfing nation USA has produced all four reigning major winners for the first time since 1982. Incidentally, the British Open at that time was also played at Royal Troon GC and was won by legendary Tom Watson.
The Open Championship 2024: Historic course statistics
The entire field of participants had a combined score of 1,344 strokes over par over the four rounds. It is also worth noting that the front nine was more difficult to play than the back nine throughout the tournament. Truly historic, as this has never happened before at an Open at Royal Troon. The average score for the week of the tournament was 73.851. The 11th hole, the par 4 called “Railway”, was the most challenging hole of the tournament with an average score of 4.426 strokes. The 16th hole, a par 5, was the easiest to play with a stroke average of 4.830.
Schefflers “What if” and driver comes up too short on a Par 3!
The total of all strokes is the deciding factor for Xander Schauffele: The US-American does not lead any of the Strokes Gained rankings at the end of the tournament, except the one for total scoring. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler will be asking himself once again: “What if?” Scheffler finishes tied seventh at the 2024 British Open, despite being ranked 131st in strokes-gained putting for the week. The weather conditions also caused chaos, especially on Saturday. In the group around Shane Lowry and Daniel Brown, neither of them reached the green on the 17th hole (par 3) due to the strong wind – mind you with the driver on a par 3!!! A total of 13 players made the cut at all four majors in 2024. Of those 13 golfers, Xander Schauffele did the best. With a total score of 32 strokes under par, he distanced second-placed Scottie Scheffler by 15 strokes. Third place on the fictitious major podium went to Collin Morikawa (-15). Here is the list of all players:
UPATED: Final standings in the Players Who Made The Cut In Every Men’s Major Of 2024 league table. pic.twitter.com/CUNuNM7PdU
— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) July 21, 2024