Scottie Scheffler won The Open Championship by four shots on Sunday, but his celebrations were typically understated, and he even had a thought for rival Bryson DeChambeau
Scottie Scheffler once again showcased his trademark class and humility after securing victory at The Open. The 29-year-old golfer claimed his fourth major title at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, winning by an impressive four-shot margin.
It marked a strong rebound from an underwhelming performance at last month’s US Open. But instead of indulging in flashy celebrations or soaking up media attention, Scheffler opted for a more modest acknowledgment of his win, true to his nature.
Remarkably, he even paused post-round festivities to be considerate of fellow competitors Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau, with whom he was sharing a return flight to the States. “I did not bring it [the Claret Jug] on the plane,” Scheffler explained on the Pardon My Take podcast.
“It went underneath the plane. We were with Bryson [DeChambeau] and Tony Finau, so it didn’t really feel right for me to bring the trophy on the plane.”
When asked if he’d followed tradition by drinking from the famed trophy, Scheffler said: “I haven’t drunk anything out of the Claret Jug yet. We have a celebration planned this Friday with a bunch of our friends here at home, so that will be the time to celebrate.”
His celebration was brief, as he had to travel to New York for the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2. In the film, Scheffler makes a brief appearance as a fictional version of himself, along with cameos from DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and Brooks Koepka.
“We got done late Sunday night,” he said. “We actually had to catch a flight to New York to get to the Happy Gilmore [2] premiere. We had planned on that all along, everything was scheduled, we had to get out of town pretty quick so we didn’t have much time to celebrate.”
This modest reaction to such a significant win reflects the core of Scheffler’s personality – he regularly chooses humility and kindness over attention. Following his 2022 Masters win – his first major – Scheffler was quick to shift the spotlight to those who supported him, like his caddie Ted Scott and his loved ones, rather than relishing in the personal acclaim.
“I don’t think I’d be here without them,” he remarked during a post-round interview, placing emphasis on his team rather than himself.
Likewise, after his 2023 Players Championship triumph, Scheffler’s character was evident again as he spoke about the level of competition rather than his own dominance. He acknowledged his fellow contenders by saying: “The leaderboard was stacked with so many great players. It’s an honour to compete against them.”
These examples underscore the kind of athlete Scheffler is – one who puts relationships, gratitude, and sportsmanship above accolades. Whether it’s going out of his way to ensure a peer feels respected or lifting up those around him, his integrity outshines any piece of hardware.