Cutmakers, 154th Open Championship
Those who had above average weeks, with quibbles.
A special Open means we have more performances worth remembering, with caveats…
Scottie Scheffler. It was a week of contradictions for the world No. 1. who embraced and appreciated the role of defending Champion Golfer of the Year. He turned up after a Genesis Scottish Open missed cut in good spirits and excited about digging into the details of Birkdale. Scheffler smiled his way through interviews while driving a huge turnout of fans at Tuesday’s “Heroes” event. He even exuded an appropriate amount of pained body language during the once dignified, now tacky return of the Claret Jug/Mercedes commercial. He also gave a nice press conference early in the week where he artfully took a jab at course changes in a way you’d only expect from a Nicklaus, Watson or Woods. Even without any connection to Birkdale’s greens, he battled to the end before finishing T4/-7. Scheffler wisely passed on an initial verdict on Bryson DeChambeau’s situation to focus on winning and eventually caved Sunday by giving an open-to-interpretation answer emphasizing how lax pro golfers have been allowed to become around the ball.
When I was growing up, if this was the line between things that were -- like if this was the line, here are the rules and this was the right side of it and this is when you’re doing things against the rule, you always tried to stray really far that way. I feel like at times, sometimes you see players maybe push it a little bit further than they should. I think we need to kind of get back to the traditions of the game and maybe we do need to police things a little bit more stricter in the game.
He’s absolutely right. But it was more than a tad rich coming from someone who arrives at his Titleist and puts his club down repeatedly behind the ball. He’s even resorted to the dreaded dual-wielding mash that would have lit up rules trailer phones a decade ago. He’s also one to get pretty bossy with rules officials, usually can’t wait to get his hand on the ball in a possible drop situation, and has never met an irrigation head he can’t use to take a drop onto shorter grass.
The contradiction theme culminated with his 17th hole relief from a ball he admitted to not wanting to find. He looked wise for understanding the weird rule while admitting he’s not entirely comfortable with the option.
“So [we] decided to stop the search and go back and drop it doing point-of-entry TIO relief,” he said. “I did that once this year during the Byron as well. Not something I’m proud of but I was familiar with.”
All in all, a fine defense and fascinating leadership turn on matters of integrity. But the best way for Scheffler to see through a return to more “law-abiding” play he longs for should start with leading by example.
Casey Jarvis. The surprise T6 finisher played his final three rounds in 67-68-66 to continue a fascinating rise. The Boksburg-born 22-year-old enjoyed a successful amateur career in the shadows of Christo Lamprecht, turned pro in 2022, and joined the Sunshine Tour, where he’s been streaky while refining his game. In February, Jarvis won the Magical Kenya Open by three shots and followed it up with the Investec South African Open win that got him to Birkdale via the Open Qualifying Series. He’s had brutal MC stretches but also looks to be a major talent when he’s on his game. Jarvis finished as low twenty-something last week, beating out Rasmus Neergard-Petersen, Ludvig Aberg and Ryan Gerard at a course where a little veteran seasoning seemed to have an edge. A player to watch who has already booked a spot in The 155th Open field thanks to his Birkdale finish.
Adam Scott. He turned 46 during Open week and finished it off with an impressive T9 finish after the opening 72. In his 101 (straight) majors, Scott has one win, two seconds, three thirds, 20 top-10s and 45 top 25s. Like his two-63 week at Riviera earlier this year, Scott’s pair of 66s at Birkdale prove he’s still a big course type capable of picking off another major. “I played better than I thought I was, and yesterday was a bit of a killer day,” he said after Sunday’s 66. “I had four three-putts out there yesterday. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing or what the conditions are, you just can’t afford to do that at the major championship level and hope to be up there.” Scott was the first recipient of a new award from the R&A to recognize class players and thanks to managing his workload over the years, admirably turns up at majors in determined fashion. “Look, it’s a funny part of my career,” he said after the final round. “Obviously I’m honored to be recognized by the R&A, and all of that’s meaningful, awards that are not just down to getting a trophy or what score you shoot. But I have to say, look, it feels very nice to be recognized, that I’ve kind of put one foot in front of the other in the right direction for my career, and to be appreciated for that is very nice.”
Green greens. Several players admitted to struggling with greens so lush (looking) compared to the fairways. They struggled to put into words why the contrast threw them off. “They’re very green and…,” Rory McIlroy said, “I feel like you look at the rest of the course and it’s so baked out and so brown, and then you get to the greens and they’re so green and lush.” The R&A managed the surfaces not to keep balls from moving in some of the gusts that never came and to produce smoother roll on putts. There was also a decent amount of poa annua and as know from seaside weeks at Pebble Beach and Shinnecock, some strains fizzle out faster than others under the strains of a major setup. Players hate that even more than the color contrast, so the R&A wisely kept things manageable. It’s not ideal, but remains better than a play stoppage or listening to players leaning into the “poa” mantra.
Young=great. Remember the old “next Nicklaus” era when anyone with a strain of blond hair was stuck with that impossible label? The Next Great Thing narrative now hypes anyone born this century and on a heater as coming to the pro game better prepared than ever. There have never been so many young players, it’s only a matter of time before this guy wins, young, young, young, young, blah, blah, blah. And see advertisers we aren’t an old sport! Give us more money! Oh, and kids on the fence about finishing school, you should turn pro ASAP because we’ve never seen your likes in the history of golf! But majors like 2026’s intense four expose the push to hype young players before they’re ready. This year’s winners were 36, 31, 32 and 39 “years of age”. Turns out, there is still nothing wrong with being in your 30s, or, gasp, pushing 40. Of course we love the kids and there are clearly some major talents out there, but the rush typically looks pretty absurd four times a year in a sport where most players still peak in their early 30s.
Member-Driven Changes Narrative. While it’s touching to hear that members demanded improvements to their course ahead of The Open, the R&A’s claims of merely advising on golf course changes needs a rethink. Because no one is buying it. While the sensitivity to public perception is admirable and no one should worry about the plight of Birkdale’s members, who have a wonderful links to play (even if it has a few holes redesigned for modern professionals instead of 15 handicappers). Given the changes at venues like Royal Portrush, Royal Liverpool, and Royal Lytham & St. Annes to keep the courses relevant in the juiced equipment era, the changes also magically free up space to boost the commercial side. The track record is clear and the motivations obvious. So just own it.
Drivable 5th.