Schauffele holds off Rose to win Open at Troon

Xander Schauffele held off the challenge of Justin Rose to win the 152nd Open Championship at the end of a captivating week at Royal Troon.

It is a second major title in three months for 30-year-old Schauffele, who becomes the first player to win The Open and US PGA Championship in the same year since Rory McIlroy in 2014.

The American hit a stunning bogey-free six-under 65 to finish on nine under, two clear of his playing partner Rose who shot a 67 in a fascinating duel in breezy conditions.

Three birdies in his opening seven holes had seen Rose briefly lead on six under, but Schauffele surged three clear of his playing partner with an electrifying run of five birdies in nine holes from the sixth.

Overnight leader Billy Horschel birded the final three holes to join Rose in joint second.

With six players tied for second at the start of play, the most in going into the final round of a major for 30 years, there was bound to be drama.

And it began before the leaders teed off.

Spain’s Jon Rahm, who resumed on two over par, opened with three successive birdies and added another on the seventh to get to two under, just two behind overnight leader Billy Horschel.

But while there were birdies to be had on the front nine, Rahm also showed how tough the back nine would be as he had eight pars and a bogey to finish on one under.

Lowry, who started at one under, was the first of the serious contenders to charge, with four birdies in five holes as he reached the turn at four under.

But those behind him were also making headway.

World number one Scottie Scheffler briefly flickered, reaching four under after eight but a three-putt double bogey from eight feet on the ninth stalled his challenge and he closed with another six at the last to post a 72 and one under total.

Rose was three under for his front nine as he briefly led on six under. Schaufflee picked up shots at the sixth and seventh holes, and then had the only birdie of the day on the par-four 11th to join Rose.

By this point, South African Thriston Lawrence, out in the final group with Horschel, had gone one clear on seven under after four birdies on his front nine.

Horschel was hanging in there. The overnight leader birdied three of his opening five holes to get to six under but bogeys on the eighth and 10th holes saw him fade away.

While others faded at the start of the back nine – Sam Burns, who was among those in second place at the start of day, dropped six shots on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes – Schauffele stomped on the accelerator.

He was the only player on Sunday to birdie the notoriously tough 11th and picked up two more on the 13th and 14th holes to reach eight under.

It was the turning point. Schauffele was suddenly two clear of Lawrence and three clear of Rose, who both bogeyed the 12th.

Schauffele and Rose both birdied the long 16th and the American knew at that point he was almost home. Two pars were enough, while Rose saluted the crowd after rounding off his championship with a birdie at the last.