The Open: 36 very random thoughts and takeaways from Royal Troon

And just like that, the 2024 men’s major season is over.

We’ve had triumphs, tears, tantrums and the still-so-mental-it’s-hard-to-believe-it-actually-happened sight of world No.1 Scottie Scheffler getting arrested.

But we maybe saved the best for last with The 152nd Open.

Before I shut my laptop and bid adieu to the delightful Royal Troon, a final rummage through my notebook revealed the usual array of random thoughts, irreverent takeaways and sleep-deprived scribbles.

Here goes…

1. Xander Schauffele has gone from ‘Man Who Can’t Close’ to ‘Man Who Can’t Lose’ in the space of nine weeks. It took him 28 major starts to win one. He’s now bagged two of his last three. Extraordinary.

2. There can be no better walk in golf – or anywhere, probably – than the stride up 18 knowing you’ve just won The Open.

3. A reminder that the 30-year-old was eligible to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup through his (incredibly cool) German-born father Stefan. Much like Nelly Korda in the Solheim (Czech dad), Schauffele feels like the one who got away.

4. Speaking of the Ryder Cup – kind of – American golfers have won all four men’s majors in a single year for the first time since 1982. Eleven years later, Xander Schauffele was born.

5. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Alexander, Alex, Ally, Sandy and even ‘Big Eck’ are all on the table. So, how the hell do you settle on Xander?!

6. Three ‘Alexanders’ have now won The Open: Alexander ‘Sandy’ Herd; Alexander ‘Sandy’ Lyle; Alexander ‘Xander’ Schauffele. That’s the real quiz.

7. The wait for a first major-winning Russell goes on, despite Mr. Henley’s best efforts.

8. I wonder many times Garry Harvey had to double-check the spelling of both ‘Xander’ and ‘Schauffele’?

9. Justin Rose is a class act. Genuinely one of the nicest people in the game. I’m gutted for him. But if what he has now is as good as it ever gets for him, then he’ll still go down as one of England’s greatest-ever golfers: major winner, Olympic gold medallist, world No.1, European No.1, Ryder Cup winner, 11 PGA Tour titles, 11 DP World Tour titles… and that’s barely scratching the surface. I hope he comes back next year (when he won’t have to qualify) and wins it by ten.

10. The CVs aren’t the same but Billy Horschel might just be the American Justin Rose. A top man whose day will surely – hopefully – come.

11. Shane Lowry is one of the most entertaining golfers on the planet. A shot-shaper who takes absolutely zero shit. I love him.

12. Not unrelated: This was, comfortably, the sweariest Open I can remember.

13. It did Lowry no favours, of course, gnarly conditions on Saturday were utterly glorious. Golf at its volatile, unpredictable best.

14. Whilst we’re at it, a huge round of applause for the greenkeeping team at Royal Troon. What a superb job they did. That course was immaculate.

15. Royal Portrush, you have a lot to live up to.

16. The Postage Stamp is, quite simply, the best hole in golf.

17. I reserve the right to redact this comment in eight months when we pitch up at Augusta National for The Masters and I see the 12th again.

18. When will the silky-swinging, Swiss-dwelling, Masters-winning, former world No.1, multi-millionaire, Australian dreamboat, professional athlete Adam Scott catch a break?

19. Rory McIlroy’s major drought is now guaranteed to extend into a second decade. That feels like an utterly mental thing to write.

20. Also mental: we’ve had six different Prime Ministers since Rory last won a major. It’s when we start counting it in Popes, that’s when there’s a problem.

21. For those now tired of John Daly’s “turn up, blow up, withdraw” shtick, some welcome news: there’s only two more years left of this nonsense. Daly’s past champion status expires when he turns 60 and, with the greatest of respect, not a moment too soon. The 58-year-old adds little to the tournament save for satisfying the morbid fascination of a contracting cabal of ‘fans’, seduced annually by his wild ways and wiles. The fact that they have not yet grown bored of this pantomime is a far greater surprise than Daly’s withdrawal after 18 holes.

22. Also on Daly, his win in 1995 remains his most recent top-10 in a major and he hasn’t had a weekend tee time in The Open since 2012. Rory McIlroy, who was six when Daly won the Claret Jug, has made more cuts in the championship than he has.

23. He is not, however, “taking up somebody else’s spot” by continuing to play, as so many commentators have suggested. That particular place in the field is Daly’s and Daly’s alone. He earned it by winning at St Andrews in 1995. He’s not denying anybody anything.

24. Why do Nike hate golfers so much? Some of the clobber worn by ‘Swoosh’ ambassadors this week was borderline offensive. The worst of the lot? Scottie Scheffler’s barbershop chic. The Louisville prison togs were a better fit for the world No.1.

25. In the last 11 years, Tiger Woods has played as many times at the weekend of The Open as Todd Hamilton.

26. Monty was (maybe) right, (definitely) only saying what a lot of people are thinking, and (100%) had the last laugh.

27. What a fantastic performance by Calum Scott to win the Silver Medal. Fun fact for you: Calum is a member of the fastest golf club in the UK. Nairn. Think about it…

28. Aguri Iwazaki was the butt of plenty jokes after shooting 91 on Friday. But at least he stuck it out. Plenty other (and better) players would have walked in.

29. The next person to call it the “British Open” gets a front row seat when the Open next comes to Troon. From on the train tracks.

30. See also: “Bobby Mac” and / or “Robbie Mac”

31. Are we done with the Dan Brown / Da Vinci Code jokes now? Good.

32. Grown men who wear Tiger onesies to golf tournaments are for the watching.

33. However, we need more of Radar in an Elvis suit. Make it happen, Sky Sports.

34. Let’s never use blue to denote pars ever again, okay?

35. Only 263 sleeps until the next round of men’s major championship golf.

36. There is nothing quite like The Open. Nothing. It’s unique. It’s special. It’s the best.

FURTHER READING…

• “I spoke to Xander Schauffele’s dad after his son won The Open (and it was incredible)”

• 9 things Xander Schauffele gets for winning The Open

• The 152nd Open: Prize money and payout in full

• These are the only players to have made the cut in every men’s major in 2024

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content