Xander Schauffele – the world’s No. 2 player, the defending gold medalist and two-time major champion in 2024 – impressively emerged from obscurity on the leaderboard to win the 152nd British Open at Royal Troon.
For four days, the usually calm Schauffele (-9) remained calm and seemed to overcome the unpredictable conditions of the Scottish links golf course effortlessly. The San Diego native shot three rounds in the 60s, with a bogey-free 65 in the final round.
Rather than succumbing to the pressure mentally — as he admitted he often did in major tournaments before winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla — Schauffele got sharper. The 30-year-old birdied three of the five toughest holes on the course (11th, 13th and 15th) before drilling a dagger birdie on the 16th to take a two-shot lead.
All in all, it was a brilliant and thrilling finish to a PGA Tour Player of the Year candidate’s golf in the most challenging of circumstances at the final major of the year.
Unfortunately, not many people watched the tournament. According to SportsBusiness Journal, NBC and Peacock's coverage of the final drew 3.39 million viewers, down about 4% from the Sunday when Brian Harman won at Royal Liverpool in 2023. Overall, the numbers were the lowest ratings for a British Open final since Zach Johnson won at the Old Course in 2015 — ESPN's telecast ended on Monday due to weather delays.
Two factors are at play. The time difference for golf's only overseas major tournament limits attendance (see LIV Golf). This year's British Open also lacks star power and gripping drama.
The 2024 Masters, won by Scottie Scheffler in April, saw a drop in viewership. Low interest in the event was attributed to the lack of momentum on the PGA Tour in the post-LIV era. The first three months of the season saw unknown players, newcomers and underdogs enter the winner’s circle.
Naturally, as the main season begins, attendance starts to increase.
The 2024 U.S. Open, a super-exciting matchup between PGA Tour’s Rory McIlroy and LIV’s Bryson DeChambeau, was NBC’s most-watched golf event ever, drawing 11.4 million viewers at its peak. Scheffler’s arrest a month ago at Valhalla, combined with Sunday’s action-packed play, provided a significant ratings boost for CBS Sports and ESPN.
At Royal Troon, Schauffele — a respected golf powerhouse but far from a transcendent star — competed primarily against the likes of 44-year-old Justin Rose, PGA Tour veteran Billy Horschel and DP World Tour regular Sriston Lawrence. LIV’s Jon Rahm and world No. 1 Scheffler (both -1) were the event’s biggest stars. McIlroy, DeChambeau and (of course) Tiger Woods were among the many past major champions who failed to make the cut.
Next, the PGA Tour will host the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, then the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C. — both small events — on Aug. 8. Starting Aug. 3, 60 male golfers (not including Jost Ruyten) will tee off at the National Golf Club in Paris Olympics.
The three-week FedExCup playoffs — St. Jude, BMW and TOUR Championship — begin Aug. 15.