Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland – July 20, 2025
As the sun set on a historic final round at Royal Portrush, Rory McIlroy was one of the first to acknowledge the inevitability of Scottie Scheffler’s wire-to-wire win at the 153rd Open Championship.
Standing in front of reporters just moments after walking off the 18th green, McIlroy’s reaction was a mix of admiration, realism, and the weight of missed opportunity in front of a home crowd.
“It was inevitable,” McIlroy said plainly. “Even when he’s not firing on all cylinders, he finds a way. He doesn’t make mistakes. That’s what separates Scottie right now.”
Scheffler’s final score of 17-under-par was enough to secure a four-shot victory and his second major title of the year, further widening the gap between the world number one and the rest of the field—including McIlroy, who finished tied for seventh at 11-under.
Despite a spirited Saturday charge—highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 12th that sent the Portrush crowd into raptures—McIlroy entered the final round six shots adrift and never closed the gap.
“That eagle yesterday was one of the best moments of my career,” McIlroy reflected. “But I knew I needed something extraordinary today to catch Scottie. The problem is, he just doesn’t give you any room.”
McIlroy’s comments echoed the growing sentiment on tour: that Scheffler’s form has reached near-invincible levels. Since early 2024, the American has not finished outside the top 10 in any event, winning five times including The Masters and now The Open.
“We’re all trying to get to where he is,” McIlroy admitted. “I gave it a run this week. I felt the support. I loved every second of it. But when someone plays like that, you just tip your cap.”
A Familiar Feeling—and a Challenge Ahead
McIlroy has now gone more than a decade since his last major victory in 2014. Despite multiple close calls, including this week, he continues to face questions about whether he can end that drought.
He didn’t shy away from that reality at Portrush.
“Of course it’s disappointing,” he said. “You don’t get too many chances to win majors in your home country, and I really believed this could be the one. But Scottie took the air out of it early today.”
Still, McIlroy remained gracious—and hungry.
“He’s set the standard. And that’s the challenge now—for all of us,” McIlroy concluded. “It’s not discouraging. It’s motivating. That’s the level I need to get back to.”
As Portrush roared for its native son, the Claret Jug slipped away—once again—to someone who played nearly flawless golf. And while the wait for McIlroy’s fifth major continues, his reaction made one thing clear: Scottie Scheffler’s greatness is not a fluke—it’s the new normal.
