Scottie Scheffler is all but destined for British Open win

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Aside from the last 18 holes needing to be played to make the proceedings official, all that really remains of the 153rd British Open is the coronation of Scottie Scheffler as the “Champion Golfer of the Year’’ around Royal Portrush on Sunday.

Think of all those final-round coronations Tiger Woods enjoyed while he was putting golf’s best fields to sleep en route to winning his 15 major championships.

Spoiler alert: That’s what’s in store for Sunday … minus the Sunday red golf shirt.

If you think the final result of this Open isn’t done and dusted with Scheffler taking a four-shot lead into the final round, then you believe fish and chips are fat free and a half dozen pints of Guinness won’t result in a hangover the next morning.

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but the 29-year-old Scheffler was positively clinical on Saturday.

This isn’t meant to be an insult, but Scheffler is so predictably consistent that he’s boring. He goes about his business with so little expression, he looks more like a doctor performing surgery.

Scheffler began Saturday leading Matt Fitzpatrick by one shot.

He’ll begin Sunday with a four-shot lead over Haotong Li and a six-shot lead over Fitzpatrick as he readies to secure his second major championship of the year to go along with his PGA Championship win in May.

That’ll leave him needing only a U.S. Open win to complete the career Grand Slam. So go ahead and bet on him not winning a U.S. Open or three before he’s finished.

Sure, you say that there are 18 holes to play on Sunday, and with the unpredictability of links golf, anything can happen depending on the weather conditions.

But even Scheffler’s nearest competitors had all but conceded their fate before dinner time Saturday in Northern Ireland.

Since 2022, Scheffler has taken 10 outright 54-hole leads into Sunday and closed the deal in every one of them.

Asked why he’s been such a good closer of tournaments, Scheffler said, “Your guess is as good as mine. I like being out here competing. This is why we work so hard is to have opportunities like this, and I’m excited for the challenge of tomorrow.

“Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I’ve put myself in a good position. Going into tomorrow I’m going to step up there on the first tee and I’m going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I’m going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There’s not really too much else going on.’’

Scheffler won the 2022 Masters, his first major, by three shots.

He won the 2024 Masters by four shots.

He won the PGA Championship two months ago at Quail Hollow by five shots.

Figure on him winning this British Open by six or more shots.

“It’s going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he’s been playing,’’ Rory McIlroy, who’s six shots back at 8-under, said.

“I’m actually quite looking forward to it,’’ Li said of playing in the final pairing with Scheffler on Sunday. “Four shots behind, kind of like play for second, especially play with world No. 1. I just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen. It’s going to be exciting.’’

Harris English, who’s also 8-under, called what Scheffler is doing right now “unbelievable.’’

“I call Scottie a friend,’’ English said. “I’ve known him for a good while since his amateur days. I’m just so impressed with his work ethic. No. 1 in the world for I don’t know how many weeks, but he works harder than anybody I’ve ever seen.

“He’s got a great system. He’s got his belief and he works like he’s never going to play in another major championship ever again. It’s really impressive. He’s a great guy overall. He’s easy to root for. I can’t say anything bad about the guy. It’s impressive to watch, and what he’s doing is incredible.’’

Scheffler played bogey-free on Saturday, has only one bogey in his past two rounds and three all week. He does not — and will not — back up.

“Anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you’re going to be having a pretty good day,’’ Scheffler said.

Though he does everything well, Scheffler’s putting has absolutely stood out all week. Fitzpatrick, who was struggling with his putting on Saturday, surely noticed.

“I would expect that of someone of a high class professional that Scottie is,’’ Fitzpatrick said. “There’s definitely plaudits for doing that, putting in the work, but at the same time it’s to be expected.’’