Justin Rose admitted he held back tears after Xander Schauffele beat the Englishman to the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon. Schauffele’s Sunday 65 meant he saw off Rose and Billy Horschel by two shots to lift the Claret Jug.
A Rose victory would have been the most popular of all. The 2013 US Open champion progressed through final qualifying in Somerset just to make the Troon field. The 43‑year‑old praised Schauffele for his outstanding display but admitted the extent to which falling short resonated.
Contemplating the final green, where he stood with arms aloft after converting for a birdie, Rose said: “I won second place, I won points, I won prizes, FedEx Cup points, all that stuff. At that point, you’re being a professional.
“Then I walk 10 steps and I’m choking back tears. So that’s the shift. I was enjoying 18 with the fans, too. I just think it’s such an amazing stage. For me, that’s the best look in golf, those two long grandstands that you walk down and the big yellow leaderboard. That’s what I associate with a magic moment.
“There are two emotions: gutted when I walked off the course and it hit me hard because I was so strong out there today. I kind of got off to the start I wanted. I really played the way I wanted to today. I got off on the front foot. I played my way right into the tournament early doors. Felt comfortable with it all day.
“Did a lot of the hard things really well on the golf course today. Just a critical moment midway through the back nine momentum-wise. Obviously Xander got it going. I hit a couple of really good putts that didn’t fall and then suddenly that lead stretched.
“In terms of how I played and the execution of my emotions today, my mindset, I left it all out there. I’m super proud of how I competed.”
Rose has gained belief that he can win another major. He finished in a share of sixth at the US PGA Championship in May. “The deal I made with myself today was to come off with no regrets. I’ll have a few more chances but you know that this is a great opportunity. You want to walk off the golf course going: ‘Yeah, I didn’t squander that.’
“I ran putts at the hole today. I feel like I had opportunities. I felt like I took a lot of them. But I felt super comfortable out there, which the fact that I haven’t really been in contention much this year, that gives me a lot of heart.
“Two major championships this year, strongest fields in golf, they’ve been my two best weeks. I’ve got a lot of confidence. What I’m working hard for is to have these big‑time moments in my career. I’m looking for those big‑stage moments and today was nearly it. It was a lot of fun.”
Schauffele, who won that US PGA at Valhalla, has therefore claimed two of the past three majors. “I feel very honoured,” he said. “Hearing your name called with ‘Open champion’ right after is something I’ve dreamed of for a very long time.”
He revealed that in recent days he watched highlights of Henrik Stenson’s epic battle with Phil Mickelson at this venue in 2016. “It was to motivate me,” Schauffele said. “I guess that paid off pretty nicely.”
