Schauffele realises Open dream

Champion Golfer of the Year Xander Schauffele realised a dream as he lifted the Claret Jug for the first time.

The 30-year-old won his second major of the year after a joint-Championship-low and bogey-free 65 to finish nine-under-par for the week, two strokes clear of Billy Horschel and Justin Rose.

“It means a lot. It’s something all of us play for and it really is a dream come true to be holding this, it definitely hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said.

“My brain is still grinding on this amazing property here trying to get through the holes. I can’t wait to sit back and have a moment with this Claret Jug.”

The American becomes the first player to win The Open and the PGA Championship in the same year since Rory McIlroy in 2014.

He credited that success at Valhalla as key in helping him to stay composed as the pressure intensified on Royal Troon’s gruelling back nine.

“I thought it would help me and it did. I had this sense of calm, a calm I didn’t have when I played earlier at the PGA,” he said.

“For some reason I felt calm, I felt collected and I was telling my caddie on the 18th that I felt pretty calm coming down the stretch and he said he was about to puke on the 18th tee.”

Schauffele's mother, father and wife were all in attendance on the Ayrshire coast and he paid tribute to his support crew after claiming golf’s original Championship.

“I’d like to thank my entire family, my team, they know who they are, it’s been quite a journey, I feel very honoured hearing my name called with Open Champion right after,” he added.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a very long time.”