Xander Schauffele breaks Justin Rose's heart to win Open Championship at Royal Troon

Xander Schauffele has been crowned Champion Golfer of The Year after winning the Open Championship at Royal Troon on Sunday.

Schauffele carded a superb six-under-par 65 in the final round in Scotland, winning by two shots ahead of Justin Rose and Billy Horschel in second.. In an enthralling final round at Troon, the Olympic champion fought off a whole host of rivals in a packed leaderboard to ensure it was his name that was engraved o n the Claret Jug.

Schauffele got his day off to a steady start on Sunday afternoon, parring his opening five holes to ensure he remained well in the hunt. He finally got himself in the red for the day at the par-five sixth by making four, before another followed one hole later.

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As it had been all week, the American's name still remained somewhat under the radar with plenty of players battling it out at the top. His move however came when making the turn, as he made three birdies in four holes between the par-four-11th and par-three 14th.

The first came at 11, as he played an impressive approach to within three-feet, before tidying up for birdie. Two holes later another followed at the 14th this time down to the work of his putter, as the world No. 3 rolled in an attempt from 16-feet to stake his claim at the top of the leaderboard.

Whilst Schauffele was thriving on the notoriously tougher back-nine, his rivals were falling behind, as Rose failed to build on his hot start that saw him play the front of the course in three-under. Struggling to make putts, the Englishman found himself one-over through five holes on the back nine, with his chances of winning The Open for the first time slipping away.

The same could be said for the final group too, with Thriston Lawrence and Billy Horshcel failing to find their game at the crucial moment, allowing Schauffele to bridge a gap at the top. This was then extended at 14th, as he followed up a solid iron shot from the tee by holing a putt from 12-feet for the two.

Keen to get himself back in the hunt, Schauffele's playing partner Rose went driver-driver into the par-five 16th and this came with some success as he found the green in two. Having left his eagle putt short, he tidied up for birdie to get to six-under, but this was soon cancelled out by the leader.

A superb up-and-down from Schauffele saw him make his fourth birdie at the back nine, allowing him to pull three clear. Schauffele and Rose then both made par at the 17th to all but end the Englishman's hopes. Whilst it proved too little too late, Rose followed in his playing partner's par with an impressive birdie at the last to take solo second.

Schauffele has now won two majors in three starts having also clinched the PGA Championship, with his victory also ensuring that all four flagship events have gone the way of the Americans in 2024.