Xander Schauffele Joins Jack Nicklaus In Exclusive Club After Open Championship Victory

Xander Schauffele came into 2024 searching for his first major title.

After winning May's PGA Championship at Valhalla and this week's Open Championship at Royal Troon, the 2024 Champion Golfer of the Year now has two major titles to his name.

And it wouldn't be surprising to see him keep adding to that total in 2025.

At the 152nd Open Championship, Schauffele posted a final-round 65 to take the lead in the clubhouse at 9-under par on Sunday. No one in the final few pairings could match that number, leaving Schauffele the winner of his first-ever Claret Jug.

Xander's final round at Royal Troon, while not the lowest in major championship history, did earn him a spot next to Jack Nicklaus in some pretty exclusive company.

According to The Athletic's Justin Ray, Nicklaus and Schauffele are the only players in history to shoot 65 or lower in the final round to win a major more than once in their career. With Sunday's 65 at Royal Troon, Schauffele also became the first player to do it in the same season.

"The only player to shoot 65 or lower in the final round to win a major more than once in their career is Jack Nicklaus," Ray posted on X. "Nobody has done it twice in the same season. Xander Schauffele could become the first."

Schauffele finished better than T8 in all four majors in 2024.

He posted an 8th place finish at The Masters and ended T7 at June's U.S. Open between his victories at Valhalla and Royal Troon.

What a year for Xander Schauffele.

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