Scottie Scheffler falls short at 2026 Open Championship despite late surge

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler entered the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale as the defending champion and early favorite. He posted a 3‑under‑par 67 in the final round, finishing the tournament at 7‑under and tying for fourth place with England’s Tommy Fleetwood, marking the first major‑season without a victory for Scheffler since 2023. Despite a strong tee‑to‑green display, Scheffler managed only three birdies in his last 37 holes and missed several short‑range putts, a shortfall he blamed on a lack of birdies.

A pivotal moment came on the 17th hole when his ball landed in a hospitality area classified as a temporary immovable obstruction. Under Model Local Rule F‑23 he received free relief, allowing a birdie that moved him within one stroke of the clubhouse lead, but he bogeyed the 18th to finish a shot behind leader Sam Burns. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox ultimately won the Claret Jug with a 10‑under 270.

The championship featured a record‑breaking purse of $17.75 million (£13.3 million), with the winner’s share set at $3.2 million (£2.4 million). The event drew global attention, including a cameo by NBA star Luka Doncic, and generated intense fan reaction to Scheffler’s missed putts and his sarcastic fist‑pump celebration.