Both have had outstanding 2025 campaigns, but over the last four days—despite The Open Championship serving as a homecoming for McIlroy in Northern Ireland—it was all Scheffler. The 29-year-old dominated his way to his first Open Championship title,

The father's voice cut through the noise along the rope line at the fourth hole, pleading with strangers to let his young son glimpse the man they'd all come to see. For four days, similar requests had been met with shoulder shrugs and territorial shuffling,

Scottie Scheffler claimed victory at The Open Championship on Sunday evening, securing the Claret Jug with a commanding performance at Royal Portrush. The world number one concluded the tournament at 17 under par,