The Masters 2026 has started with defending champions Rory McIlroy in the lead after Thursday's (Apr 9) Round 1 at Augusta National course in Georgia, USA. The shot of the day, however, was made by Xander Schauffele, who literally bagged it. Playing on the eight hole in the front-nine, Schauffele hit the ball right into a patron's shopping bag, which eventually was a lucky break for him as he made par on the hole before finishing 2-under 70 for the day.<h2>Xander Schauffele bags the ball, literally</h2>Getting ready for the tee on eighth, a par-5 hole, Schauffele hit the ball well but it got lost behind a tree or that's what he thought. Once the golfer made his way to where he thought the ball has landed, it was nowhere to be found. The ball, instead, landed into a shopping bag full of merchandise, held by a patron. The golfer had to tee again and he was happy to do so. "It just flew straight into the bag. It was a great break. That bounce would've put me in the pine straw and who knows if I would've had a shot to hit up the hill. So thanks to the lady on No. 8,” he said about the shot. Have a look at it:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Here&#39;s a new one: Xander Schauffele&#39;s tee shot on the 8th landed in a patron&#39;s bag from the merchandise store. <a href="https://t.co/WwMOYvik2l">pic.twitter.com/WwMOYvik2l</a>&mdash; Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/GolfonCBS/status/2042275471044289050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/augusta-masters-defending-champ-rory-mcilroy-shares-lead-with-sam-burns-after-round-1-1775786742325">McIlroy happy with the lead</a></h2>The five-time major champion from Northern Ireland pitched to three feet and tapped in for birdie at the par-five second hole but left a nine-foot par putt hanging on the edge to bogey the third. McIlroy answered with a tap-in birdie at the eighth after reaching the green in two then made an eight-foot birdie putt at the ninth. He eventually finished at 5-under 67, at the top alongside Sam Burns."I settled into the round really nicely," McIlroy said. "I started to find my game a bit on the back. When I was missing tee shots on the front nine, I kept swinging away. Felt sooner or later I would find it, and I did. Found it at the eighth hole and played well from there."&nbsp;

Playing on the eight hole in the front-nine, Schauffele hit the ball right into a patron's shopping bag, which eventually was a lucky break for him as he made par on the hole before finishing 2-under 70 for the day.

The Masters 2026 has started with defending champions Rory McIlroy in the lead after Thursday's (Apr 9) Round 1 at Augusta National course in Georgia, USA. The shot of the day, however, was made by Xander Schauffele, who literally bagged it. Playing on the eight hole in the front-nine, Schauffele hit the ball right into a patron's shopping bag, which eventually was a lucky break for him as he made par on the hole before finishing 2-under 70 for the day. Xander Schauffele bags the ball, literally Getting ready for the tee on eighth, a par-5 hole, Schauffele hit the ball well but it got lost behind a tree or that's what he thought. Once the golfer made his way to where he thought the ball has landed, it was nowhere to be found. The ball, instead, landed into a shopping bag full of merchandise, held by a patron. The golfer had to tee again and he was happy to do so. "It just flew straight into the bag. It was a great break. That bounce would've put me in the pine straw and who knows if I would've had a shot to hit up the hill. So thanks to the lady on No. 8,” he said about the shot. Have a look at it:

Playing on the eight hole in the front-nine, Schauffele hit the ball right into a patron's shopping bag, which eventually was a lucky break for him as he made par on the hole before finishing 2-under 70 for the day.

Augusta Masters Shot of the Day | WATCH - Xander Schauffele lands ball in shopping bag on eighth hole

A raucous reception will greet Rory McIlroy as the British Open returns to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland on Thursday for the first time since Shane Lowry's 2019 triumph.McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.&nbsp;But a long list of contenders, including world number one Scottie Scheffler and reigning champion Xander Schauffele, stand between the hometown hero and a second Claret Jug.&nbsp;"When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was probably circled even more so than the Masters for different reasons," he told reporters after a practice round on Monday.&nbsp;"It's lovely to be coming in here already with a major and everything else that's happened this year. I'm excited with where my game is."&nbsp;McIlroy will be desperate to at least put on a better show than in 2019 when he opened his tournament with a ruinous quadruple bogey on his way to a first-round 79, missing the cut despite a second-round charge.&nbsp;"The golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it," said the 36-year-old, who famously shot a 61 at Portrush 20 years ago.&nbsp;"But I remember the run on Friday. I remember I was making a charge and making a run to try to make the cut, and I hit a 6-iron into the 14th, second shot, and I remember the roar from the crowd...&nbsp;"It was really special."&nbsp;McIlroy will play the first two rounds alongside world number four Justin Thomas and England's Tommy Fleetwood, teeing off at 3:10 pm local time (1410 GMT) on Thursday.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-india-coach-under-whom-team-attained-number-1-test-ranking-questions-jadejas-intent-after-lords-loss-1752598282616">Ex-India coach, under whom team attained number 1 Test ranking, questions Jadeja's intent after Lord's Loss</a><h2>Schauffele searching for best</h2>Schauffele was undoubtedly one of the two most in-form players in the world alongside Scheffler when he romped to his second major title of 2024 at Troon 12 months ago.The American has not posted a top-five finish this year, though, and has admitted he is struggling for rhythm.&nbsp;A tied-eighth effort at the Scottish Open in North Berwick last weekend provided a glimmer of hope that being back on links courses could help him rediscover his form."I think I had a better understanding of what I was doing, which was helpful when I was hitting bad shots," he said of his efforts in Scotland.&nbsp;The last 11 Opens have produced first-time champions, with the last previous winner to lift the trophy Ernie Els in 2012.&nbsp;Scheffler is one of the players hoping that trend continues.&nbsp;The 29-year-old is the title favourite after bouncing back from an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.&nbsp;The three-time major champion has finished in the top 10 on each of his past 10 starts, winning three times including the PGA Championship.&nbsp;"I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite," said Scheffler. "We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters."&nbsp;Lowry sparked jubilant scenes with his sensational six-shot triumph six years ago when the island of Ireland hosted the competition for the first time in 68 years.&nbsp;The Irishman is still waiting for a second major title despite a series of near misses since."I am a better golfer than I was in 2019," he said.&nbsp;"But it doesn't mean I'm going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six."It's just golf; that's the way it is. I think, as a golfer, you always have to look at it as the glass is always half full. You can't look at it any other way."&nbsp;The 7,381-yard, par 71 lay-out will provide a tough test, with rainy and breezy conditions forecast for all four days.&nbsp;Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland will hit the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time, playing with Northern Irish youngster Tom McKibbin and Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rory McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.

A raucous reception will greet Rory McIlroy as the British Open returns to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland on Thursday for the first time since Shane Lowry's 2019 triumph. McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April. But a long list of contenders, including world number one Scottie Scheffler and reigning champion Xander Schauffele, stand between the hometown hero and a second Claret Jug. "When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was probably circled even more so than the Masters for different reasons," he told reporters after a practice round on Monday. "It's lovely to be coming in here already with a major and everything else that's happened this year. I'm excited with where my game is." McIlroy will be desperate to at least put on a better show than in 2019 when he opened his tournament with a ruinous quadruple bogey on his way to a first-round 79, missing the cut despite a second-round charge. "The golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it," said the 36-year-old, who famously shot a 61 at Portrush 20 years ago. "But I remember the run on Friday. I remember I was making a charge and making a run to try to make the cut, and I hit a 6-iron into the 14th, second shot, and I remember the roar from the crowd... "It was really special." McIlroy will play the first two rounds alongside world number four Justin Thomas and England's Tommy Fleetwood, teeing off at 3:10 pm local time (1410 GMT) on Thursday. ALSO READ | Ex-India coach, under whom team attained number 1 Test ranking, questions Jadeja's intent after Lord's Loss Schauffele searching for best Schauffele was undoubtedly one of the two most in-form players in the world alongside Scheffler when he romped to his second major title of 2024 at Troon 12 months ago. The American has not posted a top-five finish this year, though, and has admitted he is struggling for rhythm. A tied-eighth effort at the Scottish Open in North Berwick last weekend provided a glimmer of hope that being back on links courses could help him rediscover his form. "I think I had a better understanding of what I was doing, which was helpful when I was hitting bad shots," he said of his efforts in Scotland. The last 11 Opens have produced first-time champions, with the last previous winner to lift the trophy Ernie Els in 2012. Scheffler is one of the players hoping that trend continues. The 29-year-old is the title favourite after bouncing back from an uncharacteristically slow start to the season. The three-time major champion has finished in the top 10 on each of his past 10 starts, winning three times including the PGA Championship. "I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite," said Scheffler. "We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters." Lowry sparked jubilant scenes with his sensational six-shot triumph six years ago when the island of Ireland hosted the competition for the first time in 68 years. The Irishman is still waiting for a second major title despite a series of near misses since. "I am a better golfer than I was in 2019," he said. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six. "It's just golf; that's the way it is. I think, as a golfer, you always have to look at it as the glass is always half full. You can't look at it any other way." The 7,381-yard, par 71 lay-out will provide a tough test, with rainy and breezy conditions forecast for all four days. Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland will hit the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time, playing with Northern Irish youngster Tom McKibbin and Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rory McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.

British Open Preview: Rory McIlroy returns to Portrush as Xander Schauffele defends crown

Reigning champion Xander Schauffele dug deep on the back nine on Saturday to head into the final round of the Olympic men's golf competition tied for the lead with Spanish star Jon Rahm.

American Schauffele, the world's form player after winning his maiden major titles at the PGA Championship and the British Open this year, carded a three-under-par 68 in his third round at Le Golf National.

He struggled to find his best during a level-par front nine as Rahm surged into the lead, but eagled the par-five 14th hole at the same time as Rahm was making a three-putt bogey on the next green.

Schauffele will likely have to endure another dramatic final day if he is to win gold again, having edged to victory in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago by a single stroke.

Rahm started the day two shots off the pace but moved up the leaderboard with an excellent 66 to draw alongside Schauffele on 14-under for the tournament.

The two-time major champion made seven birdies, including a long putt on the penultimate hole to bounce back after his disappointment on the 15th.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paris-games-carini-vs-khelif-fight-controversy-iba-to-award-italian-angela-carini-50k-despite-losing-fight-746880">Paris Games, Carini vs Khelif Fight Controversy: IBA to award Italian Angela Carini $50k despite losing fight</a>

Tommy Fleetwood is just one shot behind the leading duo in third place on 13-under after a 69 which featured three birdies and one bogey.

The popular Briton, who has never won a major title despite several near-misses, was not on top form but did enough to ensure he has a strong chance of clinching gold.

Hideki Matsuyama, tied for the overnight lead with Schauffele and Fleetwood, battled hard for a level-par 71 to remain on 11-under.

The Japanese is tied with Nicolai Hojgaard after the Dane powered through the field with a spectacular nine-under 62 to equal the course record.

The 23-year-old now jointly holds the record with three other players, including his twin brother Rasmus.

<h2>- McIlroy, Scheffler in touch -</h2>

Rory McIlroy produced his best round of the week so far with a 66 to stay in touch with the leaders, sitting level with world number one Scottie Scheffler on 10-under overall.

The Northern Irishman was bogey-free, holing a crucial 20-foot par putt on the 17th.

"I think tomorrow, depending on what the leaders do, I'm going to have to probably shoot my lowest round of the week to have a chance at a medal," said McIlroy. "That's the goal."

Scheffler bogeyed the 17th and then was in trouble down the final hole, but got up and down from 90 yards for par to boost his hopes of winning a medal on his Olympic debut.

"I'd like to be leading. I feel like I haven't had my best stuff the last few days but I've done enough to hang in there and stay in the tournament," said the Masters champion.

South Korean youngster Tom Kim, who would earn an exemption from military service with a medal, finished strongly to be tied for sixth with McIlroy, Scheffler and Belgium's Thomas Detry.

World number four Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, Australia's Jason Day and Chilean Joaquin Niemann are all at nine-under, five shots off the lead.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Reigning champion Xander Schauffele dug deep on the back nine on Saturday to head into the final round of the Olympic men's golf competition tied for the lead with Spanish star Jon Rahm.

Reigning champion Xander Schauffele dug deep on the back nine on Saturday to head into the final round of the Olympic men's golf competition tied for the lead with Spanish star Jon Rahm. American Schauffele, the world's form player after winning his maiden major titles at the PGA Championship and the British Open this year, carded a three-under-par 68 in his third round at Le Golf National. He struggled to find his best during a level-par front nine as Rahm surged into the lead, but eagled the par-five 14th hole at the same time as Rahm was making a three-putt bogey on the next green. Schauffele will likely have to endure another dramatic final day if he is to win gold again, having edged to victory in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago by a single stroke. Rahm started the day two shots off the pace but moved up the leaderboard with an excellent 66 to draw alongside Schauffele on 14-under for the tournament. The two-time major champion made seven birdies, including a long putt on the penultimate hole to bounce back after his disappointment on the 15th. Also Read: Paris Games, Carini vs Khelif Fight Controversy: IBA to award Italian Angela Carini $50k despite losing fight Tommy Fleetwood is just one shot behind the leading duo in third place on 13-under after a 69 which featured three birdies and one bogey. The popular Briton, who has never won a major title despite several near-misses, was not on top form but did enough to ensure he has a strong chance of clinching gold. Hideki Matsuyama, tied for the overnight lead with Schauffele and Fleetwood, battled hard for a level-par 71 to remain on 11-under. The Japanese is tied with Nicolai Hojgaard after the Dane powered through the field with a spectacular nine-under 62 to equal the course record. The 23-year-old now jointly holds the record with three other players, including his twin brother Rasmus. - McIlroy, Scheffler in touch - Rory McIlroy produced his best round of the week so far with a 66 to stay in touch with the leaders, sitting level with world number one Scottie Scheffler on 10-under overall. The Northern Irishman was bogey-free, holing a crucial 20-foot par putt on the 17th. "I think tomorrow, depending on what the leaders do, I'm going to have to probably shoot my lowest round of the week to have a chance at a medal," said McIlroy. "That's the goal." Scheffler bogeyed the 17th and then was in trouble down the final hole, but got up and down from 90 yards for par to boost his hopes of winning a medal on his Olympic debut. "I'd like to be leading. I feel like I haven't had my best stuff the last few days but I've done enough to hang in there and stay in the tournament," said the Masters champion. South Korean youngster Tom Kim, who would earn an exemption from military service with a medal, finished strongly to be tied for sixth with McIlroy, Scheffler and Belgium's Thomas Detry. World number four Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, Australia's Jason Day and Chilean Joaquin Niemann are all at nine-under, five shots off the lead. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paris Olympics 2024: Xander Schauffele, John Rahm tied at top ahead of golf final round

American Xander Schauffele celebrated achieving a lifelong dream after winning his second major title with an ice-cool two-shot victory at the British Open on Sunday. The 30-year-old Olympic champion also won this year's PGA Championship to end his long wait for a first major crown. "Oh man...it's been quite a journey," Schauffele said during the trophy presentation on the 18th green after being handed the Claret Jug. "It took me forever just to win one and to have two now is something else. I feel very honoured hearing my name called with Open champion right after it. It's something I have dreamed of for a very long time."

The world number three, who began the day one shot off the pace, produced a bogey-free final round as he closed with a superb six-under 65 at a blustery Royal Troon. Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship with the lowest score in major championship history, reeled off four birdies on the back nine to break clear of a tightly-bunched leaderboard and post a winning total of nine-under 275.

"I've always dreamed of doing it," said the Californian who is known for his laid-back and unflappable approach to the game. "That walk up 18 truly is really one of the coollest feelings I've ever had in my life. I got chills walking down 18 and I quickly had to zap myself back into focus because the tournament wasn't over yet."

<h2>Best&nbsp;Round</h2>

Schauffele, who began the day one shot off the pace, produced what he described as the best round he ever played. The San Diego native reeled off four birdies on the back nine to move clear and post a winning total of nine-under 275, finishing two ahead of fellow American Billy Horschel and England's Justin Rose.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-ioc-expects-paris-olympics-2024-to-be-spectacular-in-ever-divisive-world-says-thomas-bach-743412">IOC expects Paris Olympics 2024 to be spectacular in ever-divisive world, says Thomas Bach</a>

Schauffele had won the PGA Championship with the lowest score in major championship history - a 21-under aggregate - and became the first player to win multiple majors in the same year since Brooks Koepka landed the 2018 US&nbsp;Open and PGA Championship.

"This week was hard," Schauffele said, referring in particular to the brutal weather conditions. "It was very difficult. I think winning the first major helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I've ever played in a tournament."

After rolling in a birdie at the par-three 14th, Schauffele said he had a sense that victory was there for the taking. When he birdied the par-five 16th, after pitching to four feet from below the front right of the green, that extended his lead to three shots and the championship was all but over.

"I felt like I limited the mistakes pretty well," Schauffele said. "I was lucky to only have one really hard round in the wind and rain and I managed that day better than I ever thought I could."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

American Xander Schauffele celebrated achieving a lifelong dream after winning his second major title with an ice-cool two-shot victory at the British Open on Sunday.

American Xander Schauffele celebrated achieving a lifelong dream after winning his second major title with an ice-cool two-shot victory at the British Open on Sunday. The 30-year-old Olympic champion also won this year's PGA Championship to end his long wait for a first major crown. "Oh man...it's been quite a journey," Schauffele said during the trophy presentation on the 18th green after being handed the Claret Jug. "It took me forever just to win one and to have two now is something else. I feel very honoured hearing my name called with Open champion right after it. It's something I have dreamed of for a very long time." The world number three, who began the day one shot off the pace, produced a bogey-free final round as he closed with a superb six-under 65 at a blustery Royal Troon. Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship with the lowest score in major championship history, reeled off four birdies on the back nine to break clear of a tightly-bunched leaderboard and post a winning total of nine-under 275. "I've always dreamed of doing it," said the Californian who is known for his laid-back and unflappable approach to the game. "That walk up 18 truly is really one of the coollest feelings I've ever had in my life. I got chills walking down 18 and I quickly had to zap myself back into focus because the tournament wasn't over yet." Best Round Schauffele, who began the day one shot off the pace, produced what he described as the best round he ever played. The San Diego native reeled off four birdies on the back nine to move clear and post a winning total of nine-under 275, finishing two ahead of fellow American Billy Horschel and England's Justin Rose. Also read: IOC expects Paris Olympics 2024 to be spectacular in ever-divisive world, says Thomas Bach Schauffele had won the PGA Championship with the lowest score in major championship history - a 21-under aggregate - and became the first player to win multiple majors in the same year since Brooks Koepka landed the 2018 US Open and PGA Championship. "This week was hard," Schauffele said, referring in particular to the brutal weather conditions. "It was very difficult. I think winning the first major helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I've ever played in a tournament." After rolling in a birdie at the par-three 14th, Schauffele said he had a sense that victory was there for the taking. When he birdied the par-five 16th, after pitching to four feet from below the front right of the green, that extended his lead to three shots and the championship was all but over. "I felt like I limited the mistakes pretty well," Schauffele said. "I was lucky to only have one really hard round in the wind and rain and I managed that day better than I ever thought I could." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Golf: 'It's been...' - Xander Schauffele reacts after winning British Open

American Xander Schauffele won the British Open on Sunday to claim the second major championship of his career, just two months after winning his first.

The 30-year-old Californian delivered a faultless final round of 65 at Royal Troon on Scotland's west coast to emerge from a congested leaderboard and grab the Claret Jug.

Schauffele, winner of the PGA Championship in May, finished on nine-under par, two shots ahead of England's Justin Rose and Billy Horschel of the USA.

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"Oh man," he said. "Hearing your name called with 'Open champion' after it is something I've dreamed of for a very long time."

Schauffele had started the last 18 tied for second with five other players, a shot behind overnight leader Horschel.

Schauffele put together a tidy front nine under benign conditions on the Ayrshire links, reaching the turn at two-under par for the day after birdies at the sixth and seventh.

He then burst into life at the start of the inward half as his nearest challengers -- Rose, world number 62 Horschel and South African Thriston Lawrence-- began to falter.

Schauffele hit a sublime approach to the difficult 11th to set up a tap-in birdie before sinking a 16-foot birdie putt on the 13th to get to seven under alongside 27-year-old Lawrence.

Moments later Schauffele was in front on his own after Lawrence dropped his first shot of the day on the 12th.

The American then rolled in a 12-footer on hole 14 and suddenly he had a two-shot lead. That extended to three after a delightful chip over a bunker at the 16th led to another birdie.

Two closing pars sealed the championship as Schauffele became the first golfer to win two majors in a single season since Brooks Koepka in 2018.

Lawrence, bidding to join a high-profile list of South Africans to have lifted the Claret Jug including Gary Player, Ernie Els and Bobby Locke, had held a one-shot lead at the turn.

<h2>- Scheffler, Rahm thwarted -</h2>

Rose, chasing his second major title and England's first Open victory since Nick Faldo in 1992, briefly enjoyed a share of the lead with Lawrence after hitting three birdies in his opening nine holes.

But he bogeyed twelve before too-little-too-late birdies on 16 and 18 put him on seven-under.&nbsp;

America's Horschel suffered an inconsistent opening ten holes before birdieing the last three to finished tied for second with Rose.

Lawrence finished on his own in fourth at six under, while American Russell Henley was a shot further back in fifth.

Ireland's Shane Lowry, leader after two rounds, posted a 68 to finish four-under par and in sixth place.

World number one Scottie Scheffler and two-time major champion Jon Rahm both briefly threatened a run up the leaderboard but finished tied for seventh on one under alongside South Korea's Im Sung-jae.

Unheralded Englishman Daniel Brown, playing his first major, posted a three-over-par round of 74 for a tie for 10th.

A number of stars struggled this week due to the testing weather conditions, thick rough and well-placed punitive pot bunkers.

Rory McIlroy endured two miserable rounds to miss the cut on 11 over, extending his decade-long wait for a fifth major into 2025.

Three-time champion Tiger Woods also missed the weekend, recording his worst-ever performance at the Open with a 14-over score of 156.

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark and Viktor Hovland also failed to make the final two rounds.

Home favourite Robert MacIntyre finished nine over after failing to repeat the heroics that secured last week's Scottish Open.

American Xander Schauffele won the British Open on Sunday to claim the second major championship of his career, just two months after winning his first. The 30-year-old Californian delivered a faultless final round of 65 at Royal Troon on Scotland's west coast to emerge from a congested leaderboard and grab the Claret Jug.

American Xander Schauffele won the British Open on Sunday to claim the second major championship of his career, just two months after winning his first. The 30-year-old Californian delivered a faultless final round of 65 at Royal Troon on Scotland's west coast to emerge from a congested leaderboard and grab the Claret Jug. Schauffele, winner of the PGA Championship in May, finished on nine-under par, two shots ahead of England's Justin Rose and Billy Horschel of the USA. Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: BCCI announces $1 million contribution for Indian athletes participating in Summer Games "Oh man," he said. "Hearing your name called with 'Open champion' after it is something I've dreamed of for a very long time." Schauffele had started the last 18 tied for second with five other players, a shot behind overnight leader Horschel. Schauffele put together a tidy front nine under benign conditions on the Ayrshire links, reaching the turn at two-under par for the day after birdies at the sixth and seventh. He then burst into life at the start of the inward half as his nearest challengers -- Rose, world number 62 Horschel and South African Thriston Lawrence-- began to falter. Schauffele hit a sublime approach to the difficult 11th to set up a tap-in birdie before sinking a 16-foot birdie putt on the 13th to get to seven under alongside 27-year-old Lawrence. Moments later Schauffele was in front on his own after Lawrence dropped his first shot of the day on the 12th. The American then rolled in a 12-footer on hole 14 and suddenly he had a two-shot lead. That extended to three after a delightful chip over a bunker at the 16th led to another birdie. Two closing pars sealed the championship as Schauffele became the first golfer to win two majors in a single season since Brooks Koepka in 2018. Lawrence, bidding to join a high-profile list of South Africans to have lifted the Claret Jug including Gary Player, Ernie Els and Bobby Locke, had held a one-shot lead at the turn. - Scheffler, Rahm thwarted - Rose, chasing his second major title and England's first Open victory since Nick Faldo in 1992, briefly enjoyed a share of the lead with Lawrence after hitting three birdies in his opening nine holes. But he bogeyed twelve before too-little-too-late birdies on 16 and 18 put him on seven-under. America's Horschel suffered an inconsistent opening ten holes before birdieing the last three to finished tied for second with Rose. Lawrence finished on his own in fourth at six under, while American Russell Henley was a shot further back in fifth. Ireland's Shane Lowry, leader after two rounds, posted a 68 to finish four-under par and in sixth place. World number one Scottie Scheffler and two-time major champion Jon Rahm both briefly threatened a run up the leaderboard but finished tied for seventh on one under alongside South Korea's Im Sung-jae. Unheralded Englishman Daniel Brown, playing his first major, posted a three-over-par round of 74 for a tie for 10th. A number of stars struggled this week due to the testing weather conditions, thick rough and well-placed punitive pot bunkers. Rory McIlroy endured two miserable rounds to miss the cut on 11 over, extending his decade-long wait for a fifth major into 2025. Three-time champion Tiger Woods also missed the weekend, recording his worst-ever performance at the Open with a 14-over score of 156. US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark and Viktor Hovland also failed to make the final two rounds. Home favourite Robert MacIntyre finished nine over after failing to repeat the heroics that secured last week's Scottish Open.

Golf: American Xander Schauffele wins The Open for second major win

Eight of the World's top-10 golfers will feature at the Paris Olympics this summer. World no. 1 Scottie Scheffler is part of a star-studded American contingent which also includes defending champion Xander Schauffele. WION's Esha Hanspal gets you the details.

Scheffler heads star-studded USA Golf quartet | WION Sports

Xander Schauffele outdueled Bryson DeChambeau down the back nine on Sunday to win the PGA Championship, capturing his first major triumph with the lowest score in major history.

Third-ranked Schauffele sank a tension-packed six-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole at Valhalla for a one-stroke victory over DeChambeau to snap a two-year victory drought.

"I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in," said Schauffele. "It has been a while since I've won.

"I kept saying it all week. I just need to stay in my lane. And man, was it hard to stay in my lane today. But I tried all day to just keep focus on what I'm trying to do."

Schauffele, who had 12 prior top-10 major finishes without a victory, had not won an event since the 2022 Scottish Open, having had 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes during his drought.

But he matched the lowest round in major history with a nine-under 62 on Thursday and was equal to the challenge on Sunday.

The reigning Olympic champion fired a six-under par 65 and finished 72 holes on 21-under 263 to edge fellow American DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion.

Schauffele broke the old 72-hole record low under-par winning score of 20-under, done four times, most recently by Australian Cameron Smith at the 2022 British Open.

Victory was worth $3.33 million to Schauffele from an $18.5 million purse while DeChambeau took home $1.998 million.

"Proud of Xander for finally getting the job done," DeChambeau said. He's an amazing golfer and well deserved major champion now.

"On my side of the coin, disappointing. I played well. Shot 20-under par in a major championship. Proud of myself for the way I handled adversity. Definitely disappointing, but one that gives me a lot of momentum for the rest of the majors."

DeChambeau closed with a 64 while Norway's Victor Hovland, last year's PGA runner-up, was third on 266 after shooting a 66.

Belgium's Thomas Detry fired a 66 to share fourth on 269 with Collin Morikawa, the 54-hole co-leader who made 16 pars in shooting 71. England's Justin Rose and Ireland's Shane Lowry shared sixth on 270.

DeChambeau rolled in a birdie putt from just beyond 10 feet at the par-5 18th hole, the ball barely dropping in, to match Schauffele for the lead at 20-under.

Seconds later, Hovland missed his 10-foot birdie putt to doom his chances and ended up making a bogey.

Schauffele's tee shot at 18 was in the left rough on the edge of a fairway bunker.&nbsp;He calmly blasted his second shot 36 yards from the hole in the fairway short of the green and dropped his approach six feet from the hole.

The ball made a slight roll on the edge as it fell in to give him a wire-to-wire triumph, counting shared leads.

Not since 2005 Phil Mickelson at Baltusrol had a player birdied the 72nd hole to win the Wanamaker Trophy.

"I just told myself this is my opportunity and just capture it," Schauffele said.

He put past defeats in perspective with a text from his father -- a steady drip breaks the rock.

"That's actually what my dad texted me," Schauffele said. In German though. I had to ask him what the translation was."

Hovland, last year's FedEx Cup playoff champion and PGA runner-up, was denied his first major title.

DeChambeau, the top finisher among 16 LIV Golf entrants, led the field in driving distance.

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<h2>Scheffler shares 8th</h2>

World number one Scottie Scheffler fired a 65 to finish on 271 and share eighth with fellow Americans Justin Thomas and Billy Horschel.

He had his first over-par round of the year on Saturday, a day after being arrested and jailed after a traffic incident at the entrance to Valhalla.

"I'm proud of how I fought," he said. "Kind of running on fumes."

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot 67 to finish on 272. Second-ranked McIlroy has not won a major since 2014 at Valhalla but has since had 20 top-10 major finishes.

American Jordan Spieth, trying to win to complete a career Grand Slam, fired a 73 to finish on 278.

Xander Schauffele outdueled Bryson DeChambeau down the back nine on Sunday to win the PGA Championship, capturing his first major triumph with the lowest score in major history.

Xander Schauffele outdueled Bryson DeChambeau down the back nine on Sunday to win the PGA Championship, capturing his first major triumph with the lowest score in major history. Third-ranked Schauffele sank a tension-packed six-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole at Valhalla for a one-stroke victory over DeChambeau to snap a two-year victory drought. "I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in," said Schauffele. "It has been a while since I've won. "I kept saying it all week. I just need to stay in my lane. And man, was it hard to stay in my lane today. But I tried all day to just keep focus on what I'm trying to do." Schauffele, who had 12 prior top-10 major finishes without a victory, had not won an event since the 2022 Scottish Open, having had 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes during his drought. But he matched the lowest round in major history with a nine-under 62 on Thursday and was equal to the challenge on Sunday. The reigning Olympic champion fired a six-under par 65 and finished 72 holes on 21-under 263 to edge fellow American DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion. Schauffele broke the old 72-hole record low under-par winning score of 20-under, done four times, most recently by Australian Cameron Smith at the 2022 British Open. Victory was worth $3.33 million to Schauffele from an $18.5 million purse while DeChambeau took home $1.998 million. "Proud of Xander for finally getting the job done," DeChambeau said. He's an amazing golfer and well deserved major champion now. "On my side of the coin, disappointing. I played well. Shot 20-under par in a major championship. Proud of myself for the way I handled adversity. Definitely disappointing, but one that gives me a lot of momentum for the rest of the majors." DeChambeau closed with a 64 while Norway's Victor Hovland, last year's PGA runner-up, was third on 266 after shooting a 66. Belgium's Thomas Detry fired a 66 to share fourth on 269 with Collin Morikawa, the 54-hole co-leader who made 16 pars in shooting 71. England's Justin Rose and Ireland's Shane Lowry shared sixth on 270. DeChambeau rolled in a birdie putt from just beyond 10 feet at the par-5 18th hole, the ball barely dropping in, to match Schauffele for the lead at 20-under. Seconds later, Hovland missed his 10-foot birdie putt to doom his chances and ended up making a bogey. Schauffele's tee shot at 18 was in the left rough on the edge of a fairway bunker. He calmly blasted his second shot 36 yards from the hole in the fairway short of the green and dropped his approach six feet from the hole. The ball made a slight roll on the edge as it fell in to give him a wire-to-wire triumph, counting shared leads. Not since 2005 Phil Mickelson at Baltusrol had a player birdied the 72nd hole to win the Wanamaker Trophy. "I just told myself this is my opportunity and just capture it," Schauffele said. He put past defeats in perspective with a text from his father -- a steady drip breaks the rock. "That's actually what my dad texted me," Schauffele said. In German though. I had to ask him what the translation was." Hovland, last year's FedEx Cup playoff champion and PGA runner-up, was denied his first major title. DeChambeau, the top finisher among 16 LIV Golf entrants, led the field in driving distance. ALSO READ | Premier League: Manchester City become first team to claim four consecutive titles with win over West Ham Scheffler shares 8th World number one Scottie Scheffler fired a 65 to finish on 271 and share eighth with fellow Americans Justin Thomas and Billy Horschel. He had his first over-par round of the year on Saturday, a day after being arrested and jailed after a traffic incident at the entrance to Valhalla. "I'm proud of how I fought," he said. "Kind of running on fumes." Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot 67 to finish on 272. Second-ranked McIlroy has not won a major since 2014 at Valhalla but has since had 20 top-10 major finishes. American Jordan Spieth, trying to win to complete a career Grand Slam, fired a 73 to finish on 278.

Golf: Xander Schauffele birdies final hole to capture PGA Championship for first major win

A rampaging Xander Schauffele powered to the top of the PGA Championship leaderboard on Thursday, firing a record-equaling opening round nine-under 62 at Valhalla Golf Club, as the Olympic champion looked to atone for a shock loss at the Wells Fargo. Out with the early starters Schauffele set the target that no one in the 156-player field could match. Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala came the closest, returning six-under 65s to sit three back.

Not even the two hottest golfers on the planet, world number one Scottie Scheffler and number two Rory McIlroy, could muster a challenge on a day of ideal scoring conditions at the defenseless Valhalla Golf Club.

McIlroy, coming off back-to-back PGA Tour wins, turned in a scrappy five-under 66 to settle in four off the pace. New dad Scheffler, with four victories in his last five starts including a second Masters Green Jacket, lurks one further adrift after returning a 67.

Schauffele, who held a final round two-stroke lead at Quail Hollow on Sunday before losing by five shots to McIlroy, was a man on a mission in Louisville, matching the men's major championship low score for a second time.

Despite an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and a proven ability to go low, the 30-year-old American has yet to win a major and is without a win since the 2022 Scottish Open.

While there is a lot of golf to be played, the world number three signaled he plans to end both droughts with a brilliant error-free opening round that matched his first round effort at last year's U.S. Open.

Only two other men have returned 62s at a major, Rickie Fowler, also in the first round at the 2023 U.S. Open, and Branden Grace, in the third round at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

"I'll take a 62 in any major any day," said Schauffele. "Not winning makes you want to win more, as weird as that is. "The top feels far away, and I feel like I have a lot of work to do."

Coming off titles at the Zurich Open and Wells Fargo, McIlroy carried that momentum onto the first tee. He rolled in a six-footer for a birdie on his opening hole, the par five 10th, then picked up a second at the 13th to briefly join a crowd at the top of the leaderboard.

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But the Northern Irishman, who announced on Monday that he had filed for divorce, stalled after the early burst. He took a bogey at the 17th before hitting his stride again after the turn by carding four birdies, including three straight from the fifth.

"Not a pretty 66," summed up McIlroy, who won the last of his four majors in 2014 on the same Valhalla layout. "I sort of felt like it was pretty scrappy for the most part. "I thought I got a lot out of my game today. "Not really happy with how I played but at least happy with the score."

After taking three weeks off to be with his wife, who was about to give birth, there were worries Scheffler would need time to shake off some competitive rust before returning to his dominating ways. He wasted no time dispelling those concerns, holing out from 167-yards on the par four first for an eagle and adding a birdie at the fourth to get to three-under.

But the 27-year-old American could not sustain that level, mixing three birdies with a pair of bogeys over the next 14 holes.

Defending champion and LIV Golf standard-bearer Brooks Koepka, bidding to become the tournament's first repeat winner since he retained the title in 2019, looked a threat to add a fourth Wanamaker trophy to his collection after returning a 67 highlighted by an eagle, birdie and par finish to join Scheffler in a group at four-under.

Tiger Woods, who collected one of his 15 major titles at Valhalla in 2000 with a playoff win over Bob May, opened with a one-over 72 but lamented a sloppy bogey, bogey finish to his day.

This is Woods' first event since the Masters. Last month the injury-ravaged golfer had earned a tournament-record 24th consecutive made cut at Augusta National, although finishing last among those who played the weekend.

"It's just that I just don't play a whole lot of competitive rounds," said Woods. "I haven't played since the Masters. "So it's a little bit different than being at home and playing a flat Florida course."

A rampaging Xander Schauffele powered to the top of the PGA Championship leaderboard on Thursday, firing a record-equaling opening round nine-under 62 at Valhalla Golf Club, as the Olympic champion looked to atone for a shock loss at the Wells Fargo.

A rampaging Xander Schauffele powered to the top of the PGA Championship leaderboard on Thursday, firing a record-equaling opening round nine-under 62 at Valhalla Golf Club, as the Olympic champion looked to atone for a shock loss at the Wells Fargo. Out with the early starters Schauffele set the target that no one in the 156-player field could match. Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala came the closest, returning six-under 65s to sit three back. Not even the two hottest golfers on the planet, world number one Scottie Scheffler and number two Rory McIlroy, could muster a challenge on a day of ideal scoring conditions at the defenseless Valhalla Golf Club. McIlroy, coming off back-to-back PGA Tour wins, turned in a scrappy five-under 66 to settle in four off the pace. New dad Scheffler, with four victories in his last five starts including a second Masters Green Jacket, lurks one further adrift after returning a 67. Schauffele, who held a final round two-stroke lead at Quail Hollow on Sunday before losing by five shots to McIlroy, was a man on a mission in Louisville, matching the men's major championship low score for a second time. Despite an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and a proven ability to go low, the 30-year-old American has yet to win a major and is without a win since the 2022 Scottish Open. While there is a lot of golf to be played, the world number three signaled he plans to end both droughts with a brilliant error-free opening round that matched his first round effort at last year's U.S. Open. Only two other men have returned 62s at a major, Rickie Fowler, also in the first round at the 2023 U.S. Open, and Branden Grace, in the third round at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. "I'll take a 62 in any major any day," said Schauffele. "Not winning makes you want to win more, as weird as that is. "The top feels far away, and I feel like I have a lot of work to do." Coming off titles at the Zurich Open and Wells Fargo, McIlroy carried that momentum onto the first tee. He rolled in a six-footer for a birdie on his opening hole, the par five 10th, then picked up a second at the 13th to briefly join a crowd at the top of the leaderboard. Also read: Tennis: World no. 1 Iga Swiatek downs Coco Gauff in Rome Open semis But the Northern Irishman, who announced on Monday that he had filed for divorce, stalled after the early burst. He took a bogey at the 17th before hitting his stride again after the turn by carding four birdies, including three straight from the fifth. "Not a pretty 66," summed up McIlroy, who won the last of his four majors in 2014 on the same Valhalla layout. "I sort of felt like it was pretty scrappy for the most part. "I thought I got a lot out of my game today. "Not really happy with how I played but at least happy with the score." After taking three weeks off to be with his wife, who was about to give birth, there were worries Scheffler would need time to shake off some competitive rust before returning to his dominating ways. He wasted no time dispelling those concerns, holing out from 167-yards on the par four first for an eagle and adding a birdie at the fourth to get to three-under. But the 27-year-old American could not sustain that level, mixing three birdies with a pair of bogeys over the next 14 holes. Defending champion and LIV Golf standard-bearer Brooks Koepka, bidding to become the tournament's first repeat winner since he retained the title in 2019, looked a threat to add a fourth Wanamaker trophy to his collection after returning a 67 highlighted by an eagle, birdie and par finish to join Scheffler in a group at four-under. Tiger Woods, who collected one of his 15 major titles at Valhalla in 2000 with a playoff win over Bob May, opened with a one-over 72 but lamented a sloppy bogey, bogey finish to his day. This is Woods' first event since the Masters. Last month the injury-ravaged golfer had earned a tournament-record 24th consecutive made cut at Augusta National, although finishing last among those who played the weekend. "It's just that I just don't play a whole lot of competitive rounds," said Woods. "I haven't played since the Masters. "So it's a little bit different than being at home and playing a flat Florida course."

Golf: Xander Schauffele grabs first round lead at PGA Championship

Viktor Hovland outdueled Xander Schauffele through Sunday's storm-hit final round to win the US PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship, capturing the $18 million FedEx Cup top prize by five strokes.

The 25-year-old Norwegian fired a bogey-free seven-under par 63 to stand on 27-under after 72 holes at East Lake in Atlanta while American Schauffele was second after matching his season-low round with a 62.

"It's just pretty surreal standing here right now, playing basically my best golf the last two weeks," said Hovland as he held the playoff trophy. "It couldn't have happened at a better moment."

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World number five Hovland shook off a storm delay of one hour and 53 minutes early in his round that dumped nearly half an inch of rain, making four birdies in the first six holes to fight off the reigning Olympic champion.

Starting scores in the FedEx Cup playoff finale were staggered based on season points, with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler at 10-under, Hovland next at 8-under and Schauffele on 3-under.

Hovland made up the deficit in the first round and charged from there.

Schauffele, winless this season, opened with seven birdies in the first 12 holes but settled for the $6.5 million runner-up prize from a $75 million bonus pool.

"The game plan before starting today was middle of the green, make a lot of pars and make Xander get after it, which he did early so I had to change my game plan a little bit," Hovland said.

Schauffele sank an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th and a 12-foot birdie putt at 12 to pull within three to set up the late drama.

Hovland stayed three ahead by sinking a pressure-packed 23-foot putt -- his longest of the week -- to save par at the 14th.

"I was happy I didn't make a bogey," Hovland said. "I was staring at five on 14. When that putt went in, that was just huge for momentum because two shots with four holes to go is a lot different from three shots.

"That was just a big one for momentum and after that I really relaxed."

Hovland curled in a birdie putt at 16 from just beyond 10 feet -- his first birdie since the sixth hole -- and sank a 12-foot birdie putt at 17 to seize a five-stroke edge and seal the triumph.

"He played great. I didn't do enough," Schauffele said. "I thought 62 would have let me get close to him, but the closest I got was three shots back. He played unbelievably well. He made important putts and he's just played like a champ.

"I'll hold my head up high. It was the most fun I had losing in quite some time. It's such a weird feeling. I shot 62. I lost by five. Just kudos to Havi."

It was the sixth career PGA Tour victory for Hovland, who also won the Memorial and last week's BMW Championship this season and managed his best major showing, a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship.

Combined with his victory last week, Hovland's back-to-back triumphs and those by Lucas Glover the prior two weeks at Greensboro and Memphis marked the first time since 1950 the PGA Tour had consecutive back-to-back event winners.

American Wyndham Clark, the US Open winner, was third on 16-under after closing on 65 with four-time major winner Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland fourth on 14-under after a 65 and American Patrick Cantlay fifth on 13-under after firing 66.

<h2>Low scoring early</h2>

Hovland's six-stroke lead entering the final round matched the largest 54-hole lead on tour this season but was also the margin Rory McIlroy rallied from to defeat Scheffler in 2022, so Hovland knew work remained.

Hovland opened with a 16-foot birdie before the storm, then came back to make a 15-foot par putt at the second.

Schauffele birdied three holes in a row starting at the third Hovland answered with birdies at five and six.

Schauffele sank an 11-foot putt at the eighth. He shot 30 on the front nine to Hovland's 31 to pull within five. They had the event's lowest front-nine Sunday final pairing score since 2007.

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Viktor Hovland outdueled Xander Schauffele through Sunday's storm-hit final round to win the US PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship, capturing the $18 million FedEx Cup top prize by five strokes.

Viktor Hovland outdueled Xander Schauffele through Sunday's storm-hit final round to win the US PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship, capturing the $18 million FedEx Cup top prize by five strokes. The 25-year-old Norwegian fired a bogey-free seven-under par 63 to stand on 27-under after 72 holes at East Lake in Atlanta while American Schauffele was second after matching his season-low round with a 62. "It's just pretty surreal standing here right now, playing basically my best golf the last two weeks," said Hovland as he held the playoff trophy. "It couldn't have happened at a better moment." Also Read: Neeraj Chopra clinches historic gold in javelin throw with 88.17m in World Athletics Championship final World number five Hovland shook off a storm delay of one hour and 53 minutes early in his round that dumped nearly half an inch of rain, making four birdies in the first six holes to fight off the reigning Olympic champion. Starting scores in the FedEx Cup playoff finale were staggered based on season points, with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler at 10-under, Hovland next at 8-under and Schauffele on 3-under. Hovland made up the deficit in the first round and charged from there. Schauffele, winless this season, opened with seven birdies in the first 12 holes but settled for the $6.5 million runner-up prize from a $75 million bonus pool. "The game plan before starting today was middle of the green, make a lot of pars and make Xander get after it, which he did early so I had to change my game plan a little bit," Hovland said. Schauffele sank an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th and a 12-foot birdie putt at 12 to pull within three to set up the late drama. Hovland stayed three ahead by sinking a pressure-packed 23-foot putt -- his longest of the week -- to save par at the 14th. "I was happy I didn't make a bogey," Hovland said. "I was staring at five on 14. When that putt went in, that was just huge for momentum because two shots with four holes to go is a lot different from three shots. "That was just a big one for momentum and after that I really relaxed." Hovland curled in a birdie putt at 16 from just beyond 10 feet -- his first birdie since the sixth hole -- and sank a 12-foot birdie putt at 17 to seize a five-stroke edge and seal the triumph. "He played great. I didn't do enough," Schauffele said. "I thought 62 would have let me get close to him, but the closest I got was three shots back. He played unbelievably well. He made important putts and he's just played like a champ. "I'll hold my head up high. It was the most fun I had losing in quite some time. It's such a weird feeling. I shot 62. I lost by five. Just kudos to Havi." It was the sixth career PGA Tour victory for Hovland, who also won the Memorial and last week's BMW Championship this season and managed his best major showing, a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship. Combined with his victory last week, Hovland's back-to-back triumphs and those by Lucas Glover the prior two weeks at Greensboro and Memphis marked the first time since 1950 the PGA Tour had consecutive back-to-back event winners. American Wyndham Clark, the US Open winner, was third on 16-under after closing on 65 with four-time major winner Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland fourth on 14-under after a 65 and American Patrick Cantlay fifth on 13-under after firing 66. Low scoring early Hovland's six-stroke lead entering the final round matched the largest 54-hole lead on tour this season but was also the margin Rory McIlroy rallied from to defeat Scheffler in 2022, so Hovland knew work remained. Hovland opened with a 16-foot birdie before the storm, then came back to make a 15-foot par putt at the second. Schauffele birdied three holes in a row starting at the third Hovland answered with birdies at five and six. Schauffele sank an 11-foot putt at the eighth. He shot 30 on the front nine to Hovland's 31 to pull within five. They had the event's lowest front-nine Sunday final pairing score since 2007. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: Viktor Hovland outlasts Xander Schauffele to win US PGA Tour Championship

There was a huge upset on Thursday morning in Australia as the Presidents Cup got underway between holders America and rest of the world team. The internationals made the pundits eat humble pie by taking a 4-1 lead.

Team USA captain Tiger Woods led his team out for the first match as he paired up with Justin Thomas to take on Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann. Only the second-ever playing captain in Presidents Cup history, Woods was in scintillating form as he sunk 6 birdies to give his team a 4 and 3 win but that turned out to be the only success for the Americans as the internationals upset the form book in the other matches.

Im Sung-Jae and Adam Hadwin were locked in a tight battle with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay with 13 holes halved before a birdie from Hadwin on the 16th saw the pairing win.

Former world number-1 Adam Scott and South Korean An Byeong-hun&nbsp;of South Korea never trailed against Bryson de Shambo and Tony Finau and win 2 and 1.

There was another tight game between Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Taiwan's CT Pan against Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson both major winners. The Americans never led this one either and Captain America Reed's late heroics could not prevent a 1-up win for Pan and Matsuyama.

Finally, rookie Abraham Ancer and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen put on a front nine blitz to thrash the powerful pairing of US Open champion Gary Woodland and former world No-1 Dustin Johnson 4 and 3.

There was a huge upset on Thursday morning in Australia as the Presidents Cup got underway between holders America and rest of the world team. The internationals made the pundits eat humble pie by taking a 4-1 lead.

There was a huge upset on Thursday morning in Australia as the Presidents Cup got underway between holders America and rest of the world team. The internationals made the pundits eat humble pie by taking a 4-1 lead. Team USA captain Tiger Woods led his team out for the first match as he paired up with Justin Thomas to take on Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann. Only the second-ever playing captain in Presidents Cup history, Woods was in scintillating form as he sunk 6 birdies to give his team a 4 and 3 win but that turned out to be the only success for the Americans as the internationals upset the form book in the other matches. Im Sung-Jae and Adam Hadwin were locked in a tight battle with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay with 13 holes halved before a birdie from Hadwin on the 16th saw the pairing win. Former world number-1 Adam Scott and South Korean An Byeong-hun of South Korea never trailed against Bryson de Shambo and Tony Finau and win 2 and 1. There was another tight game between Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Taiwan's CT Pan against Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson both major winners. The Americans never led this one either and Captain America Reed's late heroics could not prevent a 1-up win for Pan and Matsuyama. Finally, rookie Abraham Ancer and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen put on a front nine blitz to thrash the powerful pairing of US Open champion Gary Woodland and former world No-1 Dustin Johnson 4 and 3.

Presidents Cup: Internationals stun US to lead 4-1