PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland: Scottie Scheffler said his first taste of winning the British Open was “special” after romping to his fourth major title by four shots at Royal Portrush on Sunday.
The world number one shot to the top of the leaderboard during his second round on Friday and never looked back to finish on 17 under par.
“It’s a pretty special feeling,” Scheffler told Sky Sports. “It was a battle, but played some really good golf and I’m fortunate to be standing here holding the trophy.”
Scheffler is making the extraordinary look serene as he won for the fourth time in his last 11 events.
However, lifting the Claret Jug held a greater significance for the 29-year-old after his memories of waking up early to follow the British Open across the Atlantic Ocean as a child.
“I grew up waking up early to watch this tournament on TV, just hoping and dreaming I would get the chance to come play in this championship,” added Scheffler.
“It’s pretty cool to be sitting here with the trophy. It’s hard to put into words.”
Scheffler birdied three of his first five holes to snuff out any possibility that he would not convert his four-shot overnight lead into victory.
Even an uncharacteristic misjudgment when he failed to get out of a fairway bunker at the eighth, which led to a double bogey, could derail Scheffler’s charge.
“I felt a good amount of peace today. I felt very in control of how I was playing. I was very comfortable with my game,” he added.
“Even after the little hiccup there on the eighth hole, we bounced back really quick with a birdie on nine and got things back in gear pretty quick.
“Playing this game, it’s a battle within yourself all the time to try and get the most out of your game and yourself. This week, I did a really good job of hanging in there mentally and playing some good golf.”
Open Championship win ‘special feeling’ for dominant Scottie Scheffler
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Open Championship win ‘special feeling’ for dominant Scottie Scheffler
- World number one shot to the top of the leaderboard during his second round on Friday and never looked back
\All-star ambassador lineup set for PIF Saudi Ladies International
- Golf Saudi’s elite field assembles as Ladies European Tour and PIF Global Series season kicks off in Riyadh
RIYADH: Golf Saudi’s international ambassador is set to battle it out for a $5 million prize fund at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, held at Riyadh Golf Club from Feb. 11-14.
As a part of the PIF Global Series, the tournament is the season opener of the Ladies European Tour and features a world-class field of elite international talent, headlined by World No. 5 Charley Hull.
The PIF Global Series provides a competitive international platform for the world’s best women golfers to compete alongside emerging talent at premier international venues. This season’s calendar reflects an expanding international presence and high-level competition, with upcoming stops including Las Vegas, London, Korea and Shenzhen.
Ambassadors will once again look to raise the profile of the game and act as an inspiration to local amateurs and newcomers to take up the game, not only with their performances on the course, but also by joining Go Golf clinics and driving range sessions with beginners and emerging talent at every venue.
The strong field will feature:
Charley Hull (England)
A seasoned champion with multiple global titles to her name, the 29-year-old brings a formidable track record to the field. Hull is no stranger to success in the Kingdom, having famously secured the individual title at the Riyadh Series in 2024. Her performance across the PIF Global Series has established her as a perennial fan favorite in the region; she looks to build on that momentum following a stellar run last year, where she secured top-10 finishes in both Riyadh and Houston.
Known for prioritizing fitness, mental wellbeing and work in the gym alongside honing her game, Hull made headlines at the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International by revealing she was focused on reducing her 5 km run time to 20 minutes by the year’s end.
“Every time I return to Riyadh, I’m blown away by how much the game has grown,” Hull said. “My preparation for the PIF Saudi Ladies International is about more than just golf; it’s about arriving as an athlete ready to perform on a world-class stage.”
“As a Golf Saudi ambassador, I want the next generation of young girls watching us at Riyadh Golf Club to see that with discipline and the right support, there are no limits. Being part of this journey where we see equal prize money is incredibly inspiring, and I’m proud to help show young girls what’s possible through the game.
“I haven’t yet got my PB down as I tore a ligament in my ankle in August, just as I was getting close to 20 minutes ... I’ve only just started running again but I hope to get to sub 20 this year!”
A proven contender in Saudi Arabia, the four-time LET winner arrives focused on delivering another crown.
Alison Lee (US)
The two-time PIF Global Series individual winner (Sotogrande, 2021, and Riyadh, 2023) and two-time Solheim Cup star returns to Riyadh Golf Club following her comeback at the Aramco Houston Championship, after a maternity break last year. The American also went on to play the final PIF Global Series event of 2025, in Shenzhen, six months after giving birth.
Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand)
A Major champion and one of Thailand’s leading lights, the 26-year-old has established herself as a force on the world stage. Following her victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International in 2024, the Thai returns to Riyadh Golf Club hungry for more success.
Tavatanakit said: “I feel good going into this week, and I’m super excited to get to Riyadh. This course and tournament have a special place in my heart, and I’m so lucky to count myself as a past champion. This event stands out on the calendar every year due to Golf Saudi’s incredible support of the athletes and of golf in general — we’re all looking forward to getting there for a great week!”
Carlota Ciganda (Spain)
A combined 11-time winner on the LPGA tour and the LET, the seven-time Solheim Cup-capped Spaniard will be looking to go one better than her last PIF Global Series outing in Houston, where she lost out to compatriot Nuria Iturrioz, finishing T2 with fellow Golf Saudi Ambassador Hull.
Marianne Skarpnord (Norway)
The 39-year-old has demonstrated age is no barrier at the top level, competing in 18 LET events in 2025 and with victories spanning all the way back to 2009, the Norwegian golfer will be looking to prove that age is just a number when competing at Riyadh Golf Club.
“Women’s golf has changed massively since I started on the tour in 2005,” Skarpnord said. “Over the last decade, the game has grown enormously, and the standard today is completely different. Golf Saudi has played a massive part in that — they are raising the profile of the women’s game, strengthening the fields and creating opportunities for us that simply didn’t exist before.”
Muni “Lily” He (China)
One of golf’s most popular players, the fan favorite finished T8 at Riyadh Golf Club in the 2025 edition of the PIF Saudi Ladies International, and while showing promise across the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, could 2026 be her breakthrough year?
Danielle Kang (USA)
A Major champion and six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, the American is set to return to the PIF Global Series after finishing in the top 30 of the Aramco Houston Championship in 2025. The 33-year-old is no stranger to adversity, however, overcoming significant back injuries and health issues to continue challenging on the world’s biggest stages.
Olivia Cowan (Germany)
Competing in all five PIF Global Series events in 2025, the ever-present German finished inside the top 20 on three occasions, with a best placed T4 at the PIF London Championship at Centurion Club. She will be hoping to add another stellar performance to kick start her season in Saudi Arabia.
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France)
A two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, including a victory at the PIF Global Series — Singapore in 2023, the 25-year-old will be aiming to add to her accolades this year, starting at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.
