Key Takeaways
- Scottie Scheffler rose to the occasion this weekend, winning at Royal Portrush in impressive fashion.
- Rory McIlroy also made his presence felt on home soil, while Ryan Gerard claimed his first PGA win over in California.
- RG's Brendon Elliott breaks it all down in his latest instalment of “The Starter”.
Ryan Gerard (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
In this week's “The Starter,” PGA professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, breaks down Scottie Scheffler's commanding British Open victory at Royal Portrush, Rory McIlroy's emotional homecoming, and Ryan Gerard's breakthrough win at the Barracuda Championship.
Scottie Scheffler doesn't just win golf tournaments anymore. He dismantles them.
At Royal Portrush this weekend, the world's No. 1 player turned what should have been a dramatic Open Championship into a four-day exhibition of how to play major championship golf. His wire-to-wire victory was never really in doubt after taking the lead, and watching him cruise to his second major title felt almost inevitable.
Meanwhile, 3,000 miles away in California, Ryan Gerard was white-knuckling his way through the kind of victory that makes your hands shake just thinking about it.
Scheffler Makes Making History Look Routine
What strikes you most about Scottie Scheffler isn't the wins — it's how methodical he makes them look.
At Royal Portrush, Scheffler dominated from wire-to-wire, becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year with a commanding performance. But watching him work, you'd think he was out there fulfilling some routine obligation rather than claiming one of golf's most prestigious titles.
The most remarkable thing about Scheffler's current run isn't any single victory — it's the mathematical certainty he brings to major championships. When he gets in front, he simply doesn't give tournaments back.
The scary part? He's still in his prime years, showing no signs of slowing down his dominant run through professional golf.
McIlroy's Perfectly Imperfect Week
Rory McIlroy didn't win the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, and somehow that made his week exactly what it needed to be.
McIlroy's tie for seventh finish tells you nothing about what actually happened here. This wasn't about leaderboards or prize money — it was about making peace with the worst moment of his career.
Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy crumbled under the weight of an entire country's expectations. Opening tee shot out of bounds. First-round 79. Missed cut. It was career-defining in all the wrong ways, the kind of failure that follows you around forever if you let it.
But this time, McIlroy looked like someone who'd learned the difference between pressure and opportunity. His Saturday 66 had the packed galleries believing again, and that eagle on No. 12 — one of the loudest roars you'll ever hear on a golf course — felt like a man reclaiming something he'd lost.
The double bogey on Sunday's 10th hole would have destroyed 2019 McIlroy. This version just moved on to the next shot. When he walked up No. 18 to that thunderous ovation, you could see it in his face: mission accomplished.
"I've gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a claret jug," he said afterward. "I tried as best as I could to keep my emotions in check, especially walking up the last there and that reception. It's been an awesome week."
Gerard's Six-Week Gamble Pays Off
Ryan Gerard had already been on the road for five straight weeks when he teed it up at the Barracuda Championship. His body was tired. His bank account wasn't thrilled about another week of travel expenses. But something told him to keep grinding.
Good thing he listened.
Gerard's victory in the Modified Stableford format wasn't pretty — five bogeys will do that — but it was absolutely electrifying. Two seven-point scoring bursts (birdie-eagle combos on Nos. 2-3 and 10-11) kept him afloat when lesser players would have crumbled.
Here's what separates PGA Tour winners from everyone else: Gerard bogeyed holes 4-5, then immediately bounced back with a birdie on No. 7. Bogeyed 12-13? Birdie on No. 14. That kind of mental toughness can't be taught.
The 25-year-old former North Carolina player became the 999th different winner in PGA Tour history — one number away from a milestone that would have generated even more headlines. But Gerard won't care about the symbolism. His first victory comes with a spot in next year's PGA Championship and the knowledge that six weeks of grinding paid off in the biggest possible way.
Gerard finished with 47 points for a three-point victory over 2021 winner Erik van Rooyen of South Africa. Van Rooyen made it interesting with eagles and long putts down the stretch, including a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th and a 30-footer for birdie on the par-4 18th, but Gerard held his nerve when it mattered most.
The victory came in Gerard's 47th PGA Tour start. He had been fifth in the event two years ago and was ninth and second in consecutive events in Texas in April, showing he had the game to win at this level.
The Bigger Picture
Scheffler's dominance continues to redefine what we expect from the world's best player. His ability to control major championships from start to finish suggests he's playing a different game than everyone else.
For Gerard, this changes everything. Six weeks ago, he was just another tour player grinding for status. Now he's got job security and the confidence that comes from knowing he can win when it matters.
Golf delivered everything we love about the sport this weekend: dominance, perseverance, breakthrough moments, and the reminder that sometimes the best stories happen when we're not looking.
Scheffler's victory was expected. McIlroy's emotional homecoming was cathartic. Gerard's breakthrough was pure magic.
That's why we watch.
