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,

T he four major championships have come and gone in 2025 with three new winners being crowned across the biggest events of the season. Rory McIlroy won his Masters in dramatic fashion this April, completing the career grand slam and punching his ticket into golf's most exclusive club.

Scheffler earned his first Claret Jug by running away from the field over the weekend before winning by four shots. McIlroy finished tied for seventh, seven shots behind Scheffler. After his round he paid Scheffler the highest of praise, saying: