The Open Championship: Tiger Woods-like Scottie Scheffler Hard To Catch, Says Shane Lowry

Scottie Scheffler should be put up alongside the great Tiger Woods, so says Shane Lowry.

Scheffler went into his final round at The Open on Sunday on the brink of glory at Royal Portrush, holding a four-stroke lead over the chasing pack.

The world number one has won the last nine events in which he has led after 54 holes, and Lowry cannot see a different outcome this time around, even if some big names will be looking to apply the pressure. 

"I played with him the first two days, and honestly, I thought he was going to birdie every hole," said Lowry, who carded a five-under par 66 on Sunday to finish on two under for the tournament.

"It was incredible to watch. I wouldn't say he's unbeatable because he's been beaten a few times, but when he's like that, when he starts getting on that roll, he's a hard person to beat.

"Even like today, you look at the scoreboard and sort of think if Rory [McIlroy] can get off to a really hot start and get the crowd behind him, it might make it difficult for Scottie, but people make it difficult for him all the time, and he comes out the other side of it. So who knows?

"If Scottie's feet stayed stable and his swing looked like Adam Scott's, we'd be talking about him in the same words as Tiger Woods.

"I just think because it doesn't look so perfect, we don't talk about him like that. I think he's just incredible to watch, and his bad shots are really good. That's when you know he's really good."

Victory in Northern Ireland would make Scheffler just the 31st man to win four or more major titles.

In fact, he would become just the ninth player to win the Masters, PGA Championship and The Open. The only other players to win those three tournaments before turning 30 are Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

And fellow American Jordan Spieth thinks Scheffler already has one hand on the Claret Jug.

"I'd be pretty surprised if he wasn't the one holding the Claret Jug at the end of the day," Spieth said after carding a final-round 68, as reported by Sky Sports.

"He's well deserving of it, probably the most deserving player of it, and I've thought the way that his game is the last few years, the harder the conditions, the better for him over here.

"If there's ever a chance for someone to take him down, it's when it's benign like this. But he's been putting so well this week - I have a hard time thinking anybody else would get it done."