After winning The Open Championship, Scottie Scheffler flew back to the U.S. with Bryson DeChambeau, and his actions speak to the four-time major winner’s true character

Scottie Scheffler shared a flight back to the U.S. with Bryson DeChambeau after The Open(Image: Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler once again demonstrated his class and humility following his victory at The Open Championship. That’s despite his comments prior to the major turning heads.

The 29-year-old American captured his fourth career major at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, sealing the win by four strokes. It was a resounding comeback after a disappointing showing at last month’s U.S. Open. But instead of uncorking champagne and soaking in the spotlight, Scheffler chose a more low-key celebration, true to form.

In fact, he even paused the post-tournament festivities to ensure that rival Bryson DeChambeau, who was sharing a flight with him back to the States, didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. It is the same Scheffler who has a ‘chidlish’ financial agreement with his caddie.

“I did not bring it [the Claret Jug] on the plane,” Scheffler revealed on the Pardon My Take podcast. “It went underneath the plane. We were with Bryson [DeChambeau] and Tony Finau, so it didn’t really feel right for me to bring the trophy on the plane.”

When asked whether he’d taken a celebratory sip from the trophy – a common tradition among victorious athletes – Scheffler replied: “I haven’t drunk anything out of the Claret Jug yet. We have a celebration planned this Friday with a bunch of our friends here at home, so that will be the time to celebrate.”

Scheffler’s post-tournament celebrations were cut short by the fact he was due in New York for the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2. In the movie, the Texan has a small cameo as a fictionalized version of himself, as do DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka.

Scheffler won the Open Championship by four strokes with a score of 17-under par(Image: Getty)

“We got done late Sunday night,” he recalled. “We actually had to catch a flight to New York to get to the Happy Gilmore [2] premiere. We had planned on that all along, everything was scheduled, we had to get out of town pretty quick so we didn’t have much time to celebrate.”

This understated approach to victory is emblematic of Scheffler’s character, as he consistently prioritizes respect and humility over self-promotion. For instance, following his 2022 Masters triumph, his first major title, Scheffler was quick to share credit with his caddie Ted Scott, and his family, emphasizing their role in his success rather than basking in his own glory.

“I don’t think I’d be here without them,” he said in a post-round interview, deflecting attention to those around him.

Scheffler showed his true colors by not taking the trophy on the plane(Image: Pardon My Take podcast)

Similarly, at the 2023 Players Championship, Scheffler’s graciousness shone through when he spoke about his competitors after his victory. Rather than focusing solely on his dominant performance, he praised the resilience of his peers, noting: “The leaderboard was stacked with so many great players. It’s an honor to compete against them.”

These moments paint a picture of a champion who values connection and respect over accolades. Whether it’s ensuring a rival feels at ease on a shared flight or uplifting those around him, Scheffler’s actions speak louder than any trophy could.