The Monday Mulligan: the week that was in golf …
- themondaymulligan
- Jul 21
- 6 min read
And with that, the 2025 men’s major season comes to an end. What a weekend of golf it was, as we witnessed Scottie Scheffler once again put a margin on the rest of the field. But fear not, there are still a few enticing links events locked and loaded with both the Champions Tour and Women’s Open not too far away. Read on for a review of last week’s action, including the Open, and a preview of the week ahead in the world of golf.
The 153rd Open Championship concluded at Royal Portrush with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler claiming his first Claret Jug and fourth major title, finishing 17‑under‑par—a commanding four-stroke victory over Harris English. Scheffler opened with a graceful 68 on Thursday, surged ahead with a stunning 64 on Friday, and, despite a rare double-bogey at the 8th on Sunday, closed with a solid 68 to maintain control. His precision and calm on the weekend echoed greatness—many drew comparisons to Tiger’s prime. Harris English earned solo second at 13‑under, as he continues a strong season, while Chris Gotterup secured solo third at 12‑under. Bryson DeChambeau, after a disastrous 78 on Thursday, shot an electrifying 64 to finish in the top ten at 9-under, showcasing a remarkable comeback. Rory McIlroy, playing just 60 miles from home in Northern Ireland, registered rounds of 70‑69‑66‑69 to finish 10‑under, tying for seventh place. While not a contender for the title, his emotional performance on home soil resonated powerfully with fans—some considered it more than a sporting redemption, more a “victory lap”. Scheffler’s triumph cements his status among golf’s elite: Masters ’22, ’24; PGA ’25; Open ’25—only the U.S. Open stands between him and a career Grand Slam. With his historic achievement—winning four majors by at least three shots—he joins a legendary lineage while exuding a rare emotional maturity. Best of the Aussies, and the only one to make the cut, was Marc Leishman who finished in T52 on even par.
Scottie Scheffler blitzes the field at The 153rd Open to claim his third leg of the grand slam
(photo courtesy of: https://apnews.com/)
The Casella Golf Championship took place July 18–20 at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland, NY, as part of the Epson Tour’s circuit. The 54-hole tournament featured many of the top 15 players in the "Race for the Card" standings. Emerging victorious was 23-year-old Briana Chacon of California, who shot a composed final round of 67, finishing at 9-under-par (204) to claim her second Epson Tour title of the season and third overall. After entering Sunday tied atop the leaderboard with Cynthia Lu (Taipei) and Camille Boyd (USA) at 5-under, Chacon’s steady play—one bogey and five birdies—proved decisive. A key chip-in on the 11th hole ignited her momentum, and she calmly secured birdies on holes 15 and 17 to clinch the win and the $30,000 prize. Cynthia Lu finished solo second, one stroke behind at 8-under, while Brooke Rivers (Ontario) came in third at 7-under, dropping a double-bogey on the 18th after a dramatic charge earlier in the round. Chacon emphasized Pinehaven's demanding layout as a “ball-strikers course” that suited her strengths. This victory also tightened the Race for the Card standings, with Chacon climbing behind leader Gina Kim and ahead of Lu. For Chacon, this win is a momentum booster as the Epson Tour heads into its final season stretch with seven events remaining. Best of the Aussies was Jess Whitting however she unfortunately couldn’t rally to make the cut.
Briana Chacon claims second win of the season on the EPSON Tour
(photo courtesy of: www.epsontour.com)
The Islantilla Open, a new record-setting stop on the LET Access Series, was played July 18–20 at Islantilla Golf Resort in Huelva, Spain. The event featured a €100,000 purse—the largest in LETAS history. Emerging triumphant was Fernanda Lira of Brazil, who cruised to victory with a three-round total of 8-under, claiming the title by a comfortable six strokes over England’s Jessica Hall. Lira demonstrated consistent play throughout the tournament, balancing strategic tee shots with sharp putting, even in breezy coastal conditions. Her leadership position from early on allowed her to manage the course impeccably and avoid late-round pressure. The Islantilla Open's success underlines LETAS's expanding European footprint and elevates its professional profile, thanks to the generous prize fund and challenging coastal layout. For Lira, this breakthrough win not only solidifies her LETAS credentials but also earns crucial Order of Merit points, enhancing her bid for Ladies European Tour status. Best of the Aussies was Steph Bunque who finished in T37.
Fernanda Lira secured her first European victory at the inaugural Islantilla Open
(photo courtesy of: www.letaccess.com)
Ryan Gerard captured his first PGA Tour title on Sunday at Tahoe Mountain Club, finishing with 47 modified stableford points, edging out 2021 champion Erik van Rooyen by three points (47 to 44). Gerard rode two explosive scoring bursts, birdie‑eagle sequences on holes 2–3 and 10–11, that propelled him to a 13‑point final round. Despite a couple of bogeys, he closed strong with a birdie on 14 and later sank a clutch 35‑footer for eagle on the par‑5 11th, benefiting slightly from relief on a sprinkler interference. Van Rooyen, finishing at 44 points, was in firm contention, making an eagle on the par‑5 15th and birdieing the 18th with a long putt. England’s Todd Clements secured solo third with 39 points, while Beau Hossler, Max McGreevy, and Jacques Kruyswijk tied for fourth at 37. Played opposite The Open and co‑sanctioned by the DP World Tour, this tournament offered exemption into next year’s PGA Championship (but not the Masters). Gerard, the 999th player to win on tour, sealed the win in his 47th start, reflecting on a “culmination of a lifetime of work”. Best of the Aussies was Jason Scrivener who finished in T8.
Ryan Gerard claims his first DP World and PGA Tour victory at the Barracuda Championship
(photo courtesy of: www.europeantour.com)
Up Ahead
The PGA Tour is straight back into it this week for the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. It will be interesting to see who bounces back fresh after the grueling conditions over at Royal Portrush, but also who has used the time off to freshen up out of those who didn’t secure a tee time at The Open last week. The 3M Open carries a purse of $USD 8.4 million along with 500 points towards the FedEx Cup. Jhonattan Vegas is our defending champion.
The LIV Golf League is also straight back into it, where those players from The Open won’t have to travel far to get to the JCB Golf & Country Club for LIV Golf UK. Jon Rahm will be hoping to defend his individual title while the race for the chocolates in the team standings is also heating up. This one is sure to provide some fireworks.
The Professional Women are off to compete in the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open this week, an ideal preparation before their own major test on the links the following week. The Scottish Open has a prize purse of $USD 2 million along with 500 points in the Race to CME Globe. Lauren Coughlin is our defending champion after holding off the field to win by four shots last year.
The EPSON Tour continues their run of events as they head to the Highland Meadows Golf Club for the Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis. This event has a purse of $300,000 along with 500 points in the Race for the Card. As an inaugural event on the schedule, there is no previous winner or defending champion for 2025.
We are creeping ever closer to the start of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia, with both starting at the PNG Open in mid-August at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club. It’ll be one to watch as the excitement builds for the start of the season, signaling the end of winter and a chance to shed the layers during our own weekend rounds.
A few tours remain on a break, with the DP World Tour enjoying a break before the ‘closing swing’ which will resume in mid-August. The Asian Tour also isn’t back in action until late August when they will compete at the Mandiri Indonesian Open. LET Access also has a week off before those without a tee time at the AIG Women’s Open will head to Denmark for an alternate event.
That’s it for this week, I hope it covered what you were after and if not, feel free to get in touch and offer some suggestions so we can improve the blog here at The Monday Mulligan. We are stoked to be back and capturing the highs and lows across the world of golf.
That’s it for now, stay safe and play well!
Play well,
TMM
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