2024 Open takeaways: Royal Troon starred, Xander Schauffele reigned as Justin Rose, Billy Horschel went all in

It's rare that the golf course receives MVP honors at a major championship, but Royal Troon absolutely delivered last week

Scottie Scheffler called it the hardest nine holes he's ever played. Dustin Johnson said it was the hardest nine holes possible. Others referenced not being able to remember the last time they hit driver-3-wood into a hole and came up well short. Royal Troon, with an assist from Mother Nature, delivered about the best full major test imaginable and the best start-to-finish examination we have seen in years at the 2024 Open Championship last week. Xander Schauffele -32 Scottie Scheffler -17 Collin Morikawa -15 Russell Henley -9 Shane Lowry -6 Patrick Cantlay E Corey Conners +3 Hideki Matsuyama +9 Harris English +10 Brooks Koepka +14 Cameron Young +17 Nicolai Højgaard +21 Ryan Fox +26

Bouncy, firm fairways and greens? Check. Memorable holes marked by distinct features? Absolutely. There were long holes, short holes, tough holes, easy holes. And of course, the variable that makes any major twice as good (or more) than it would be otherwise: wind. Quartering winds, into winds, down winds, confusing winds -- it was a wind festival at Royal Troon. Some hit drives 405 yards, while others needed driver-driver just to get within chipping distance on par 4s.

There is nothing that frustrates professional golfers more than wind. Nothing. It takes their plans and turns them inside out. It confounds and angers. It brings doubt and indecision when the primary objective of all good pros is to eliminate both.