British Open 2024: Justin Rose's caddie has one hilarious complaint about Xander Schauffele

TROON, Scotland — Justin Rose got slotted into the wrong side of the draw on Thursday and Friday, fought through the elements to give himself a chance, and put together a terrific weekend to finish at seven under. In a world where Xander Schauffele didn't post an absurd 65 on Sunday, he might have won the Open Championship. Instead, he finished in a tie for second, and both him and his caddie Mark Fulcher had a front-row seat for Schauffele's victory march.

After the final putts fell, Fulcher spoke with the gathered media, and had a few entertaining stories up his sleeve, including one about how last year's rift between him and Rose was repaired not by either man—"too much pride," he said—but by their wives calling each other ahead of the Ryder Cup, and Fulcher's own wife admitting that he wasn't doing much but sitting on the couch and drinking wine. His funniest comment, though, was reserved for Schauffele, who he complimented effusively. After citing his various abilities, and coming up empty when asked to name a weakness, he finally managed to come up with one quibble.

"He's actually quite nice too," Fulcher said. "You'd almost like him to be a bit of a wanker."

Everyone can relate to that feeling. It's Fulcher's tough luck, though, that Schauffele was no wanker—to his mind, not even close.

"He couldn't be nicer," he said. "He's a lovely fellow. It's just nice to know the lad. He's top class."

Maybe if he's lucky, the two majors will go to Schauffele's head, and the next time the two meet, he'll be more disagreeable. Until then, Fulcher and the rest of us will have to deal with the annoying reality that one of the best golfers on the planet is a pretty good guy too.