by Jason Bruno
HOYLAKE, England — Brian Harman took his place in the history of the games’ oldest major championship on Sunday – winning the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Harman’s breezed across the finish line with a final round 1-under par 70 for a six-shot victory, finishing at 13 under par – 271 total.
A clear underdog among the stars on the leaderboard, Harman had gone 167 tournaments over six years since his last victory – the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow (his third career title on the PGA Tour).
Current Masters champion Jon Rahm birdied the 72nd hole for a final round 70 to tie 3 others for second place – Tom Kim (67), Sepp Straka (69) and Jason Day (69). “He won by six, so there’s nothing really any of us could have done,” Rahm said.
Harman led over the final 51 holes, and by five shots after 36 holes and 54 holes. He began Sunday’s round in the elements (rain) and with the locals rooting against him, but as he strolled up the last assured of victory, a standing ovation greeted him. The diminutive Georgia native made the final putt for par at the home hole to seal the deal. “I doubled down on my process and I know it’s boring and it is not flashy,” Harman said. “But, until hitting that last bunker shot, I have not thought about winning the tournament.”
As the 2023 Champion Golfer of the Year, Harman received $3 million, and is the current holder of the oldest trophy in sports . . . the Claret Jug. “I’m going to have a couple of pints out of this here trophy, I believe,” Harman said.
Harman received a five-year exemption into all of the majors and joins the list of Open champions at Hoylake that include McIlroy, Woods, Jones and Hagen. He also has moved to No.3 in the Team USA Ryder Cup standings and has leaped to No. 10 in the Official world Golf Rankings.
Scores: https://www.theopen.com/leaderboard
