Open 2022 LIVE result: Final leaderboard as Cameron Smith beats Rory McIlroy to Claret Jug
Follow reaction from the final round of the Open Championship as Smith lifts the Claret Jug at St Andrews
Rory McIlroy’s wait for a fifth major goes on after he was beaten to the Claret Jug by the sensational Australian Cameron Smith.
Smith produced a string of birdies to close out with a round of 64, beating his playing partner Cameron Young by one shot, as McIlroy ended up finishing third with a final round of 70.
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The Open 2022
McIlroy gouges his ball out of the rough and finds the 15th green to leave himself a long but potentially makeable birdie putt. The way Smith is going, it feels like McIlroy needs something long like this to drop.
Smith -19 (15)
McIlroy -18 (14)
Young -17 (15)
Hovland -15 (14)
The Open 2022
Cam Young decides to pull out the driver on the 16th tee, which Nick Faldo is intrigued by on commentary. He strikes it beautifully and gets within 80 yards of the flag. Cam Smith goes the more traditional route, finding the fairway with an iron.
Smith -19 (15)
McIlroy -18 (14)
Young -17 (15)
Hovland -15 (14)
The Open 2022
Smith’s run of five birdies may be over but it’s been enough to take the outright lead as they reach the testing 16th and 17th holes.
Behind him on 15, McIlroy’s drive finds the rough.
Smith -19 (15)
McIlroy -18 (14)
Young -17 (15)
Hovland -15 (14)
The Open 2022
Hovland slides his birdie putt past on 14, just like McIlroy, and they both walk off that very gettable hole with only par.
Smith trickles one down the hill on 15 to leave himself a straightforward par putt, which he makes, but Young misses his birdie putt which would have drawn him level with McIlroy on 18 under. That was a real opportunity, but even so, this is turning into a three-horse race.
Smith -19 (15)
McIlroy -18 (14)
Young -17 (15)
Hovland -15 (14)
The Open 2022
McIlroy opts for a putter on 14 and pushes it a little fast over the ridge to leave himself a tricky birdie putt back up the hill, perhaps 12-15 feet... it’s just too fast and doesn’t take the break, and that’s a par.
Up ahead, Cameron Young hits a brilliant approach into the 15th green to give himself a look at birdie. Smith does well to dig out of the rough and find the putting surface on the front edge.
Smith -19 (14)
McIlroy -18 (14)
Young -17 (14)
Hovland -15 (13)
The Open 2022
On 18, Brian Harman roles in a birdie putt to take the clubhouse lead on -13. Jordan Spieth finishes on -12.
The Open 2022
McIlroy’s second shot into 14 comes up just short of the green, and he faces a tricky chip, or perhaps long putt, up a ridge guarding the pin.
Smith -19 (14)
McIlroy -18 (13)
Young -17 (14)
Hovland -15 (13)
The Open 2022
McIlroy and Hovland are both well placed after drives on the par-five 14th hole.
Up ahead on 15, Cam Smith finally finds some trouble with a tee shot which fades off into the rough down the right side. Looks like a decent lie, but that’s not ideal.
The Open 2022
Cam Smith with a long, uphill putt for eagle on the 14th: it’s a fantastic effort perfectly judged, and he taps in for yet another birdie. Five in a row, and he grabs the outright lead for the first time in this final round. He’s seven under par today, just sensational.
His playing partner Cam Young birdies the 14th too, to move to 17 under par.
Smith -19 (14)
McIlroy -18 (13)
Young -17 (14)
Hovland -15 (13)
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