The Open 2021 LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Collin Morikawa wins the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s
Follow all the action live from Royal St George’s
Collin Morikawa has won The Open after a stunning final round of 66 at Royal St George’s.
The 24-year-old American had started the day one shot adrift of Louis Oosthuizen but surged four clear by the turn thanks to a spectacular front-nine of 32.
Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm both mounted charges over the course of the back nine, but Morikawa then held his nerve under the most heightened pressure, with tremendous putts at the 10th, 14th and 15th to card a round of 66 and ensure himself of a two-shot victory
Follow all the reaction from what was a thrilling afternoon at Royal St George’s:
THE OPEN 2021: OOSTHUIZEN, MORIKAWA AT 4
Oosthuizen and Morikawa have been faultless in finding the fairway from the tee so far, but they may be showing a touch of nerves with their approach shots. At the 4th, both players miss the green with their iron shots and end up in the rough on the side of the green. Tough chip shots coming up for both players next.
THE OPEN 2021: BOGEY FOR SPIETH
The first dropped shot from one of the leaders as Spieth makes a bogey-five at the 4th. After getting out of trouble at the 2nd and 3rd, he couldn’t repeat the trick this time as his chip from the rough ran five or six feet past the hole. His par putt was short and the American drops four shots off Oosthuizen at this early stage.
THE OPEN 2021: PARS FOR OOSTUIZEN, MORIKAWA
Morikawa missed the green with his tee shot at the par-three 3rd, but a wonderful chip gets him to within a foot of the pin. Oosthuizen also makes par after finding the fringes with his tee shot. Up ahead, Spieth looks to be in a bit of bother after missing the green with his approach at the 4th - his ball bounced off the green and looks nestled in the rough.
Rory McIlroy finishes his week at even par following a round of +1 today. A tough day for McIlroy who couldn’t erase the mistakes from the tee, resulting in three bogeys and a double bogey.
Tony Finau has also completed his round and a fine score of 67 to finish -5 overall. That looks good enough for a spot in the top 20.
THE OPEN 2021: OOSTHUIZEN MAINTAINS LEAD
Morikawa’s birdie putt teases the edge of the hole but lips out, as both players walk away with par. Oosthuizen elected to putt uphill from the rough - and it was perfectly judged as it reached the top of the slope and stopped within a foot of the hole.
Poulter completes his round with a par at the 18th to card a 68 and finish -3 overall. Chances are running out for Koepka, who has parred his last three holes. He has three left to play.
Koepka now has an outright hold of fourth place at -8. Scheffler, Frittelli, Connors and Rahm are all over par for their rounds early on.
THE OPEN 2021: CHANCE FOR MORIKAWA
Oosthuizen’s approach at 2 finds the semi-rough on the edge of the green. He wasn’t happy with that. Morikawa, from a similar position on the fairway, lands it to the left of the pin, about six or seven feet away from the hole. An early chance to come?
Shane Lowry makes back-to-back birdies at 6 and 7 to move into a tie of fifth, but Koepka misses an opportunity to make up further ground on the leaders as he pars the par-five 14th. Koepka left himself a lot of work to do after his chip shot missed the top deck of the green, and his birdie putt stopped a couple of inches short.
MacIntyre continues his push as he makes birdie at the 8th to move to -6, with another strong putt from 10+ feet to move -2 for his day.
THE OPEN 2021: EARLY BOGEY FOR RAHM
Oosthuizen and Morikawa both find the green in two to set up birdie putts, but both players then leave those attempts short as they move on with an opening par.
John Rahm drops a shot following a three-putt at the 2nd, while Dylan Frittelli also makes an early bogey with a dropped shot at the 3rd. Spieth picks up par at the 2nd following a smart chip from the edge of the green. He’s had a couple of early testers for his putter after those misses at the 17th and 18th last night.
THE OPEN 2021: OOSTHUIZEN, MORIKAWA UNDERWAY
Here comes the leader! Louis Oosthuizen, who is aiming to complete a wire-to-wire victory in his bid to win the Claret Jug for the second time, sends his opening drive down the right side of the fairway.
Collin Morikawa, one shot adrift, also finds the middle of the fairway with his opening tee shot. Up ahead, Spieth was indeed in the rough but he finds the back of the green with his second shot. Spieth ended up with a testing par putt from five or so feet but sinks it to move on unscathed.
McIlroy drops a shot at the 16th to move to even par, while Shane Lowry rattles in a birdie at the par-three 6th to move to -6.
THE OPEN 2021: SPIETH BEGINS FINAL-ROUND CHASE
Jordan Spieth sends his opening drive down the right of the fairway, and it looks like it has just caught the long rough on the edge. The American is playing with Corey Connors today.
Over at the 18th, amateur Matthias Schmid completes his round at +2 overall to seal the silver medal.
THE OPEN 2021: ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR KOEPKA
Koepka moves to a share of fourth place at -8 with birdie at the 12th. He’s now within four shots of the lead with six to play but it’s likely to be too little, too late for the American. Especially considering that Oosthuizen, Morikawa and Spieth will also have these opportunities down the stretch. Low scoring is certainly possible, as Koepka is showing.
THE OPEN 2021: ROSE +7 AT THE TURN
Back-to-back bogeys at 8 and 9 completes a horrid front nine for Justin Rose, who makes it to the turn in 42. He started the day at -3 but is now near the back of the field at +4 overall.
John Rahm gets his round underway alongside Scottie Scheffler. The Spaniard is five shots off the pace at -7, so a fast start will be required to put the pressure on Oosthuizen.
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