The Open 2023 LIVE: Final round golf leaderboard and updates as Brian Harman cruises to victory
Harman produced a composed final round to hold off the likes of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood to win the 2023 Open Championship at Hoylake
Brian Harman won The Open in style as a nerveless final round saw him turn his healthy overnight lead into a convincing victory for his first major title.
The 36-year-old American won by six strokes after shooting a one-under-par final round of 70 in soggy conditions at Royal Liverpool to finish 13-under for the tournament.
His overnight lead of five strokes was never truly threatened and, in the end, there was a four-way tie for second place between Jon Rahm (70), Jason Day (69), Sepp Straka (69) and 21-year-old Tom Kim (67).
Home favourites Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy showed flashes of what they were capable of and looked set to close the gap on a couple of occasions but eventually fell away in the face of Harman’s mistake-free golf. His win was built on keeping his ball out of the bunkers and his brilliance on and around the greens. He missed just one putt under 10 feet all week on the Hoylake links to deservedly lift the Claret Jug.
Follow reaction from the fourth round of the 151st Open Championship at Hoylake below:
The Open 2023: One to go
Harman -13 (17), Young -4 (17)
17th coming up for the leader...and it’s no problem. Heart of the green off the tee and a confident two-putt for his par. Just the last to go and he’ll enjoy this walk.
Cam Young hits a lovely iron in close but can’t quite make the short putt. He remains at -4 after a bogey on the 16th - it’s been a poor day for him.
The Open 2023: Final-hole birdie for Fleetwood
Straka -7 (69), Fleetwood -4 (72)
Straka is in solo second heading into the final hole but it all unravels as he nearly goes out of bounds off the tee. The Austrian tries to scramble a par but misses his putt to drop back into a tie with Tom Kim. Still, a mighty-fine effort that could well have secured his place on the European Ryder Cup team.
And it’s a birdie at the last for Tommy. Only his second of the day and what a disappointing few days for him after his superb first round. He’ll be back but that one will sting.
The Open 2023: Round of the day from Kim
Kim -7 (67)
The Korean can’t find a birdie on the final two holes, signing off with a four-under-par round of 67. A real positive performance from the 21-year-old.
The Open 2023: Back-to-back birdies for Harman, leads by five
Harman -13 (15), Young -5 (15)
Could that be that? Simply relentless golf from Harman who surgically takes apart the par-five 15th. It’s an eight-foot putt for birdie and he’s never going to miss from there given how well he’s been putting.
One under par for the round and -13 for the tournament. Barring a disaster over the final three holes, he will be your 2023 Open Champion
The Open 2023: Triple bogey for Fleetwood
Straka -8 (17), Fleetwood -3 (17)
Oh, Tommy. That’s not the way to go out. He’s way long with his iron tee shot into the 17th and ends up beyond the waste area where Matt Fitzpatrick was on Friday. From there he takes two to hack out before failing to get up and down from the fringe. A triple-bogey six for Fleetwood, sucking any remaining live out of this home crowd. He’s done.
Straka gives himself a look at birdie but he’s effort just drifts by. That had to go you suspect.
The Open 2023: Birdie finish for Jordan
Jordan -4 (70)
Truly sublime stuff for the local lad. A birdie finish from the last draws huge applause from the grandstands as he finishes with a one-under-par round of 70. He had the honour of hitting the first shot of this tournament but never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he would have a week like this. Just outside the top ten as things stand - simply incredible.
The Open 2023: Solo second for Straka
Straka -8 (16), Fleetwood -6 (16)
The Austrian is the one making a move out of these chasers as he converts a six-foot birdie putt to get up to -8 and four off Harman.
Fleetwood? Well, surprise, surprise, it’s another missed putt for birdie. One birdie, 15 pars, just hasn’t happened this weekend for the Englishman.
The Open 2023: Harman responds with birdie
Harman -12 (14), Young -5 (14)
Bouncebackability, I believe is what they call it in the US. Regardless, Harman has it in spades this tournament. After a bogey on the 13th, the leader plays it safe out to the left of the green but it gets even better with a monster birdie putt that moves him back to -12 and even par for his day.
Young sees his birdie effort go by from far closer and his frustration continues.
The Open 2023: Bogey for Rahm
Rahm -6 (14)
The Spaniard is in trouble after he pulls his second left of the green. The ball ends up in the thick rough and from there, he can only hack out to give himself a lengthy par save which doesn’t drop.
Back to -6 at a costly time for the Masters champion.
The Open 2023: McIlroy finishes up
McIlroy -6 (68), Grillo -6 (68)
It’s a tidy birdie at the 17th for Rory but he can’t follow it up on the last. There’s trouble of the tee and he’s left with an outside chance at birdie. It’s a good roll but not to be and he finishes with a three-under-par round of 68.
In these conditions, it’s a solid effort but he was too far behind the lead after his disappointing rounds earlier in the week. Major championship season comes to an end and it’s another one without a major for the Northern Irishman.
Grillo also signs off with a round of 68 and he should be very pleased with his week’s work.
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