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: Kim soars to an eagle
Kim -4 (5)
Tom Kim taking advantage of the par-five 5th hole in some style. He cremates his first two shots to leave him about 12 feet for eagle and rolls it in.
He bogeyed holes 1 and 2 but a birdie at 4 and that eagle now has him one-under for his round and up to -4 for the tournament. That’s in the top 10
The Open 2023: Leaders up and running as Young bogeys
Harman -12 (1), Young -6 (1)
The final group of the day are now out on the course (where it’s still wet and windy). Brian Harman has a five-stroke lead to defend and he makes the perfect start. Tee shot finds the fairway, second is on the dancefloor and two putts from 60 feet does the business
Cameron Young will be looking to hunt his playing partner down but he has a disaster. He duffs a chip short of the green with his third shot and it rolls back towards him. From there, he can only make bogey. Harman’s lead up to six shots...
The Open 2023: Hovland drops back
Hovalnd -4 (1), Rahm -6 (1)
Viktor Hovland drops a shot at the 1st. His iron from the fairway ended left of the green and the subsequent putt left him 15 feet for par, which he couldn’t hole. He’s back to -4. Playing partner Jon Rahm safely in for par to stay at six-under
The Open 2023: Monster putts from McIlroy and Fitzpatrick
Here are those monster putts from Rory McIlroy and Alex Fitzpatrick a little while ago. Anything you can do...
The Open 2023: Rory rocking and rolling
McIlroy -6 (5)
Well, well, well... Rory McIlroy is on an absolute heater here. Birdies at the 3rd and 4th are followed with another at the par-five 5th!
Finds the edge of the left rough with his first shot, just short of the green with his second and then a lovely chip enables the up and down to be made. Third birdie on the spin and he’s at -6, six strokes back...
The Open 2023: Fleetwood scrambles par as Rahm and Hovland get going
Fleetwood -5 (1), Rahm -6, Hovland -5
It was pretty hairy for Tommy Fleetwood on the 1st but he scrambles par. Tee shot found the rough, second shot found the bunker but the up and down keeps him at -5.
Our penultimate group are now out on the course. Jon Rahm’s tee shot is into the left rough but his second skids forward and is on the green. Playing partner Viktor Hovland is on the fairway but misses the green just right. Up and down needed. Can they chase down Brian Harman?
The Open 2023: Back-to-back birdies for McIlroy
McIlroy -5 (4)
It was an electric start yesterday and McIlroy is doing it again as he flies a dart in the fourth. A birdie follows and he’s now up to -5. He couldn’t could he?
The Open 2023: Electric start for Alex Fitzpatrick
A Fitzpatrick -5 (1)
Well it was 50-feet putt from McIlroy on the third but Alex Fitzpatrick betters him with a 70-footer on the first go move alongsdie Fleetwood at -5. What a star.
The Open 2023: Monster birdie for McIlroy
McIlroy -4 (3)
Where was that yesterday? 50-foot birdie on the third and he gets going early on.
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