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:
Brian Harman cruises to Open glory at drenched Hoylake after rare putting mastery
As the rain continued to pour, Brian Harman marched towards the claret jug, dissecting Royal Liverpool and clinching a six-shot victory at the 151st Open Championship.
The American, whose nerveless final round of 70 took him to a winning score of -13, impressively blocked out the noise throughout a sodden afternoon at Hoylake. In fact, having vowed to sleep for 10 hours overnight on his five-shot lead, the unrelenting pitter patter of rain not only eased any nerves, it removed them entirely.
Psychology can often play a bigger role than the brilliance the world’s best routinely display with the club in their hands. Harman has confessed to feeling anxiety; the claustrophobic nature and pressure of professional golf has dampened his impact on the biggest stage until now after showing such formidable potential in high school and college.
Brian Harman cruises to Open glory at drenched Hoylake
The American won the 151st Open Championship by six strokes at -13 to resist the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy at a drenched Royal Liverpool
Thanks for tuning in!
And just like that the men’s major championship season draws to a close! We started with two high-profile victors, Jon Rahm at The Masters and Brooks Koepka at the US PGA Championship but ended with two unheralded first-time champions.
Wyndham Clark picked up the US Open last month and his fellow countryman Brian Harman got it done this week at The Open. It may not have been the tight final round we were hoping for but that’s a credit to Harman and his unbelievable consistency.
Elsewhere this week there were great performances from the likes of Alex Fitzpatrick and Shubhankar Sharma and who can forget local lad Matthew Jordan who punched his ticket to next year’s Open with a top-ten finish.
Thanks for joining us throughout this superb golfing summer. Until next time!
The Open 2023: BRIAN HARMAN WINS THE CLARET JUG
The 36-year-old claims his first major championship with his manner of victory sees him join an elite club:
The Open 2023: BRIAN HARMAN WINS THE CLARET JUG
Some thoughts from the American as he is presented with the claret jug.
“This golf course was a real test,” he said. “It was set up so great even with the weather, so to all the superintendent and everyone that helped put it together, thank you so much.
“I want to thank the R&A for putting together such an incredible championship. I couldn’t be happier to be its champion and to all the fans, to all the nice words and all the people back home who were rooting for me, I appreciate it so much.”
The Open 2023: BRIAN HARMAN WINS THE CLARET JUG
Here is the winning moment for Brian Harman:
The Open 2023: BRIAN HARMAN WINS THE CLARET JUG
Well, who would have predicted that at the start of the week? Brian Harman, the runaway leader was 80/1 heading into this week but has produced a composed performance from start to finish. The bogey at the last was just the second bunker he found all week which is simply remarkable.
He had the ball on a string all week and was inspired on the greens, barely missing a single thing he looked at.
The Open 2023: BRIAN HARMAN WINS THE CLARET JUG
Harman -13 (70), Young -5 (73)
Both opt to lay up on the last. Young finds the heart of the green and...at last! A birdie for him to move to -5 but a hugely disappointing final round for the young American.
Harman finds the greenside bunker with his wedge in. He gets it out to seven feet for the par....and what a way to end! He’s been putting like a man possessed all week and rounds it off with another great putt to save par.
And with that, Brian Harman is your Open Champion!
The Open 2023: Final-hole birdies for Rahm and Hovland
Rahm -7 (70), Hovland -3 (73)
A nice way to end for these two up ahead on the 18th. Rahm and Hovland pour some birdie efforts in to end on -7 and -3 respectively. Rahm didn’t have it fully today but it’s still been a remarkable fightback after how he started the tournament.
A disappointing day for Hovland who rounds off two over par for his final round.
The Open 2023: Harman safely off the last
Harman -13 (17), Young -4 (17)
If ever there was any doubt, Harman threads it down the middle of the fairway. Only a few shots away now.
Cam Young stripes one down the middle too. He’s hit the ball so well but has made the grand total of zero on the greens today.
The Open 2023: Day in a tie for second
Day -7 (69)
The Aussie gives his ball a good run at the birdie for solo second but it flies on by. He’s got work to do to save his par but no mistake and he holds onto a tie for second. Very nicely done as he continues his return to form this year.
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