Brian Harman recovered from a shaky start at Royal Liverpool to complete a dominant six-shot victory at the 2023 Open and land a maiden Major title.
The American hadn’t won an individual event since 2017 but turned in a masterclass in front-running at Hoylake to clinch the Claret Jug, the title of ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ and the $3 million first prize.
"I've thought about this my whole life, to be The Open champion is incredible," Harman said.
"I've got to thank my wife and my family back home. This golf course was a real test, it was set up so great, even in this weather.
"I want to thank the R&A for putting together an incredible championship, I couldn't be happier to be your champion.
"And to all the fans for all the nice words, I appreciate it so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Harman began the final round up by five on a miserable day in the Wirral and gave the chasing pack hope with two bogeys in his opening five holes.
Jon Rahm briefly got within three of the runaway leader but Harman did what he has done so well this week and bounced back with birdies at the sixth and seventh to reassert his dominance.
And from there he never looked back. A bogey at 13 was followed by birdies at the next two as he closed in on a mightily impressive win, thanks largely to his devastating form on the greens.
No lead is safe with Hoylake’s brutal 17th and 18th to play but Harman was composure personified as he finished par-par for a 13-under total, six shots better than the quartet of his nearest challengers.
Rahm was part of that four-way group in a share of second, alongside Jason Day, Tom Kim and Sepp Straka.
The Spaniard would have required another 63 to deny Harman but failed to build the momentum required as he struggled on the greens.
A shot further back, Rory McIlroy threatened to go on a tear in a last-ditch attempt to end his barren run in Majors.
Three birdies in a row from the third raised hopes but that was as good as it would get for the Northern Irishman, who tied with Emiliano Grillo for sixth, a result he admitted will likely be forgotten among his myriad of top-10 Major finishes.
And as for home hopes of a Tommy Fleetwood comeback, they were dashed as the Englishman once again struggled to take the chances that came his way before a triple-bogey at the 17th left him in a tie for 10th, fittingly alongside Hoylake member Matthew Jordan.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD 2023
OPEN QUICK LINKS
- Open Championship Round 4 Tee Times
- Open Weather Forecast at Royal Liverpool
- Open Betting Tips and Predictions
- Royal Liverpool Course Review
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Morning all, did you get a better night's sleep than Brian Harman? The way he has been playing, I bet he slept like a log.
FINAL DAY UNDERWAY
We are underway at Royal Liverpool! Well, the leaders aren't off until 2.15pm, in six hours time, but there is still plenty of golf between now and then, with the stand-out group being at 8.45, with Brooks Koepka and World No.1, Scottie Scheffler, paired together for the final round.
Conditions are looking gloomy, at best, so we will keep you updated on that. For now though, we have three pairs out on the course, with Silver Medal winner Christo Lamprecht, Scott Stallings and Bryson DeChambeau over-par
TEE TIMES
As mentioned, the leaders aren't off till 2.15pm local time, which is just under six hours. If you want to check out the times for the final day then we have you covered, with the full tee times here.
PIN POSITIONS
The pin positions for the final round of The 151st Open. pic.twitter.com/acirlP8yZYJuly 22, 2023
Along with the tee times, there looks to be some rather tasty looking pin positions for Sunday!
Early Struggles
Well, the course hasn't exactly been set alight yet, with Andrew Putnam and Adrian Meronk the only players level-par so far. Out of the five pairings on the course, eight are over-par...
EAGLE FOR BRYSON
Excellent eagle for the big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau! At the par 4 fourth, he drives the 366-yard green, although the group in front are still on the green putting... However, that aside, it's a beautiful drive from the American, who then converts his eagle putt to become the first player under-par.
SCHEFFLER CHIPS IN AT THE FIRST
Well, he's had a poor tournament by his high standards, but Scottie Scheffler chips in at the first to begin his round with birdie. Great shot from the World No.1, who is paired alongside five-time Major winner, Brooks Koepka, who has begun his round with a bogey.
DECHAMBEAU MAKES BIRDIE
Following his birdie, DeChambeau makes light work of the par 5 fifth, with the 29-year-old holing a six-foot birdie putt to move to -2 for the day and +3 for the tournament.
SHEFFLER'S CHIP IN
Scheffler doing Scottie things. Watch the world number one and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka as part of our Featured Groups.July 23, 2023
EARLY SCORES
Scoring certainly seems to have picked up at Royal Liverpool. Scottie Scheffler has just birdied the first to move to -2 for the day and, along with the World No.1, Marcel Siem, Bryson DeChambeau and Brandon Robinson Thompson is -1 for the round.
ONE TO WATCH TODAY
Playing in his first Major championship, Alex Fitzpatrick currently leads his brother, Matt, by two shots going into the final day. Yesterday, Alex shot a superb round of 65, with the 24-year-old currently inside the top 10.
SCOTTIE IS FLYING
Birdie at the fifth for Scottie Scheffler and he is now -3 for the round and back to +1 for the tournament. Where has this been for the first three days?!
SUNDAY WEATHER FORECAST
WHAT A SHOT ADAM SCOTT
Up against the face. No problem for Adam Scott. pic.twitter.com/8nDe5xaFPhJuly 23, 2023
Lovely shot from the best dressed man in golf! Adam Scott holes out for an eagle at the fourth to move back to under-par for his round.
SOLID FRONT NINE FROM MERONK
Adrian Meronk is currently blemish free for his round, with two birdies and seven pars giving him a front nine of 33.
WORLD NO.1 -3 AT THE TURN
Three birdies in his first five holes means Scheffler makes the turn in -3 for the round. Again, he has had opportunities for birdies, but the putter has let him down on the odd occasion. He's +1 for the tournament.
HOT STARTS
Both Alex Noren and Matthew Southgate have started their final rounds brightly, with Noren holing a chip shot for birdie at the third. Southgate, who is through six holes, has just made back-to-back birdies to get to -2 and level-par for the tournament.
SHEFFLER NOW -4
Scottie Scheffler's round continues to get better, with the World No.1 making another birdie, this time at the par 4 11th. He has the lowest round going at the moment, with Scheffler -4 and back to level-par for the tournament.
Alongside the American, Adrian Meronk is also enjoying his day, with the Polish star making a birdie at the par 4 12th. He is -3 and +1 for the tournament.
GREAT SCENES AT THE 17TH
Amateur champion, Christo Lamprecht, has made his way to the par 3 17th and, standing over the ball, he wants the crowd to make some noise for his tee shot. They respond with a chorus of claps and, as he strikes the ball, the big-hitting South African goes over the back of the green. Poor shot, but at least he's enjoying himself out there!
WIND GETTING UP?
The rain is currently holding off at Royal Liverpool, but the wind is certainly present, with it seen gusting up to 15mph at some points on the broadcast. Be interesting to see how it changes as the day goes on...
LAMPRECHT FINISHES WITH BOGEY
Congratulations Christo Lamprecht, who wins the Silver Medal. He fires a +3 closing round of 74 and will now wait until the conclusion of the tournament to get his hands on the trophy.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY, SO FAR...
The Silver Medal winner in waiting, Christo Lamprecht, is enjoying himself.He gets the crowd going and makes a beautiful save on the 17th.Watch the 17th live on https://t.co/uD88irbPY5.July 23, 2023
SCHEFFLER IN HOSPITALITY
Scheffler has missed every fairway, by some margin, on the back, with his tee shot on the par 4 14th going so far right that he is in hospitality... After a lengthy delay moving the crowds and taking a drop, he carves his shot to the right of the green and will have a difficult pitch shot coming up.
MERONK NOW -4
Meronk makes his fourth birdie of the day and moves to level-par for the tournament. He is playing some very good golf at Royal Liverpool this morning. On another note, the rain has arrived, with players seen donning their waterproofs...
HANDOVER
Well, that's me done this morning and it's now time to hand over to Roderick Easdale, who will take you through the next three hours before the final group tee off at 2.15pm local time.
Cam Smith has just teed off
It is his final round as Champion Golfer of The Year. He got a good reception on the tee and his drive found the first cut of rough on the right of the fairway. He is playing with fellow LIV golfer Patrick Reed.
Clubhouse leader
It doesn't mean much at this stage, but Andrew Putnam can at least tell the grandkids one day that he was the clubhouse leader on the final day of The Open. Another way of looking at it, is that he is T58 on plus five.
Famous Hoylakians
The first Englishman to win the Open was born in Hoylake. Amateur golfer John Ball Jnr. won the Open in 1890. Another amateur, Harold Hilton, who was as born five miles away along the coast in West Kirby (part of the intervening space between the two towns is covered by the Hoylake golf course) became Open champion two years after Ball. Hilton won again in 1897, this time at his home club, Royal Liverpool. He also won The Amateur Championship four times, and the US Amateur Championship once.
Of perhaps even more relevance to this blog, he was also the first editor of Golf Monthly, in 1911. The oldest golf magazine in the world, Golf Monthly has had only eight editors in its history, seven men and a woman. But after this Open there will be a ninth, as Neil Tappin is taking over from Mike Harris, Mike is a Royal Liverpool member, so this is suitable swansong for his 17 years in the editor’s chair.
Spieth and Homa tee off
Their tee shots hit the left-hand side of the 1st fairway, only a few inches from one another. They start tied in 18th.
Meronk posts a final round 67
A birdie on the last means he has gone 72-71-74-67 for the week and ends it on level par. He has clambered up 29 places today to T34.
At a Canter
Laurie Canter has birdied the 12th, his fourth birdie of a round that started with a bogey. This takes him up to T18, 23 places higher than he started the day.
Call me Mister!
In 1890, after John Ball became the first amateur to win The Open at Prestwick he was incensed to see that his name had been engraved on the trophy without the prefix ‘Mr’ that would signal he was an amateur. Professional golfers at the time, were of the lower, working, classes. His home club of Royal Liverpool agreed with him, and insisted that the Mr be added. It was.
"It wouldn't surprise me if by the 5th hole all of a sudden we have a horse race"
So reckons Rich Beem on commentary: "A triple bogey is not far away if you get it sideways and find some of this wet rough." The weather is wet and windy and not forecast to get any better - indeed possibly worse - when the leaders are coming down the back nine. But it still remains Harman's to lose.
Rory underway
McIlroy finds the light rough on the left off the tee. His playing partner Emiliano Grillo found light rough on the right. They start their rounds tied in 11th on -3.
Sponsors' names
Those logos and names on umbrellas are getting a lot of television airtime today. Those which are on players' shirts... well absolutely none. Everyone is in waterproofs today.
Rory reloads on 2nd tee
His tee shot went off left. He reloaded. Next one goes off to the left, too. He made a two-putt par in the 1st after his 4-iron from 209 yards found the putting surface.
Rory has found his first ball
He gets a good break. He now gets a drop of the path and in, well 'on' really, the rough that has been trampled down by the galleries.
One of Hoylake’s overlooked winners
Golfers have not been the only famous winners in Hoylake. On March 2, 1940 the Lancashire and Cheshire auditions of The Melody Maker talent search in connection with Jack Hylton’s radio and stage feature, Youth Takes A Bow “came to a thrilling climax at the Kingsway Cinema, Hoylake,” ran a contemporary report. “Every form of modern stage entertainment was represented – vocalism, instrumentalism, comedy and dancing. They all showed the typical enthusiasm of the young amateur, combined with the proficiency of the professional. The enthusiasm displayed on both sides of the footlights during Saturday evening was without precedent in Cheshire.”
One of the four winners was a 13 year old who had “put over a brilliant comedian act, which caused the audience to roar with laughter.” Interviewed by “a Melody Maker representative” he said: “My ambition is to become a comedian. My hero is George Formby, another native of Lancashire.” This 13 year old was Morecambe resident Eric Bartholomew, better known now by his later stage name of Eric Morecambe. The prize was an audition with Jack Hylton, in Manchester. At this audition Eric met the man who was to become his comedy partner for 43 years, Ernie Wiseman.
Birdie on 3rd for McIlroy
A 48ft putt drops to a huge roar. After his detour at the 2nd, McIlroy still made par there, despite his approach going over the back of the green, So he is 1 under today.
Alex Fitzpatrick birdies the 1st
A 73ft putt drops and that's only the second birdie on the opening hole today. The world's 561st ranked golfer moves to T4.
Sharma set for the best finish by his countrymen?
Shubhankar Sharma, playing with Alex Fitzpatrick, made par in the 1st after finding a greenside bunker. He is now in T10. The best Open finish by a player from India is by Jyoti Randhawa, who was T27 at Royal Troon in 2004.
“My career is developing well,” Shubhankar Sharma had said on Tuesday. “It is my 10th season as a professional. It is a process of learning - golf teaches you about the game and life. I feel that I have grown both as a person and a professional. I am so much better at dealing with situations on and off the course, particularly in dealing with pressure and expectations. I am sure that will help me this week.”
Sharma took up golf aged seven and, according to his father, an army colonel, “hasn’t put the club down after that - he got hooked and married to the game.” His mother's obstetrician is the father of Anirban Lahiri, and Lahiri had encouraged Sharma to take up golf.
Sharma’s father, Mohan Lal Sharma, says of his son that “he’s calm, composed, humble and down to earth, and thinks golf is bigger than him, therefore he is always improving.”
Sharma, is a vegetarian, which he admits caused him some logistical problems early in in his tour life - “not all the places we go to understand,” and that even after explaining he was a vegetarian, he would sometimes still get served dishes with meat in them “But the European Tour has been great in helping me get the food that I need. I've also gotten smarter about it. I travel with pre-prepared vegetarian meals, so if I find myself in a situation where I don't have any vegetarian options, I can just pop one of them in the microwave."
Growing up, Sharma hero was Phil Mickelson. He finally got to meet his hero at the WGC-Mexico Championship in 2018, He went up to introduce himself, but was brushed aside with a “not right now”. Lefty, not knowing who Sharma was, presumed he was a journalist. When he later found out who Sharma was, he apologised for his mistake.
There will have to be some D-rahm-a if Jon wins
And a lot of records tumbling, too. Rahm is six shots adrift of the lead, and only three Open champions have come from this far behind on the final day. Paul Lawrie did so around the infamous Car-nasty track of 1999 when he made up a deficit of 10 shots. Padraig Harrington, in 2007, and Els, in 2012, both came from six shots back. But then Rahm has been pulling back deficits all week. He was in T89 after his Thursday round of 74. His pairing will the next to take to the course. He is playing with Viktor Hovland.
That birdie putt by Alex Fitzpatrick
What a putt from Alex Fitzpatrick 🤯 pic.twitter.com/zoWjXJ4jMyJuly 23, 2023
Fitz bogeys 2nd
Having holed from 73 feet on the 1st, he has six-footer for par on the 2nd. It rolls round the hole and stays above ground. Funny game, golf.
Seven up
Birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes have shunted Rory McIlroy seven places up the leaderboard. He is now T4 with Fleetwood, Day. Rozner and Hovland.
Harman joins the final-day fray
He finds the fairway of the 1st tee.
Would Harman be a long-shot winner? Well, yes and no
Yes in that few had him prime among their list of likely winners at the start of the tournament. No, in that Harman is not long a long driver of the ball. He was in the bottom half of the field over the first three rounds for length off the tee, five yards under the field average. But what he is is accurate – only five men have better him for accuracy. He has found the fairways 69 percent of the time.
In this age of ever-increasing length and courses being overpowered, isn’t it great to see the subtleties of these aged links courses not being out muscled by the Popeye power brigade? Of all the Majors, The Open least favours the long drivers. In the past ten years, Open winners have ranked on average 37th for driving distance. The comparable figure for the other Majors is 18th.
"Terrible mistake"
Young elects to chip from the swale on the 1st - and his chip does not reach the putting surface and instead bounces back down off the swale. I am a member of a links course and know a few of my fellow members would have been watching that and thinking 'he should have used his putter for that.' He does use the flatstick for his second attempt to escape the swale and knocks it to a foot or two of the hole. He starts with a bogey.
Harman makes par on 1st
Textbook: hit the fairway, hit the green, two putts. His lead is now 6.
McIlroy's charge stalls on 6
His run of successive birdies ends at the 6th when he misses the green way off to the left. But he is -3 for his first six holes and is in the group at T2, six shots behind Harman.
Harman drops a shot on the 2nd
Harman’s approach ends 25 yards from the green, off in wet rough. His chip from there is tentative and comes up short and rolls a little further back. A 20ft par putt is missed and that's a bogey after a good tee shot. His lead is now back to five shots.
Drinking from the claret jug
It – and the clue is in the name - is designed to have claret in it. But it has had a lot of other things in it over the years. Cam Smith even had his morning coffee from it, which he admits was “pretty dorky”. Phil Mickelson, when he had to give the jug back in 2014 said: “I’ve loved having the Jug with me for the last 12 months. The people who know and love the game get a big kick out of it. They really appreciate what it means to hold such a famous trophy. And drink out of it. I only let them drink the good stuff of course. There’s been nothing in there that is sub-par. But the best was a 1990 bottle of Romanee Conti wine. It wasn’t on my dime thankfully. It costs about $40,000.”
Harman in tricky rough again
His 4-iron approach to the 3rd green bounces off to right of the hole and into the thick stuff.
"It's like playing out of wet mop"
GM's own Radar on Harman's lie. Harman gets it out onto the green but this will be a testing putt for par.
Will Harman stumble, will someone make a winning charge?
These and other questions will be answered over the next three hours by Matt Cradock. (As I type, Harman makes his putt for an excellent up-and-down on the 3rd.)
Afternoon All
A ball flight fit for The Open. pic.twitter.com/5MkWswApBzJuly 23, 2023
Thanks Rodders! The final groups have begun their final rounds and, already, I've seen a ball flight from Cameron Young which will be replayed for a while!
RORY -3
Rory McIlroy is mounting a final round charge here! He fires a -3 front nine, with a great chance at the ninth just missing to the left. He is in a huge tie for second right now, with half of the European Ryder Cup team involved, but Harman has just stuck a nice shot into the fourth for a potential birdie.
HUGE BREAK FOR RAHMBO
Jon Rahm pulls his tee shot left at the par 5 fifth, with his ball seemingly heading for the gorse bushes. Somehow, his ball finishes right in the middle of them all unscathed with a clear shot to the green! Striking an iron for his next, it ends up just off the dancefloor, with a good look at an eagle...
PROBLEMS FOR HARMAN
Harman hits his tee shot on an identical line to Rahm's but, on this occasion, he isn't as lucky, with his tee shot landing in one of the many gorse bushes. Likely he will need to take a penalty drop here, with the marshals searching for the ball as the camera pans away.
RAHM BIRDIES AND HARMAN TAKES A DROP
Is this a turning point? Harman is indeed taking a drop and, with Rahm two-putting for a birdie, we could see at least a two shot swing here. Rahm has moved to -7 for the tournament, just currently four back of the American.
BOGEY FOR RORY
Rory makes his first bogey of the day at the par 4 10th... Going left with his second shot, the four-time Major winner fails to get up-and-down, with the bogey moving him to -5 for the tournament, six back of Harman.
FINAL GROUP STRUGGLING
This is very clumsy from the final group. The par 5 fifth has been playing as the easiest hole today but, after Harman is forced to take a drop from his tee shot, he misses his par attempt from 11-foot.
Young, on the other hand, finds the bunker with his approach and, after he leaves his first attempt in the sand, he splashes out to eight-foot. Like Harman, he can't convert and makes bogey! Harman's lead is just three shots now from Rahm!
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT
Harman may have made a scrappy start but that putt on six is huge! He sticks it to 14-foot on the par 3, with the birdie putt never looking anywhere else as it drops in the middle with dead weight. His lead is back to four!
Cameron Young also follows Harman in with a birdie, he moves back to -6 for the tournament and +1 for the day, whilst Sepp Straka has made a move with a birdie at the ninth, with the Austrian moving into a share of second with Rahm at -7.
Straka Beginning To Fire?
A fortnight ago, Sepp Straka won the John Deere Classic after being on for a 59. Currently, he has birdied three of his last eight holes and found the green safely at the 10th. Is he the man to make a charge at Harman?
HARMAN GOES BACK-TO-BACK
Seriously impressive from Harman! He may have made two bogeys on the second and fifth, but he has just made back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh to get back to -12. He now leads by five from Rahm, who has just hit a nice approach to the par 4 eighth.
STRAKA JINX
Well, I must apologise to Straka, who has just three-putted from 40-feet at the par 10th. He bogeys the hole and moves back to -6, six back of Harman.
HARMAN'S BIRDIES
Back-to-back birdies for Brian Harman. Superb mental resilience. He restores a five stroke advantage. Follow live on https://t.co/uD88irbPY5. pic.twitter.com/G0XufExpMpJuly 23, 2023
Excellent putting from Harman, who still leads by five after Rahm leaves his birdie attempt at the eighth on the lip. Agonising from the World No.3, who remains at -1 for the day and -7 for the tournament. Meanwhile, Jason Day has just chipped in for birdie at the ninth to move to -6.
EXCELLENT CHIP FROM DAY
Incredible from Jason Day. Pitching prowess of the highest quality. pic.twitter.com/Wogo3eGibzJuly 23, 2023
VALIANT DEFENCE FROM CAMERON SMITH
Defending champion, Cameron Smith, signs off his final round with a two-over-par 73. He finishes +1 for the tournament and is currently outside the top-30, but that is a very valiant defence from the Australian.
WOW... HOW HAS THAT MISSED?
Cameron Young's birdie putt at the eighth looks in all the way but, at the final moment, it dives off line and lips out on the right side! Elsewhere, Jon Rahm has made a sloppy bogey at the par 3 ninth, with his seven-foot par putt missing the hole. He's six back of Harman at -6
FOWLER WITH A NEAR HOLE-IN-ONE
Rickie Fowler with an aggressive shot at the par 3 17th! Tucked on the right side, the American goes straight at the flag with his ball landing an inch from the hole. Surprisingly, it doesn't spin back, but that is the closest we have seen at the 17th today.
RORY AND STRAKA MAKING MOVES
Rory McIlroy gets his round back on track with an excellent birdie at the par 4 14th. Realistically, he will need to birdie the remaining holes to have a chance, with Rory -6 right now. Straka, on the other hand, has just birdied the 11th to move back to -7, five back of Harman.
INTO THE BACK NINE
Well, the front nine has flown past and we are now heading into the final nine holes of The 151st Open Championship. Harman leads by five from Straka, with a number of huge names within six shots of the American.
HOW ARE CONDITIONS OUT THERE?
If you're wondering what the weather is like at Royal Liverpool right now, ask Byeong Hun An!
That was miserable out thereJuly 23, 2023
RAHM AND HOVLAND STRUGGLING
Rahm has lost a little bit of momentum over the past few holes, with a poor bogey at the ninth being backed up by a par at the 10th. At the 11th, he has just pulled his tee shot left into some very thick rough. Hovland, meanwhile, has had a day to forget, with the Norwegian five-over for his round after three bogeys and a double bogey.
STONE COLD PUTTER
Yesterday, Tommy Fleetwood couldn't hole anything on the greens. Today, he has holed one or two putts but, on the back nine, he has struggled, with very little dropping for the Englishman.
END OF THE ROAD FOR RORY?
McIlroy bombs a drive down the 16th but pulls his approach left. Going down into the dip, the four-time Major winner is disgusted with his first putt, with his eight-footer horseshoeing out. It's a very poor bogey and you would think the end of the road.
GOOD DISPLAY FROM HOMA
It's well known that Max Homa's Major record isn't the best. This week though, the American has carded a final round -2 for a -4 tournament total. He sits in a tie for 11th, which would be his best Major result.
THAT SUMS IT UP
Tommy! After a dazzling approach to six-foot at the par 4 14th, Fleetwood misses his birdie chance to the right. That pretty much sums up the 32-year-old's weekend...
TOM KIM TO -7
Despite playing with a Grade One ankle tear, the 21-year-old is battling bravely. According to Nick Faldo, Kim arrived on crutches this morning, but a birdie on the par 15th moves him into a share of second at -7.
RAHM WITHIN FIVE
An excellent tee shot on the par 3 13th puts the World No.3 within five shots of Harman. The Spaniard is -1 for his round and now joins Straka and Kim at -7 for the tournament.
HARMAN KEEPS THE PAR RUN GOING
Brian Harman makes his fifth par in a row as he makes his way to the par 3 13th. Like yesterday, it seems he has somewhat steadied the ship following a poor start. If he were to go on and win, he would become the fifth left-handed Major winner.
HE'S MISSED ONE
So far, inside 10-feet, Harman hasn't missed but, at the par 3 13th, his effort from seven-feet dives across the face of the hole. Tapping-in for bogey, his lead is now four over Rahm, Straka and Kim with five holes remaining...
RORY FINISHES HIS ROUND
Missing a birdie putt at the last, Rory signs for a -3 final round of 68. A real what could of been round for the 34-year-old, who finishes at -6 for the tournament and, currently, fives back of leader, Harman.
BIRDIE FROM HARMAN & STRAKA
Harman's bounce-back ability has been insane! He finds the green on the par 4 14th and, from 40-feet, his birdie attempt never leaves the hole as it drops to get back to -12. It actually turns out to be quite crucial, especially when Straka holes his birdie putt on the 16th, with the Austrian moving to -8 and four back.
WELL PLAYED, MATT JORDAN
Matt Jordan, take a bow! The home hero birdies the 18th to much fanfare, with the Royal Liverpool member moving to -4 for the tournament. That is an excellent performance from the 27-year-old, who sits on the cusp of the top 10.
PAR FOR STRAKA AT 17
Straka makes par at the 17th, with the 30-year-old needing either an eagle or a birdie at the last to set a realistic clubhouse target. A group in front, Tom Kim has finished up his final day with a four-under 67. All I will say is fair play to the 21-year-old, who battled through ankle problems all weekend to finish inside the top 5, his best performance in a Major.
TRIPLE BOGEY FOR TOMMY
A horrid watch at the par 3 17th. Firing his tee shot over the green, Fleetwood is forced to chip out and, after chunking his shot, he then hits another fat into the bank of the green. Playing his fourth, he chips to six-foot before his double bogey attempt slides by. A triple bogey six puts him at -3 for the tournament and outside the top 10.
exhibition from harman
Is that the title secured? At the par 5 15th, Harman sticks his third shot to eight-foot. He hasn't missed much all tournament, with the birdie putt never in doubt as he rolls it in for back-to-back gains. He leads by five and is -13 for the tournament...
LENGTHY PAR PUTT COMING UP
Sepp Straka has made a mess of this final hole, with the Austrian needing to hole a 24-footer to save par and stay in outright second. This putt is probably worth about $400,000...
A MOMENT HE'LL NEVER FORGET
The greatest walk in golf for Matthew Jordan. A week the Hoylake member will never forget. pic.twitter.com/ce6kwxwpcIJuly 23, 2023
THAT'S EXPENSIVE
Straka can't convert the par attempt and drop backs into a three-way tie at -7. Jason Day is playing the last and, if he birdies, he will move to -8 and overtake Straka and Kim. Away from the 18th, Harman has just parred the 16th to stay at -13, with the treacherous 17th coming up.
SAFELY NAVIGATED
That's one of the crucial shots down! Harman finds the centre of the green at the 17th, with the American facing a 20-foot birdie putt to move to -14. This has been such a calm and measured performance from the 36-year-old.
SIGNING OFF
Well, that's me done for today and, as Harman rolls his birdie attempt to tap-in range, it's time to hand over to Andy Wright, who will be doing the shortest live blog shift of his life!
Six up, one to go
Thanks, Matt. Logging on for a hole and a half does feel odd but here we are.
Harman safely pars the 17th, giving him a six-shot lead with one hole to play. He can afford a 10 and still clinch the Claret Jug.
Young misses a four-footer to slip to -3.
T2 finish for Day
A solid day's work for Jason. He taps in at 18 for a par, a round of 69 and to finish in a tie for second.
I've already given Harman the win for obvious reasons.
Harman finds fairway on 18
If there are any nerves, Harman continues to keep them at bay. He steps up on 18 and pipes one down the middle. Greatest walk in golf upcoming.
Rahm closes with birdie
It's an excellent finish for Jon Rahm, who rolls in a brilliant birdie putt to finish at seven-under and in a four-way tie for second.
His playing partner, Viktor Hovland, follows him in to get back to three-under on a disappointing day for the Norwegian.
What a way to finish - Harman is the champion
Harman's third finds the bunker - some jeopardy? Of course not. He splashes out to eight feet and slots it for a comfortable six-shot victory and a maiden Major.
An incredible performance.
The winning moment
Mastery of the elements.Brian Harman claims a supreme six stroke victory at Hoylake.A magnificent performance. pic.twitter.com/Ic3HRsF5myJuly 23, 2023
A fitting way to do it - always feels a bit of a letdown when the winner closes with a dropped shot.
What a week, thanks for following along with us
That concludes our coverage of the 2023 Open. It was an interesting championship, despite Harman's domination.
Thanks, as ever, for your company. We'll be back soon with plenty of golf still to come in 2023. But until then, it's goodbye!
