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July 23 (UPI) — Brian Harman continued his domination at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, firing a 1-under 70 over his last 18 holes to finish 13-under, capturing the Open Championship for his first major victory on Sunday in Hoylake, England. Harman expressed his long-held belief in his abilities, acknowledging the challenges he faced along the way.
“I’ve always maintained the self-belief that I could achieve something like this, but it can be mentally challenging to endure the passage of time,” Harman told reporters.
Harman, who claimed the lead on Friday morning and maintained it throughout the tournament, displayed his skill with four birdies during the final round on Sunday. He secured victory by six strokes, earning the coveted Claret Jug and a first-place prize of $3 million.
Despite the rain and wet ground, Harman demonstrated composure, ranking as the 26th player in the Official World Golf Ranking. He successfully made 58 of 59 putts within 10 feet across his four rounds of play.
“I’m over the moon,” Harman declared. “The last three days were challenging. Getting a good night’s sleep was crucial yesterday.
“Leading the tournament as I slept was truly difficult… I managed my nerves remarkably well.”
Jon Rahm, ranked No. 3, along with Tom Kim, Jason Day, and Sepp Straka, ranked No. 24, 27, and 28 respectively, tied for second with scores of 7-under. Rory McIlroy, the tournament favorite ranked No. 2, tied for sixth with a score of 6-under.
Harman entered the final day with a 5-stroke lead. Although he faced setbacks with bogeys on two of his first five holes, he quickly recovered, scoring birdies on the sixth and seventh holes, ultimately finishing the front nine with an even par.
Following three consecutive pars, Harman recorded a bogey on the 13th hole. He promptly responded with birdies on the 14th and 15th holes. With par scores on the final three holes, he sealed his victory.
Rahm, who had a remarkable performance on Saturday with a competitive course record 63, made an even par on the front nine in the final round. He achieved two birdies and a bogey on the back nine, finishing 1-under.
McIlroy’s strong start featured birdies on the third, fourth, and fifth holes, earning him a score of 3-under on the front nine. However, he recorded two bogeys and two birdies on the back nine.
The PGA Tour season will continue with the 3M Open, taking place from Thursday to Sunday at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.
