RECAP | America's Brian Harman cruises to Open Championship title to bag maiden major

America's Brian Harman cruises to Open title

American Brian Harman won the Open by six shots on Sunday, claiming his first major title at a rain-swept Hoylake.

Masters champion Jon Rahm tied for second alongside Austria's Sepp Straka, Australian Jason Day and South Korean Tom Kim on seven under par.

Harman held a five-shot lead overnight and recovered from a shaky start to cruise to victory on 13 under par with a one-under final round of 70.

Not since Frenchman Jean van de Velde's infamous collapse at the last hole of the 1999 Open has any player squandered a five-shot advantage going into the final round of a major.

But the temperament of the world number 26 was tested early on the soaking Royal Liverpool course.

Harman bogeyed the second after a wayward approach failed to find the green and was then punished for a wild tee-shot at the par-five fifth with another dropped shot.

His lead was briefly cut to three shots, but back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh settled his nerves and stretched his lead as the chasing pack failed to make a move.

Harman's sublime putting was the key to his success all week and he nailed a huge 40-foot birdie putt at 14 before another birdie with a four at the par-five 15th set the seal on a remarkably composed performance.

- AFP

America's Harman in cruise control

Brian Harman tightened his grip on the Open Championship at rain-swept Hoylake on Sunday, maintaining his five-shot lead at the halfway stage of his closing round.

The unheralded American, who was never won a major, recovered from a shaky start to get back to 12 under par with nine holes to play.

No player has squandered a five-shot overnight lead going into the last round of a major since Frenchman Jean van de Velde, who collapsed at the last hole of the 1999 British Open.

But the temperament of the world number 26 was tested early on the soaking Royal Liverpool course.

Harman bogeyed the second after a wayward approach failed to find the green and needed to rely on his excellent putting to save par at the third.

He was then punished for a wild tee-shot at the par-five fifth as he had to take a penalty drop and made a six.

But just as he had done during Saturday's third round, when he overcame two early bogeys to card a two-under-par 69, he quickly responded.

Back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh settled his nerves and stretched his lead as the chasing pack failed to make a move.

Austrian Sepp Straka is the surprise name in second place, moving to seven under par with seven to play.

Jon Rahm shot a course-record 63 on Saturday to get back in the hunt for his third major after a frustrating opening two rounds.

The Spaniard needed similar heroics to up the pressure on the leader, but could only make the turn at level par to join a six-strong group at six under.

That includes Rory McIlroy, whose quest to end a nine-year wait to win a fifth major appears over.

Not for the first time this week, the Northern Irishman made a blistering start with three birdies in his opening five holes to move into a share of second at the time.

But four pars to the turn slowed his momentum before a bogey at the 10th ended hopes of a miraculous victory at the scene of his only Open Championship triumph in 2014.

Further back, world number 561 Alex Fitzpatrick looks set to upstage older brother and 2022 US Open champion Matt.

Playing in his first major championship, Alex Fitzpatrick was at three under after the front nine.

Matt Fitzpatrick, the world number nine, was four over for the day after 15 holes to slip to two over par.

- AFP

'Butcher of Hoylake' Harman eyes British Open breakthrough with five-shot lead

Brian Harman faces a career-defining final round at the British Open on Sunday as he tees off in search of his first Major with a five-shot lead at soggy Hoylake.

Cameron Young, the runner-up at St Andrews last year, leads the chasing pack, with Masters champion Jon Rahm, who carded a course-record 63 on Saturday, six shots back.

Unheralded American Harman, who was joint second at the 2017 US Open, has not lifted a trophy on the PGA Tour for six years.

But the world number 26, nicknamed the "Butcher of Hoylake" due to his love of hunting, has carved up the Royal Liverpool course during the first three days to pull clear of the field at 12 under par.

"You'd be foolish not to envision (it)," said Harman, who starts his fourth round at 1315 GMT, on the prospect of lifting the Claret Jug.

"I've thought about winning majors for my whole entire life. It's the whole reason I work as hard as I do and why I practise as much as I do and why I sacrifice as much as I do.

"If that's going to come to fruition for me, it has to be all about the golf. It has to be execution and just staying in the moment."

Not since French golfer Jean van de Velde's infamous collapse at the final hole of the 1999 British Open has a player squandered a five-shot lead going into the final round of a major.

Harman showed mental strength on Saturday, bouncing back from two early bogeys to card a two-under-par round.

But with rain lashing the Wirral coast, the conditions could yet provide a twist in the tale.

Rahm, Hovland find groove

Young, also seeking his first Major, shot a seven-under-par round on the final day of last year's British Open, losing out to Cameron Smith by a single stroke.

"With the lead he has right now, it's not necessarily going to be up to me," said Young.

"It's just really time for me to focus on myself and see where that gets me."

Rahm had a mountain to climb after rounds of 74 and 70 on the opening two days, meaning the Spaniard only narrowly made the cut.

The world number three showed his class on Saturday with six birdies on the back nine in what he described as his best-ever round on a links course.

Rahm will be joined by world number five Victor Hovland, who starts at five under, in the penultimate group.

The Norwegian, who also narrowly missed out last year, finishing in a tie for fourth, found his groove in a third-round 66.

Home favourite Tommy Fleetwood is also seven shots back, but his chance may have gone in a level-par third round as others made their move.

Further back, world number 561 Alex Fitzpatrick is aiming to upstage older brother and 2022 US Open champion Matt as he starts at four under par.

The world number nine is at two under, but has instructed his parents to follow his younger sibling in his first Major championship.

- AFP

Harman poised for British Open glory despite Rahm's course record

American Brian Harman shrugged off the pressure applied by Jon Rahm's course-record 63 to take a five-shot lead into the final round of the British Open.

Despite two bogeys early in his third round on Saturday, Harman, who has never won a major, bounced back with four birdies to shoot a 69 and move to 12 under par.

Last year's British Open runner-up Cameron Young is his nearest challenger on seven under after the American's third-round 66.

But it was Masters champion Rahm who produced the standout round of the tournament so far, picking up six shots on the back nine to keep alive his chances of a third major.

Harman, ranked 26th in the world, had pulled clear of the field with a stunning second round of 65 in difficult conditions on Friday.

But persistent rain that softened up the Royal Liverpool course for a day of low scoring provided the opportunity for the chasing pack to close in, particularly when Harman got off to a nervy start.

The 36-year-old had only dropped one shot in his opening 36 holes, but bogeyed the first and fourth as his lead was cut to two shots at one stage.

However, Harman's smooth putting stroke soon found its range as he got back to level par for the day by the turn, with birdies at five and nine.

Back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th turned the screw before an impressive up and down to save par at the last.

Young was only denied the Claret Jug 12 months ago by Cameron Smith's record-equalling total of 20 under par at St Andrews.

The 26-year-old showed his skill on links golf once more with six birdies.- Rahm on a roll -Rahm had narrowly avoided missing the cut on Friday following rounds of 74 and 70.

The world number three was frustrated by the brutality of Royal Liverpool's 82 bunkers during his first round and missed four short putts in his second as he sneaked into the weekend at two over par.

But he bounced back in spectacular fashion - missing out on matching the lowest score in major championship history by a single shot."That's the best round I have played on a links course ever," said Rahm."It feels really good, but it's a lot of work to do tomorrow."

McIlroy fades

Rory McIlroy had the mass galleries following the Northern Irishman believing he could end a nine-year major drought when he picked up three shots in the opening five holes to move to four under.

But the world number two failed to build on that momentum as he played the final 13 holes at one over to remain nine shots adrift of the lead at three under.

Home favourite Tommy Fleetwood also suffered a frustrating day despite raucous support from the locals.

Fleetwood, who hails from nearby Southport, was level par for the day to sit in a five-strong group at five under.

That includes Viktor Hovland, after the world number five shot a 66 to remain in contention for his first major title.

World number one Scottie Scheffler will not be adding to his sole major at the 2022 Masters.A one-over-par round for the American on Saturday pushed him to four over for the tournament.PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka is also at four over after a 72.

Only Rahm's record round bettered the 65 of Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

Alex, four years Matt's junior, is ranked 561 in the world, but will start on Sunday two shots ahead of his brother at four under.

Third-round scores on Saturday at the 151st British Open at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake: (GBR & IRL unless stated; (a) denotes amateur):

201 - Brian Harman (USA) 67-65-69

206 - Cameron Young (USA) 72-68-66

207 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 74-70-63

208 - Sepp Straka (AUT) 71-67-70, Jason Day (AUS) 72-67-69, Antoine Rozner (FRA) 67-74-67, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 70-72-66, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 66-71-71

209 - Alex Fitzpatrick (ENG) 74-70-65, Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 68-71-70

210 - Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 66-74-70, Thomas Detry (BEL) 74-69-67, Nicolai Hojgaard (DEN) 71-70-69, Kim Jooh-yung (KOR) 74-68-68, Matthew Jordan (ENG) 69-72-69, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71-70-69

211 - Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 72-72-67, Im Sung-Jae (KOR) 70-74-67, Jordan Spieth (USA) 69-71-71, Max Homa (USA) 68-73-70, Min Woo Lee (AUS) 71-68-72, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-72-69, Romain Langasque (FRA) 70-74-67

212 - Cameron Smith (AUS) 72-72-68, Corey Conners (CAN) 73-71-68, Stewart Cink (USA) 68-73-71, Rickie Fowler (USA) 72-73-67, Wyndham Clark (USA) 68-73-71, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 73-68-71, Alexander Bjork (SWE) 69-73-70, Patrick Reed (USA) 70-74-68, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 70-75-67, Xander Schauffele (USA) 70-74-68, An Byeong-Hun (KOR) 73-70-69, Guido Migliozzi (ITA) 69-72-71, Richard Bland (ENG) 70-71-71, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 71-73-68, Michael Stewart (SCO) 68-73-71

213 - Brendon Todd (USA) 74-70-69, JT Poston (USA) 71-73-69

214 - Alexander Noren (SWE) 68-75-71, Joost Luiten (NED) 71-72-71, Thomas Pieters (BEL) 70-73-71, Sami Valimaki (FIN) 76-68-70, Rikuya Hoshino (JPN) 75-69-70, Ryan Fox (NZL) 78-67-69, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 72-71-71, Oliver Wilson (ENG) 69-74-71, Laurie Canter (ENG) 71-70-73, Jordan Smith (ENG) 71-72-71

215 - Matthew Southgate (ENG) 71-70-74, Hurly Long (GER) 72-72-71, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 74-70-71, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 73-71-71, David Lingmerth (SWE) 70-75-70, Zach Johnson (USA) 75-69-71

216 - Kurt Kitayama (USA) 72-72-72, Thriston Lawrence (RSA) 71-70-75, Marcel Siem (GER) 71-71-74, Victor Perez (FRA) 74-71-71, Adam Scott (AUS) 72-73-71, Richie Ramsay (SCO) 73-72-71

217 - Brandon Robinson-Thompson (ENG) 71-73-73, Adrian Otaegui (ESP) 67-73-77, Adrian Meronk (POL) 72-71-74, Gary Woodland (USA) 73-71-73, Brooks Koepka (USA) 70-75-72, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 70-75-72

218 - Andrew Putnam (USA) 73-72-73, Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 74-70-74, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 74-71-73, Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 74-71-73

219 - Zack Fischer (USA) 71-73-75

220 - Scott Stallings (USA) 74-71-75, Danny Willett (ENG) 73-72-75

221 - Christo Lamprecht (RSA), (a) 66-79-76

- AFP

Rahm leads the chase of Harman at British Open

American Brian Harman began his third round at the British Open with a four-shot lead as Jon Rahm showed the chasing pack the way to surge into contention on Saturday.

Masters champion Rahm was in danger of missing the cut at one stage on Friday, but shot up the leaderboard by shooting the lowest round of the tournament with an eight-under-par 63 to get to six under.

The Spaniard moves into second place, one shot ahead of home favourite Tommy Fleetwood before he heads out with Harman in the final group at 15:30 SA time.

Rahm was left frustrated by the brutality of Royal Liverpool's 82 bunkers during his first round and four short missed puts in his second as he sneaked into the weekend at two over par.

But the world number three showed his class on a day when low scoring has been aided by heavy overnight rain softening up the course.

Rahm picked up six shots in his final nine holes to ramp up the pressure on the unheralded Harman.

The American pulled clear of the field with a stunning six-under-par second round of 65 to move to 10 under.

But the 36-year-old's temperament is set to be tested over the weekend as he aims to claim a first-ever major championship and end a six-year wait to win any event.

- AFP

How the South Africans are faring so far:

Thriston Lawrence, who is one-under, gets his third round under way at 15:35

Louis Oosthuizen is on one-over through 13

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is on three-over through 10

Amateur Christo Lamprecht finished his third round and sits on eight-over.

4 SA golfers make Open Championship cut, amateur Lamprecht set to win Silver Medal

Only four of the 10 South African golfers who started the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool made the weekend cut.

Hunter Harman becomes the hunted after taking lead at British Open

American Brian Harman is on course for the biggest win of his career after surging to the top of the British Open leaderboard, reaching 10 under par after his second round on Friday.

The world number 26 has two wins on the US PGA Tour, with the second of those coming six years ago.

But his form at Hoylake has not come out of the blue -- he has five top-10 finishes this season and was tied for sixth at last year's British Open.

The closest he has come to winning a major so far was at the 2017 US Open, where he led after three rounds before finishing joint second behind Brooks Koepka.

"I felt that after I won the tournament (Wells Fargo) and had the really good chance at the US Open in 2017 that I would probably pop a few more off, and it just hasn't happened. I've been right there," said Harman.

"I don't know why it hasn't happened, but I'm not going to quit. I'm going to stick with it and just keep after it, and hopefully it'll pop one day."

Despite an impressive year on the Tour, Harman's results at the majors in 2023 have so far been disappointing.

After missing the cut at the Masters in April he took out his frustration by killing a turkey and a pig in a hunt back home.

"I've been a hunter my entire life. I enjoy the strategy of it," added the man from Savannah, Georgia.

"We eat a lot of wild meat at my house. I enjoy butchering, and I do a lot of hunting."

There was no need to lash out on Friday, with rest ahead of the weekend top of Harman's agenda after a round that opened up a five-shot lead by the time he had reached the clubhouse.

Resuming at four under, one behind the overnight leaders, Harman shot into the lead thanks to three long birdie putts at the second, third and fourth.

At the par-five fifth, his approach shot hit the flag to leave a simple putt for a fourth consecutive birdie.

He then recorded 12 consecutive pars. But the best was to come on the 18th as he produced what he described as "my two best swings of the day" to set up an eagle. 

"I think when I held the 54-hole lead at the US Open, I just probably thought about it too much," said Harman.

"Just didn't focus on getting sleep and eating right, so that would be my focus this weekend."

Referring to Friday's round at Royal Liverpool, he said: "There were several holes where it could have gone either way. I could have made several bogeys on the back nine. "Just really fortunate to finish where I did and real pleased with it."

- AFP

'He did everything right': SA amateur Lamprecht impresses on 'surreal' Open debut

South African amateur Christo Lamprecht is the talk of the town after co-leading the opening round of the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

How the South Africans fared after the opening round of the Open:

Christo Lamprecht is on 5-under

Thriston Lawrence is on even-par

Ockie Strydom is one-over

Branden Grace, Martin Rohwer and Christiaan Bezuidenhout are all on two-over

Louis Oosthuizen is on three-over

Ernie Els is four-over

Kyle Barker is on five-over

Charl Schwartzel on six-over