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 [July 24, 2023]
By Martyn Herman
HOYLAKE, England (Reuters) -Unflappable American Brian Harman romped
to a six-stroke victory in the British Open as he held a
high-caliber chasing pack at bay on the greatest day of his career
at rain-drenched Royal Liverpool on Sunday.
The 36-year-old PGA Tour stalwart, an avid hunter back home in
Georgia, offered hope for those wanting a thrilling conclusion to
the 151st championship with a few early errors.
But the left-hander proved elusive prey for his bedraggled pursuers
as he closed in on his first major, turning the final day into a
procession as he plotted his way around the bunker-laden layout with
a one-under 70 for a 13-under total of 271.
Rarely has an Open been concluded in such appalling weather
conditions but the diminutive Harman did not care one iota as he
spurned the offer of an umbrella to be presented with the Claret
Jug, rain streaming off his shaven head.
"I'm looking at the forecast and then get out there and it's like
Armageddon, it was really tough," Harman, who will celebrate back
home by taking his new tractor for a ride, told reporters.
"I haven't historically done very good in the rain. It's just always
bugged me but I was really proud of the way that I struck the ball
today.
"Hats off to the fans. Damn sure I wouldn't have been out watching
golf today."
Few of the thousands huddled under a sea of umbrellas would have
tipped world number 26 Harman to win before the tournament.
But he proved that the old adage 'drives are for show and putts are
for dough' still applies as his magic touch on the greens kept him
out of reach.
Spain's Jon Rahm, Austria's Sepp Straka, South Korea's Tom Kim and
Australian Jason Day were tied for a distant second place with
pre-tournament favorite Rory McIlroy and Emiliano Grillo a further
shot back.
IN CONTROL
Harman had seized control of the tournament with a sensational
second-round 65 on Friday and never loosened his grip. He began
Sunday's climax five shots clear of compatriot Cameron Young and six
ahead of Rahm who had roared into contention with a course record 63
on Saturday.
It needed someone to shoot very low or a Harman collapse to make
things interesting and when the American bogeyed the second hole and
the fifth, after driving his ball into a gorse bush, Masters
champion Rahm briefly closed to within three strokes.
Harman's previous best performance at a major was in the 2017 U.S.
Open when he led by one stroke after 54 holes only to be overhauled
by fellow American Brooks Koepka.
But this time, with the largest three-round Open lead since Rory
McIlroy won on the same course in 2014, he responded to every
setback in style with his trusty putter again proving to be his
weapon of choice.
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Golf - The 151st Open Championship -
Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Britain - July 23, 2023 Brian Harman of
the U.S. celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 151st Open
Championship REUTERS/Paul Childs
Birdies at the sixth and seventh eased any nerves
and Harman reached the turn with his five-shot lead intact as
Austrian Straka and Kim emerged as his unlikely challengers.
Incessant rain dampened the spirits of those trying to reel him in,
although four-time major winner McIlroy had threatened to spice
things up with three birdies in his first five holes.
Once again, however, the Northern Irishman could not sustain his
charge as his near 10-year wait for a fifth major goes on.
Likewise, Young, Rahm, Day and England's Tommy Fleetwood were all
unable to hole the putts that would have at least asked some
questions of Harman's nerve.
SOGGY END
McIlroy's fire was doused in the deluge although his 68 was his best
round of the week. Local favorite Fleetwood looked like a drowned
rat as his challenge came to a soggy end with a triple-bogey after
finding the dunes at the back of the 17th.
Harman's third bogey of the day, at the 13th, opened the door ever
so slightly and Straka momentarily got within three strokes when he
holed his fifth birdie of the day at 16.
But rock-steady Harman responded to sink a curling birdie putt at
the 14th and when he rolled in another at the 15th the Claret Jug
was as good as in the bag.
The treacherous par-three 17th and long 18th could have been
nerve-racking for a player who had not tasted a victory of any sort
since 2017. But not even a Merseyside monsoon could rain on Harman's
parade as he enjoyed a victory march down the last.
He was denied a fourth successive round in the 60s but after rolling
in his par putt his poker-face finally cracked into a smile as he
bumped fists and embraced his caddy Scott Tway.
Shubhankar Sharma tied for eighth place to post the best finish by
an Indian at the British Open -- one of only 22 players to finish an
attritional Open under par.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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