Brian Harman defends his style of golf after clinching The Open

American Brian Harman claimed his maiden major at the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool with an assured final round performance.

Ben Smith

23 Jul 2023

Brian Harman defends his style of golf after clinching The Open

Brian Harman defended his style of golf in the immediate aftermath of clinching the 151st Open Championship.

Harman briefly threatened to unravel early in the final round, playing the first five holes in the pouring rain at Royal Liverpool in 2-over.

But the 36-year-old American, currently the World No. 26, got the strokes back and turned the screw on the back nine with some clinical putting and excellent course management.

Harman finished on 13-under par for the championship, six clear of a host of players who finished tied for second.

That group included former World No. 1 Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Tom Kim and Sepp Straka.

Tommy Fleetwood raised hopes for his maiden major victory through 36 holes but once again was left to rue a cold putter over the course of the weekend.

Fleetwood finished T-10 on 4-under, along with home favourite Matthew Jordan, who hit the opening tee shot of this major on Thursday morning.

Once again there was more disappointment for Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irishman finishing T-6 on 6-under.

"I just keep looking forward," McIlroy said in the immediate aftermath of ensuring his wait for a major extended into a tenth year.

Elsewhere, defending champion Cameron Smith finished T-33.

How it unfolded

Harman becomes the first left-handed player since Phil Mickelson in 2013 to lift the claret jug. The victory is just the third of his career.

Harman started nervously, making bogeys at the second and fifth holes at Royal Liverpool. His bogey at five came after he hit wayward drive into a bush.

Yet Harman wasn't flustered and rebounded quickly, making consecutive birdies at the sixth and seventh holes as others struggled to put the pressure on.

McIlroy had carded three early birdies to get to joint second at this point but a bogey after making the turn stifled his charge.

Harman dropped a shot at 13 which saw his lead reduced to four shots, but he immediately pulled clear once again by picking up strokes at 14 and 15.

His birdie putt at 14 was from 40ft. Then he rolled in an 8ft birdie putt at the par-5 15th. He played his final three holes in level par.

"I know it's boring and it's not flashy"

Harman, who irked some golf fans with his waggle and deliberate pace of play, told Sky Sports of his approach:

"I just doubled down on my process. I know it's boring and it's not flashy but until I hit that last bunker shot I didn't think about winning this tournament," he said.

Watch:

"Better late than never. I've thought about this my whole life."
Brian Harman reacts to winning The 151st Open. pic.twitter.com/eLSQUGPA0Y
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 23, 2023