Brian Harman weathered the storm at Hoylake (Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Brian Harman won the first major of his career with a six-stroke victory at the Open.
The American was 12-under heading into the final round at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, with a five-shot lead over John Rahm following the Spaniard’s course-record 63 on Saturday.
With a good cushions as a lead, the chasing pack were seeking early signs of nerves in order to peg Harman back.
The 36-year-old gave the pack exactly what they were after by bogeying two of the opening five holes on his final round.
But Harman refused to allow the slip-up become more than that, and he showed his credentials with birdies in the next two holes to restore his five-stroke lead.
Harman was sublime on the final round (Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
With Harman rediscovering his rhythm, Cameron Young, Rahm and Viktor Hovland were forced into riskier play and they fell away down the back nine.
Even the conditions couldn’t put Harman off, with the American holing a 40-yard putt to birdie on the 14th.
It’s a first major for the 36-year-old, who has won just two events on the PGA tour during his career.
Harman’s previous best at a major was when he finished tied second behind Brooks Koepka in 2017 at the US Open, having led the way after three rounds.
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He weathered the storm.
