2023 Open Championship: Brian Harman clinches career first major

American Brian Harman rounded out a subliminal week of golf by winning the 151st Open Championship at Hoylake by six strokes on Sunday (23 July).

Harman topped the leaderboard at the Open Championships overcoming unrelenting rain and bowing out as a deserving winner scoring one-under-par 70 in the final round to clinch his first Major on 13-under par overall

Highlighting his dominance, Harman led the British Open for 36 holes with Masters champion Jon Rahm sharing second with Austria's Sepp Straka, Tom Kim of Korea Republic, and Australia’s Jason Day on seven under par.

Harman could easily have succumbed to the pressure stepping up to the first tee box at Royal Liverpool Golf Club with one hand on the Claret Jug courtesy of a five-stroke lead.

The 36-year-old Harman’s commanding lead was both a cushion and a potential millstone around his neck, with history beckoning win or lose. Harman was chasing his first victory on the PGA Tour since 2017 and his first-ever Major title. Had he squandered his five-shot lead, Harman would have matched Jean van de Velde’s infamous Open collapse at Carnoustie in 1999.

The nerves and the persistent rain appeared to take their toll with bogeys on the second on the fifth, which trimmed his lead from six to five and then to three. While Harman seemed to stumble, Rahm birdied on the fifth to get within striking distance.

Harman bounced back, carding back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh to regain a five-shot lead at 12 under. As the chasers retired to the clubhouse, Straka emerged as a potential challenger at the late stage of the battle, getting within four strokes of the leader.

But Harman would not be caught as he continued his subliminal run at Royal Liverpool, adding back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th to cement his lead.

Harman remained steady-handed through the remaining three holes to claim the greatest victory of his career.