The irruption (finally) of the rain in Hoylake on the last day of the Open allowed the most optimistic to dream of an exciting outcome to the tournament. As the day progressed, with the field and the players getting wetter, the conditions hardened and the leader, even with the score of majors at zero, could have felt the pressure and lost the wide advantage that had been built in the first three days of the book. What those optimists may not have taken into account is that a day like this Sunday’s also made the attacks by Brian Harman’s (36) pursuers much more complicated and that birdies were an arduous and complicated task. So it was. Harman kept the Claret Pitcher. The one from Savannah was as fierce and undaunted as he showed his face and ended up taking a walk in the rain on the way to the greatest success of his career, winning the British Open without any discussion.
History will draw Harman as an undisputed champion and he will not lack an iota of reason. With two PGA Tour titles to his credit, the last seven years ago, Harman earned his place in legend with a victory so comfortable he had no emotion. The American finished with a total of -13, six strokes less than Jon Rahm, Tom Kim, Jason Day and Sepp Straka (-7).
The left-handed champion did not feel the breath of his pursuers on his neck at any time. The attack from Cam Young, his party partner, did not arrive, as he had already bogeyed on the first hole. Nor was Jon Rahm’s, who fought as always until the end, birdie at 18 included, but whose putt cooled after his historic return on Saturday. Of course, despite everything, without having had his best tournament, he finished in second position after signing 70 shots.
Rory McIlroy did move more, the undisputed right eye of the British public, but who was too far from Harman to worry him. Also Tom Kim, the Korean, who signed the best card (67) of the top twenty in the standings to finish in second position, his best achievement in a major. Also the Austrian Sepp Straka, who was prevented from being second only by a final bogey, but who has undoubtedly earned one of Luke Donald’s invitations to the next Ryder Cup.
As was the case on Saturday, Harman committed a couple of early bogeys in the final day. This time, at 2 and 5. This last hole could have been a turning point, in which he sent his ball to the gorse (the typical bushes of a links), a situation that could have become very complicated. But he remained calm and took a bogey, which was followed by two consecutive birdies that dispelled all doubts.
But Harman not only showed solidity in the game, but his victory was forged thanks to four days of putting to frame, without a doubt, the stick with which he made a difference. His 105 total putts are the best tournament mark in the last 20 years. Thanks to that he is the Champion golfer of the year.
