adminST ANDREWS. – Cameron Smith stunned St Andrews by snatching the 150th Open Championship title by one stroke from Cameron Young, as Rory McIlroy finished third.
It is a first major for the Australian, who carded a magnificent bogey-free eight-under-par 64 that featured five successive birdies from the 10th to win on 20 under.
The 28-year-old had to roll in a three-foot birdie putt at the last to avoid a play-off with Young, who had moments earlier eagled the par-four hole to reach 19 under. McIlroy, who led overnight by four shots alongside Viktor Hovland, closed with a two-under 70 to finish third, while Hovland tied for fourth with England’s Tommy Fleetwood on 14 under after a 74.
Make no mistake, though, McIlroy did not lose this. Smith won it.
Yes the Northern Irishman missed seven birdie putts of fewer than 20 feet, including crucially on the 17th after a brilliant approach set up the three he realistically needed to give him a chance of catching Smith with the same score on the last.
But if you shoot a two-under score when starting the final day with a four-shot lead, you will win more than you lose.
“I didn’t feel like I did many things wrong, but the putter went cold on me throughout the round,” said the 33-year-old. “I did what I wanted to do. I played a really controlled round of golf. – BBC Sport
Online Reporter