Collin Morikawa has won the 149th Open Championship after holding off Jordan Spieth to win by two shots.
The world No.4 came into the final round at Royal St. George’s one shot off overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen, but ended Sunday two clear on 15 under.
Morikawa, 24, parred the first six holes, before birdies at seven, eight and nine put him in command.
While there was drama across the course at Sandwich, Morikawa put together a serene round of golf, with no dropped shots and four birdies in his 66.
Oosthuizen meanwhile, saw his attempt to go wire-to-wire falter thanks to a one-over-par round of 71 and it was Spieth that would prove to be Morikawa's biggest challenger.
Spieth, who lifted the Claret Jug in 2017, started a further shot back and after two bogeys on the first six, his challenge looked a long one, but roared back into contention from that point.
After an eagle three at seven, Spieth would pick up a shot on four of the next seven, to find himself one off the lead.
Brooks Koepka put together one of the rounds of the day and his five-under-par 65 set the early clubhouse lead at eight under.
There was also a spirited back-nine from Jon Rahm with the Spaniard string together four birdies on the spin to move closer to the leading pack, but had to settle at 11 under par for the tournament.
Morikawa then sunk a monstrous birdie putt on the 14th to re-establish his two-shot lead, before pars at 15, 16 and 17 kept his lead in tact.
In the penultimate group, Spieth knew he would need to birdie the last to put the pressure on the leader, but after missing the fairway he was only able to par, meaning the leader could bogey the last and still win the title.
That always appeared unlikely for the impeccable Morikawa and after an inch-perfect drive, he put the pressure aside to tap-in for par.
He now becomes a two-time major winner, following his success at the PGA Championship last year and is also the first debutant to win the Open since Ben Curtis in 2003.
