There is more to come from Collin.
Jordan Spieth missed out in the end.
Congratulations to Collin Morikawa, then, on his first Open title and his second major championship! Commiserations to Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and Louis Oosthuizen, who ran him close. Ewan Murray’s verdict has landed; click below. Meanwhile, thanks for reading this blog. See you again at St Andrews for the 150th Open this time next year? Hope so!
-15: Morikawa
-13: Spieth
-11: Rahm, Oosthuizen
-9: Frittelli
-8: Koepka, Hughes
-7: D Johnson, MacIntyre, Berger, Scheffler
-6: Hovland, Grillo, Lowry
-5: Finau, Casey, Siem, Conners
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Morikawa becomes only the sixth player to shoot four rounds under 70 at the Open. His rounds of 67, 64, 68 and 66 put him on an elite list that includes Greg Norman (1993), Nick Price (1994), Tiger Woods (2000), Henrik Stenson (2016) and Jordan Spieth (2017). He’s also third on the all-time lists of fewest career starts to win a second major. His two-from-eight record equals that of Bobby Jones, and is only bettered by Gene Sarazen (four) and Walter Hagen (six). This is not bad company to be keeping.
In the end, Collin Morikawa glided home, able to soak up the atmosphere as he came down 18, the job done. But he was made to work for the luxury. He stayed patient over the opening stretch, then put the pedal to the floor with three consecutive birdies just before the turn. He never let it slip from there, with two astonishing up-and-downs from greenside cabbage, at 10 and 15, as impressive and as important as anything we’ve seen all week. His score of 265 breaks the record at Royal St George’s, previously held by Greg Norman (267 in 1992).
We have words ... but we also have pictures. Our award-winning photographer Tom Jenkins was at Royal St George’s all week. Here’s the story of Sandwich as seen through his lens.
As for the fans, he says with a smile: “I would say they weren’t cheering for me as much as they were for Louis! But they are the best. You walk up to tees, they’re cheering you on. You hit a really good shot out of the rough, they cheer, because they understand how hard golf is. It’s an amazing thing to have.”
What’s the secret of winning major championships on debut, something he’s now done twice? “I wish I had an answer! And if I did, I promise you I would not be telling you! I’ve had belief in myself since day one that I can do it. When I come to tournaments I’ve never played, styles of golf I’ve never played, I do my work. I do my homework Monday through Wednesday to make sure I know what I need to do. Last week at the Scottish Open was a huge learning experience for me, and I put it all together, and thankfully it all paid off this week.”
Collin Morikawa, Champion Golfer of the Year, talks to Sky Sports: “It’s amazing. I tell everyone I’m not the biggest history guy, but I want to add myself to history and make memories for myself. To be holding the Claret Jug is one of the best memories I’ll have in my lifetime. This was the best experience, the most amazing fans, everything about this week was very special. And to cap it off on my caddy’s birthday, on the Sunday, is even more special!”
Morikawa poses for photos with his new Jug. It’s something to celebrate all right. He’s the tenth player to win the Open on debut, following Willie Park Sr. (1860), Tom Kidd (1873), Mungo Park (1874), Jock Hutchison (1921), Denny Shute (1933), Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Lema (1964), Tom Watson (1975) and Ben Curtis (here in 2003).
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Morikawa thanks his family and his partner. “I can feel the love. I hope I can see you soon.” Then props to his his caddy JJ Jakovac, 39 years old today. “Everyone wish him happy birthday!” The gallery breaks out into impromptu song, which Morikawa conducts with a smile. Then some feelgood Californian stuff: “I’m sure a lot of you are with friends, someone close to you. Just look over at them right now and say thank you. We are all so honoured to be here. Let’s keep it going.”
The winner of the Gold Medal, and the Champion Golfer of the Year, is Collin Morikawa! The 24-year-old from LA comes out of the shadows to collect the Claret Jug and hoist it into the sky. “Good evening everyone!” His first act as the new Open champion is to congratulate Schmid and predict great things for him. Then onto more pressing matters: “This is by far one of the best moments of my life. To see everyone out there, looking at all these fans. Let’s hear it for you guys, you have been amazing.” What a showman.
The leading amateur and winner of the Silver Medal comes out to claim his prize. Matthias Schmid shot a 65 on Friday, on his way to a final total of +2 for the week. He’ll be teeing it up as a professional next week at the Wales Open. Best of luck to the 23-year-old German!
Morikawa also won last year’s PGA on debut! This has been some way to announce yourself to major-championship golf! He’s a special talent. An unbelievable showcase of iron play, scrambling ... and putting, which isn’t reckoned to be his strongest suit. Well, he kept pouring them in today, again and again. One of the great final rounds. The presentation ceremony coming up!
Morikawa raises two arms in triumph as he basks in the applause. But there’s some admin to do. As Morikawa makes his way to the scorer’s hut, Jon Rahm stops to offer his congratulations. A huge bear hug. He deserves it. A wonderful closing round of 66, with the highlights arguably those two outrageous up and downs from thick filth, at 10 and 15. The field came at him hard, but he repelled every attack. He’s won the Open on debut, just as Ben Curtis did at this very course back in 2003!
Morikawa wins the Open!
Collin Morikawa taps in for par! A final round of 66, and he’s the Open champion! The Sandwich gallery roars! He allows a gentle smile to play across his face, punches the air a couple of times, embraces his caddy, then offers sincere commiserations to Louis Oosthuizen. What a performance by the new Champion Golfer of the Year!
-15: Morikawa (F)
-13: Spieth (F)
-11: Rahm (F), Oosthuizen (F)
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Morikawa to putt first. He nearly drains his birdie effort, but a tap-in awaits. Before he takes it, Oosthuizen takes two putts for his par. It’s a 71. Warm applause as he misses out narrowly again, but he was never quite on it today. That opening round of 64 seems an awfully long time ago. And then ...
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Morikawa experiences the dream they all dream of. Boy versus girl in the World Series of love. The walk up the 18th on Sunday at the Open, soaking up the love of the gallery, knowing the job is pretty much done! While we’re in the business of quoting 1980s pop, on Sky, Nick Faldo references Frankie Goes To Hollywood: “Shooting stars never stop, even when they reach the top.” Slightly surreal, but then again, the Collin Morikawa is about to enter the Pleasuredome.
The engraver is already attacking the base of the Claret Jug with his trusty burin. It’s tradition to give the new Champion Golfer his prize with his name already on it. There’s no risk being taken here, because Collin Morikawa, 2021 champion in waiting, has found the green in two. He’ll have three putts from 25 feet for the Open!
No time for heroics. Morikawa draws his 3-wood and splits the fairway. Oosthuizen bashes a frustrated drive down the track. It’s going to be another near miss. All that’s left for the 2010 champ is a chance to grab third spot for himself, which he’ll do if he makes birdie.
Two putts for Collin Morikawa on 17. Par. Louis Oosthuizen’s birdie effort doesn’t drop. He knows it’s over. Morikawa is so close now. A good drive, and the young Californian is surely home and hosed!
-15: Morikawa (17)
-13: Spieth (F)
Can Spieth give Morikawa something to think about? He prowls around his putt, which may be more like 30 feet, looking again. It’s got a huge right-to-left break, and he doesn’t give it enough. It dies off to the left, taking with it his chances. Par gives him a final-day 66 and he might have nightmares about that tiddler he missed on 18 last night. He’s -13, and as the crowd give him some love, he applauds the gallery to give some back.
Spieth’s drive at 18 squirts into the second cut down the left. His chances of putting some scoreboard pressure on Morikawa decrease accordingly. But he cops a decent lie, and is able to force his second into the front of the green, links-style, bumping it through to the back right. He’ll have a 20-foot look for birdie. Meanwhile back on 17, Morikawa showcases some links skills of his own, bumping his second into the front of the green. No point taking any chances now.
Rahm can’t make his birdie. The putt is always dying to the left, and the US Open champion comes up a little short. A 66 today. That extremely flat opening round of 71 cost him in the end. He’s the new clubhouse leader at -11, for what that’s worth. A 71 for Scottie Scheffler, and he’s -7. That’s some debut performance ... though not quite as good as Morikawa, who, it’s so easy to forget, is also playing in his first Open!
Spieth can’t make his birdie putt on 17, the ball always destined to stay on the high side to the right. He remains two off the lead at -13 with one hole to play. Back on 16, Morikawa and Oosthuizen both secure two-putt pars. And up on 18, Rahm wedges his second to ten feet. He’ll certainly need to sink that one to retain any chance, and even then it’d be a slim one. Morikawa so close to his second major.
-15: Morikawa (16)
-13: Spieth (17)
-11: Rahm (17), Oosthuizen (16)
-9: Frittelli (F)
A closing birdie for Mackenzie Hughes. He signs for a final-day 69 and ends the week at -8. His partner Dylan Frittelli pars for a 68, and he finishes in fifth spot. Not bad seeing he only knew he was playing six days ago!
“I’ve hit it really well. That should be there.” Jordan Spieth gives commentary on his second into 17. His ball lands ten feet past the flag, and you’d think he really needs to make this birdie putt. Back on 16, Morikawa plays safe and finds the middle of the par-three green. He’ll have a long look at birdie; Oosthuizen, having fired straight at the flag, will take aim from 12 feet or so.
In it goes! Morikawa has a reputation as an unreliable putter, but he’s made some huge ones today. That was always pouring straight into the front of the cup, as cool and collected as you’ll see! He gives the air a couple of small jabs; he knows how big that save was. Simply sensational. That up and down may well have secured his first Open Championship! Par meanwhile for his partner Oosthuizen, and for Rahm at 17.
-15: Morikawa (15)
-13: Spieth (16)
-11: Rahm (17), Oosthuizen (15)
Morikawa, shortsided and deep in bother, opens up his wedge and swishes hard through the fescue, giving his ball plenty of air. It flops on the fringe of the green and rolls gracefully ten feet past. That’s unbelievably good from that position, with an Open Championship on the line! Nerves of ice-cold steel. Can he complete another absurd scramble, just as he did at 10? Huge putt coming up.
Morikawa doesn’t take advantage of his good fortune. From 200 yards, he pulls his second into very thick rough to the left of the green. He’s scrambled from this sort of situation before this afternoon. Can he do it now he’s a few holes closer to Open glory? Meanwhile on 16, Spieth lags his long birdie putt to tap-in distance for his par, while on 17 his old University of Texas mucker Dylan Frittelli makes a second birdie in three holes to climb to -9.
Rahm mashes his drive miles down 17. Back on 15, Morikawa flirts with two fairway bunkers down the right, but misses both by a yard or so. Lucky, but then he’s earned a break after that wondrous putt on 15. Then on the par-three 16th, Spieth finds the dancefloor but well short of the flag. He’ll have an outside chance of birdie from 30 feet or so.
Rahm taps in for his birdie on 16. This is really cooking now. Back on 15, Spieth, having found the heart of the green in regulation, pinches his nose in agony as his 15-foot birdie putt bodyswerves the hole, an inch wide left.
-15: Morikawa (14)
-13: Spieth (15)
-11: Rahm (16), Oosthuizen (14)
Morikawa is made of the special stuff! He rattles in the birdie putt. It never looked like missing! The climate was threatening to close in on the Californian there, but he’s got his retaliation in first! The birdie moves him two clear of Spieth again at -15; Oosthuizen tidies up to return to -11.
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Morikawa’s turn to chip up. His ball bounds towards the flag ... but it’s a little shy of energy, and topples back down the ridge running across the green, just ahead of the very saucy pin placement. He’ll still have a look at birdie, but up a hill from 15 feet or so.
Jon Rahm will be moving to -11 in a couple of minutes. He’s just sent the crispest of irons at the par-three 16th to kick-in distance. For a second, a truly sensational ace looked on the cards. One bounce more, and it was in. But it’ll be a birdie. Meanwhile back on 15, Spieth finds the heart of the green in two. And in other kick-in-birdie news, Oosthuizen sends his third to 18 inches or so. He’ll be moving back to -11!
Jon Rahm’s bid isn’t quite over yet! It’s three birdies in a row now, as he sends a tramliner into the cup at 15! The gallery goes wild, and there are quite a few possibilities now. Look at the sheer quality of this leader board!
-14: Morikawa (13)
-13: Spieth (14)
-10: Rahm (15), Oosthuizen (13)
Oosthuizen certainly looks up against it now. His drive at 14 creeps into the thick rough down the left. Morikawa’s tee shot sits up nicely in the semi-rough. And they’ll both have heard the hollers up the hole. Spieth, having landed his second just off the front of the green, gets up and down without fuss for another birdie! He’s just a shot off the lead, and this Open Championship is very much on.
-14: Morikawa (13)
-13: Spieth (14)
-10: Oosthuizen (13)
Louis Oosthuizen can’t make his eight-foot par saver on 13. The putt had plenty of right-to-left break, and he didn’t give it enough. He slips four behind the leader, and unless Morikawa starts making mistakes - and he’s shown no sign of doing that so far - the jig could be up for the 2010 champion. Another near miss?
-14: Morikawa (13)
-12: Spieth (13)
-10: Oosthuizen (13)
A disappointing bogey at 18 for Daniel Berger. That’s still a 68, though, and he ends the week in the top ten at -7. On 15, Jon Rahm whistles his drive down the right of the fairway, avoiding the bunkers. And back on 13, Morikawa can’t make his birdie putt, the ball shaving the right edge. He remains at -14.
Morikawa flirts with the bunker to the left of the 13th green, but his ball takes a kind bounce right and stops pin high. He’ll have a look at birdie. Oosthuizen wedges out of the fairway bunker, then sets up a very decent chance to save his par with a fine wedge in. Up on the 14th green, Rahm takes two putts for a birdie, but only after a chat with a rules official, his ball having moved as he went to address it. All good, everyone happy. He’s -9.
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Oosthuizen’s drive at 13 finds a bunker down the left. That’s up against the face. He’ll almost certainly have to take his medicine and chop out. Morikawa splits the fairway. Up on 14, Spieth plays it safe with an iron off the tee. Straight down the middle. The last thing anyone wants to see is one of the leaders slicing out of bounds, Dustin Johnson style. It’d be too painful.
Morikawa leaves his putt a couple of turns short. His first slightly jittery effort of the day. Oosthuizen can’t capitalise, though, giving his effort a little too much juice. It doesn’t take the break. But up on 13, Spieth strokes his birdie putt into the cup, and now there’s only a couple in it. A few twists and turns remain, no doubt.
-14: Morikawa (12)
-12: Spieth (13)
-11: Oosthuizen (12)
-8: Koepka (F), Berger (17), Hughes (14), Rahm (13)
The man most likely to succeed him, Collin Morikawa, spins another of his lovely approaches pin high at 12. He’ll have a look at birdie from 15 feet. Louis Oosthuizen wedges his second to eight. And up on 13, Spieth knocks his approach to ten feet. Three big putts coming up!
The defending champion Shane Lowry makes his way up the last. The warmest of ovations as his two-year reign as the Champion Golfer of 2019 comes to an end. He doesn’t quite hit his 20-foot birdie putt, but par gives him a final round of 69, and it’s been a grand defence of his title. He finishes the week at -6, just outside the top ten for now.
Oosthuizen tidies up for his birdie at 11, and that’s his first positive move of the day. A two-putt par for Morikawa. On 12, Spieth nearly chips in for an outrageous birdie, but he’ll be happy enough with his tap-in par. Bogey for his partner Conners, the punishment for finding a bunker from the tee; he’s -7. Birdie for Rahm at 13. And up on 18, a birdie effort for Bob MacIntyre slips by, but that’s a glorious 67, a second top-ten Open finish from two appearances, and surely a sign of things to come.
-14: Morikawa (11)
-11: Spieth (12), Oosthuizen (11)
-8: Koepka (F), Hughes (13), Rahm (13)
-7: Johnson (F), MacIntyre (F), Berger (16), Frittelli (13), Conners (12)
A little bit of trouble for Spieth at 12. His drive dribbles into the semi-rough down the left, and he’s not able to control his wedge in. His ball topples off the back and down a swale, and now it’s the Texan’s turn to attempt a Morikawa-style jailbreak.
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Louis Oosthuizen needs something to happen, and quick. It nearly occurs at the par-three 11th, in sensational style! He whips a long iron into the 253-yard par three, and for a second it looks as though an ace is on the cards. The ball clatters the flag, but doesn’t drop down, pinging off to the right. Still, he’ll have a four-footer for a birdie that will revive his hopes a little ... unless Morikawa drains the long birdie putt he’s left himself, of course. Rule nothing out.
Morikawa rolls in the right-to-left slider, and triple-punches the air! That’s a quite outrageous scramble from an extremely tight spot! This is one hell of a performance by the 24-year-old Californian, who is looking to win his second major in only his eighth career appearance. For the record, Gene Sarazen only needed four starts in the majors before notching his second, Walter Hagen six. Should Morikawa get the job done from here, he’ll be equal third on the all-time list alongside Bobby Jones and Jim Barnes. Some company to be keeping, huh?
Morikawa finally puts a foot wrong, sending his second at 10 into thick nonsense to the right. Shortsided, you’d think he’d be doing well to simply hold the green, but he manages to swish out to 12 feet. If he escapes this situation with par, you’ll be forgiven for thinking his name is on the Claret Jug.
Mackenzie Hughes is making a late run. Birdies at 5, 7 and now 12 have brought the 30-year-old Canadian - who did so well at the US Open at Torrey Pines before his ball got stuck up a tree - up to -8. Par for Bob MacIntyre at 17, having come inches away from draining a birdie putt from the fringe at the front. And Daniel Berger comes close to following up eagle at 14 with birdie on 15, but his putt stops one turn short. He remains at -7.
Birdie for the 2011 runner-up Dustin Johnson at the last. It’s a final round of 67, and how he’ll rue the first 11 holes yesterday, which he played in five over par. He ends the week at -7.
Morikawa drains a straight 25-footer on 9, and it’s three birdies in a row! He’s suddenly four clear, turning in 32 strokes! Except he’s not! Because seconds later, up on 10, Spieth rattles in a 15-footer of his own, and the gap is only (only) three again. Huge roars breaking out all across Sandwich. But just a par for Oosthuizen, and he’s played the front nine in 37. Not the time to go off the boil.
-14: Morikawa (9)
-11: Spieth (10)
-10: Oosthuizen (9)
-8: Koepka (F), Conners (10)
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Frittelli’s ball has disappeared into awful filth on the other side of 11. As he prepares to punch it out, he has to double-check where it is. Put another way: he’s standing right over it, yet he still can’t see it. The inevitable happens, and the ball stubbornly stays in the rough. He whips his second effort - his fourth shot - to five feet, and makes the double-bogey putt. That could have been even uglier. He’s back to -7 ... alongside Daniel Berger, who guides his second at 14 to four feet and rolls in for eagle.
Morikawa hasn’t put a foot wrong yet today. A patient start, with a quiet sequence of six pars, followed by a couple of drama-free birdies. Now he swishes his tee shot at 9 smoothly down the middle. Cool as you like. He’s 24 years old, with one major to his name already in seven previous starts. Oosthuizen continues to wobble, sending his drive into the fescue on the left. Meanwhile on 11, Frittelli becomes the second of the leading pack to thin one out of a bunker and over the green. Trouble ahoy!
It’s back-to-back birdies for Morikawa, as he walks in his short putt on 7. He’s now three clear of Oosthuizen ... and Spieth, who knocks his second at 9 straight at the flag, then steers in the 15-footer that remains!
-13: Morikawa (8)
-10: Spieth (9), Oosthuizen (8)
-9: Frittelli (10)
-8: Koepka (F), Conners (9)
Collin Morikawa turns up the heat on Louis Oosthuizen. From 200 yards, he sends a forensic iron straight at the flag, the ball bouncing ten feet in front of the pin, and rolling serenely four feet past. He’ll have a great look at birdie. Meanwhile on 10, Dylan Frittelli rolls a 30-foot birdie towards the cup. His ball stops on the lip, but it’s only teasing, because after a beat, it topples in for birdie. He moves into a share of third at -9, and it’s worth remembering that Frittelli only knew he was playing on Monday, when Louis de Jager tested positive for Covid-19. Talk about seizing the day!
Disaster for Bob MacIntyre on 14. His foot slips as he hits his driver, and the ball slices miserably out of bounds on the right. As it sails off over the fence, it surely takes all his faint hopes and dreams with it. Mind you, the young Scot doesn’t appear to have given up the ghost, and having reloaded, he sends his approach - his fifth shot - to kick-in distance from 120 yards. Just a bogey, and he’s -7. It. Is. All. Happening!
-12: Morikawa (7)
-10: Oosthuizen (7)
-9: Spieth (8)
-8: Koepka (F), Frittelli (9), Conners (8)
-7: MacIntyre (14), Hughes (9), Rahm (9)
-6: Hovland (F), Johnson (16), Grillo (16), Lowry (13), Harding (11), Scheffler (9)
Oosthuizen’s ball is plugged up against the back lip. He’s not got much of a backswing, and does well to hold the green with his batter out. He’s left with a monster two putts for bogey ... and does very well to lag up and limit the damage to bogey. But suddenly there’s a gap at the top, and that’s an ugly bogey from his position in the middle of the fairway. Spieth meanwhile gets up and down from the bunker to save his par, but it’s a bogey for Conners, who drops out of a tie for third; he’s -8.
-12: Morikawa (7)
-10: Oosthuizen (7)
-9: Spieth (8)
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A couple of huge mistakes here. First up, Jordan Spieth, from prime position down the middle of 8, sends his second into a pot bunker back right of the green. Seems he was put off by a camera shutter on his downswing. He’s not happy. “Did you hear that?!” Meanwhile real bother for Louis Oosthuizen back on 7. He’s in a greenside bunker ... and thins one out, straight across the green, the ball plugging in another trap on the other side. Before he can deal with that, Morikawa, off the front, chips up to kick-in distance and makes birdie. A huge swing coming up, Oosthuizen facing the mother of all damage-limitation jobs.
Rahm can’t make his par saver on 8, and he hands back one of the shots he’s just picked up with that eagle. His partner Scheffler, who had birdied 7, bogeys as well. They slip to -7 and -6 respectively.
Bob MacIntyre keeps on keepin’ on! He pours a 20-footer at 13 in for another birdie, and he will be absolutely cursing his front-nine 38 on Thursday. Since then, there’s been nobody better. One year soon, you’d imagine he’ll end Scotland’s long wait for a major that stretches back to Paul Lawrie at the 1999 Open. It couldn’t be this year, could it? Probably not, but, y’know, let’s not rule anything out just yet. He’s -8.
Trouble for Rahm down 8. His drive disappears into thick spinach on the left, and he’s forced to chop out. He wedges his third to ten feet, though, and will have chance to escape with par. Back down the hole, Spieth splits the fairway with his tee shot, but Conners finds the deep rough on the right.
Jordan Spieth needed something to happen ... and maybe this is it! He finds the green at the par-five 7th in two, and steers a glorious downhill right-to-left-then-back-again snake into the cup from 15 feet! And then Corey Conners follows him in for an eagle of his own! Back on 6, the leaders will have heard those cheers when making their pars.
-11: Morikawa (6), Oosthuizen (6)
-9: Conners (7), Spieth (7)
-8: Koepka (F), Frittelli (8), Rahm (7)
-7: Johnson (14), MacIntyre (12), Hughes (8), Scheffler (7)
And who’s this coming up on the rail? The 2011 runner-up Dustin Johnson, that’s who! Birdie at 14, his fourth in seven holes, and he’s -7, alongside Bob MacIntyre, who birdies 12, his third in six. It’s all bubbling up nicely now!
Jon Rahm is this close to making the first albatross at the Open since Paul Lawrie holed out from distance at 7 on the Sunday at Turnberry in 2009! He follows a booming drive on 7 with a 6-iron arrowed straight at the flag, nearly rolling into the cup, shaving the lip and stopping a couple of feet past. He tidies up for eagle, and bounces off the green, right back in the mix now after a slow start!
-11: Morikawa (5), Oosthuizen (5)
-8: Koepka (F), Frittelli (7), Rahm (7)
Spieth can’t make his par putt, and once again he trudges off in a despondent funk. Meanwhile disappointment for Koepka up on 18, as he sends a lovely second to six feet, only to lip out on the right. Par, and it’s a 65 that could have been even better. It’s a brave final throw of the dice, but -8 surely won’t be enough ... unless we’re about to witness a repeat of 2003, when Ben Curtis set a total here early doors then watched Thomas Bjorn, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh stumble back. It’s unlikely, on balance, and on that subject, both Morikawa and Oosthuizen par 5.
Spieth mishits his tee shot at 6, the ball apologetically dunking into the big bunker at the front of the green, the pin towards the back. He splashes out aggressively, as he must, and sends a fine shot to ten feet. But there’s a big par saver coming up. Before he can consider it, his partner Conners drains a monster and moves back to -7. And it’s back-to-back birdies for Frittelli, the latest at 7. He’s -8.
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Victor Hovland has a major in him. He finishes his week with birdie, and puts his name to a 66. He’s the early clubhouse leader at -6. Tony Finau is in with a 67, and ends his tournament at -5. And up on 10, an unconventional bogey for Shane Lowry. Having sent his drive into the thick stuff, his second flies into a pot bunker by the green. His ball ends up right against the face, so he’s forced to clip it backwards, into the heart of the bunker. It requires delicate hands and nerves of steel, but he nudges the ball gently to a position where he can splash out ... which he does to ten feet, then rolls in the damage-limiting putt! That’s links golf, right there, and a links expert playing it. He’s back to -6 though.
Morikawa pours it in. Oosthuizen tidies up for his bogey, and it’s a tie at the top. Meanwhile agonising missed birdie putts for Spieth on 5 and Rahm at 6. On another day, they’re dropping, but the luck’s not theirs.
-11: Morikawa (4), Oosthuizen (4)
-8: Koepka (17), Spieth (5)
-7: Lowry (9), Frittelli (6)
Oosthuizen opts to fly his chip well past the flag, using the bank behind the pin to send his ball u-turning like a particularly dim prime minister. But he doesn’t send it far enough up the bank, so it doesn’t pick up the required pace on its return journey. He leaves himself a 25-footer for his par, and he can’t make it. Morikawa meanwhile lobs high, but he’s left with a missable eight footer. Big putt coming up.
Oosthuizen and Morikawa both lose their approaches at 4 to the right. Tricky up and downs for the leaders coming up. Meanwhile on the par-three 6th, Frittelli sends a 25-foot right-to-left slider into the cup for birdie that brings him back to -7.
Spieth sends another iron off the right-hand side of a green, this time at 4. He can’t get up and down this time, and walks off with his head hung low. Not the start the 2017 champ was after. Meanwhile a bounce-back birdie for Lowry at 9, and the reigning champion turns in 33.
-12: Oosthuizen (3)
-11: Morikawa (3)
-8: Koepka (16), Spieth (4)
-7: Lowry (9)
-6: Johnson (12), MacIntyre (9), Frittelli (5), Hughes (5), Rahm (4), Scheffler (4), Conners (4)
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Pars for Oosthuizen and Morikawa at 3. All nice and steady. Bogey for Lowry at 8, though, and another dropped shot for Scheffler at 4; they both slip to -6. Also at -6, but moving in the correct direction: Robert MacIntyre. Birdies at 7 and 8 have taken Scotland’s only competitor this week to -6, and he’s currently on target for a second top-ten finish in his first two Open appearances.
-12: Oosthuizen (3)
-11: Morikawa (3)
-9: Spieth (3)
-8: Koepka (16)
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The Silver Medal winner Matthias Schmid will be turning professional tomorrow. He’s been given an invite to next week’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor, so best of luck to the young man. That 65 on Friday suggests the 23-year-old German certainly has a future in the game.
Rory McIlroy earns some sympathetic applause at the end of a scrappy week. Par at the last, and he cards another average round of 71. Inconsistent from start to end, though at least he didn’t start his bid with a quadruple bogey this year. Onwards and upwards. He’s level par for the week.
Yes, if Morikawa keeps dialling in those irons, he’ll be hard to beat. But his Achilles heel is his putter, which sometimes goes cold. He can’t convert the good birdie chance on 2, and remains a shot behind Oosthuizen, who steers his ball up from the swale with soft hands to close range for his par. Meanwhile another fine scramble for Spieth, who gets up and down from the left-hand side of the par-three 3rd.
-12: Oosthuizen (2)
-11: Morikawa (2)
-9: Spieth (3)
-8: Koepka (15)
-7: Lowry (7), Scheffler (3)
Ian Poulter rolls in a 12-foot par saver on 18, to great cheers from the gallery. He’s back in 33 and signing for a 68. File alongside his 66 on Friday, and it’s been a good week for the Buckinghamshire veteran. The 2008 runner-up ends the week at -3, and will be hopeful of a Ryder Cup pick after that showing.
Morikawa looks ice cool. While Oosthuizen sends his second into 2 down Spieth’s Swale to the right, he eases his approach pin high to ten feet. If he starts dialling in his irons like he did on Friday, the 2020 PGA champion is going to be very hard to beat.
You’ll have noticed Brooks Koepka remaining at -8 through 14. He would have been looking for something spectacular on the par five - eagle, in other words - to help towards the sort of clubhouse total that’d put some fear into the leaders. But he pulled his second wide left, then misjudged his chip, which ended up on the wrong tier of the green. Just a par, and holes really are running out now.
Three birdies in four holes for Dustin Johnson! He makes them at 7, 8 and now 10, and suddenly he’s back on the fringes at -6. Meanwhile the defending champ Shane Lowry isn’t letting his title go without a fight. He’s almost certainly too far back, unless both Oosthuizen and Morikawa crumble, but having birdied 6, he nearly eagles 7, having sent his second to 15 feet. But the ball stops one dimple short. Still, it’s another birdie, and he’s -7.
Oosthuizen and Morikawa both leave their birdie putts one turn short, and they’re away with fuss-free pars. Up on 2, it’s another bogey for Conners, the result of driving into one of the pot bunkers; he’s -6. And a fine scramble by Spieth, who gets up and down from the swale to the right of the green, knocking in another of those breath-shortening tiddlers.
-12: Oosthuizen (1)
-11: Morikawa (1)
-9: Spieth (2)
-8: Koepka (14)
Jon Rahm needs a fast start. He’s not getting it. He leaves himself a tricky six-footer for his par on 2, and his putt horseshoes out. He slips back to -6, as does Dylan Frittelli with bogey at 3. Birdie for the defending champion Shane Lowry at 6; he’s -6 too, and whatever happens, this has been a magnificent title defence.
Updated
Conners had left himself a short par putt, too, but shoved it wide right. Nothing is easy on Sunday at the Open. Back down the hole, Oosthuizen and Morikawa send their second shots pin high, one 12 feet to the right, the other 12 to the left. The first of many shootouts coming up!
The final pairing is out! Collin Morikawa and Louis Oosthuizen are both sent off on their journey with wild cheers ringing in their lugs. Both have found the fairway with magnificent opening drives. Up on the green, Conners can’t get up and down from the sand so slips to -7, while Spieth takes two putts for his par. He’d left himself a tricky three footer, which in the context of his egregious yip on 18 last night, meant everything. One confident stroke later, it dropped.
Schmid wins Silver Medal
A bogey for Matthias Schmid at the last, but it matters not. A fine 72 today from the 23-year-old amateur, the highlight an eagle at 7, and he finishes the week at +2, four strokes ahead of the only other amateur to survive the cut, Yuxin Lin. Schmid is the deserved winner of the Silver Medal, his sensational 65 on Friday equalling the lowest individual round by an amateur at the Open, a record set by Tom Lewis here in 2011.
A two-putt par for Jon Rahm. Once he clears the green, Jordan Spieth muscles a wedge over the flag; he’ll have a look at birdie from Scottie Scheffler Country. Scottieland? Scottieland. Corey Conners carelessly dumps his approach into the bunker front left, though.
Up the hole, Scottie Scheffler can only hack out to the front of the green. He then clanks a heavy-handed chip 15 feet past the flag. Double bogey is staring him in the face, so he does extremely well to roll his bogey putt straight into the centre of the cup. Just the one dropped shot, and suddenly that won’t feel quite as bad. He’s -7.
The penultimate match of the 149th Open Championship takes to the course. Corey Conners, who shot a fine 66 yesterday, sends his drive into the first cut down the left. No drama there. Then it’s Jordan Spieth, who receives a huge ovation from the gallery, who know a thing or two about entertainment. It’s guaranteed with this dude. Spieth smashes his drive down the right side of the fairway. He looks after it anxiously, the eyes narrowing, and the ball jumps into the longer stuff. Only just, though, and it doesn’t look as though it’s completely disappeared, so he may have got away with that one.
The rough grabs Scheffler’s club as he thrashes out of the rough at 1. The ball flies straight left as a result, into the filth on the other side of the fairway. It’ll be damage limitation from there. Meanwhile Rahm demonstrates the worth of staying on the short stuff, by easing his wedge into the heart of the green. He’ll have a look at birdie from 20 feet, and this pair could be heading in separate directions soon.
Yet another birdie for Brooks! He clips an iron off the 12th tee for position, then wedges to six feet. In goes the putt, and he’ll be cursing yesterday’s front nine of 37. He’s -8, just four off the lead, but holes are running out now.
-12: Oosthuizen
-11: Morikawa
-9: Spieth
-8: Koepka (12), Conners, Scheffler
As Sergio departs, the Spanish baton passes to Jon Rahm. He needs a fast start. He gets it as well, bashing one down the track, roared on by a favourable gallery. He’s going round today with Scottie Scheffler, a major champion in waiting, surely. One day. Today? His drive disappears into the heavy rough. Up on the green, Dylan Frittelli scrambles his par with a delightful splash out from sand to a couple of feet. He remains at -7.
Updated
Sergio finishes up with a 66. He briefly threatened to get involved in this tournament, only to stumble on Saturday. Still, he’s showing signs of piecing his act back together, having embarked on an astonishingly poor run in the majors since his Masters win in 2017. Seven missed cuts in a row at one point, four consecutive missed cuts at another. He tied for 19th at Torrey Pines, and this finish will be more than respectable. He’s -4.
Koepka sends his drive at 10 into thick stuff down the left. No bother! He lashes his wedge through the fescue and into the heart of the green. He’s left himself a 10-footer for another birdie. But it’s the 8th green all over again, his putt a dimple away from dropping. He’d have probably taken par when watching his tee shot sail off towards the jungle, but that’s another good chance gone. So close to a sequence of four birdies and an eagle in the last five holes. The small margins. He’s -7.
Here’s where Rory McIlroy’s game is right now. Back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 ... but they’re only repairing the damage of double bogey at 10. Consistency a pipe dream. It’s now seven seasons and counting in his search for that elusive fifth major. He’s -1.
Updated
Another birdie for Brooks Koepka, the reward for screeching a wedge to a halt, three feet from the flag at 9. He’s out in 31, with the theoretically easier back nine still to come! Such a shame this Brooks didn’t turn up yesterday, when his expected Moving Day charge failed to materialise. He’s now -7, and we might as well remind ourselves how things stand at the top before it all gets going during the next hour.
-12: Oosthuizen
-11: Morikawa
-9: Spieth
-8: Conners, Scheffler
-7: Koepka (9), Rahm, Hughes, Frittelli
A final-day 71 for Yuxin Lin. The six-foot 20-year-old amateur was described in commentary earlier this week as China’s answer to Brooks Koepka, so he’ll certainly be one to keep an eye on. He made it through to the weekend with a staunch up-and-down from a bunker at 18 on Friday night, so he’s certainly got the moxie. He ends the week at +6, though is unlikely to win the Silver Medal, as the only other amateur to survive the cut, 23-year-old German Matthias Schmid, is currently +1 with just four holes left to play, an eagle at 7 the highlight of his round.
Brooks Koepka hasn’t brought his best stuff this week. He’s going down fighting, though. Birdie at 6, eagle at the generous 7th, and he should have made birdie at 8, but his six-foot putt lipped out. He’s -6. Also locking into a groove all too late: Sergio Garcia. Our flawed hero was out in 34, and is now illustrating the slightly easier nature of the back nine: birdies at 10, 13 and 14 have whistled him up to -4.
It’ll happen in a major for Schauffele sometime, surely; then again, I’ve been saying that on these blogs about Rickie Fowler for years. It’s been a decade since Rickie’s first top-ten finish at a major - a tie for fifth here in 2011, the same year the Golf Boys dropped their first track. Ten years down the line, those pretty boy-band features have matured, and he’s now rocking a Vic Colfari look. Anyway, he’s shot 65 today as well, a swashbuckling round that included an eagle at 7. He ends his week at +1. Having finished in the top ten at the PGA earlier this year, it’s good to see him trending in the right direction again after a difficult couple of years.
Also in with a 65: Xander Schauffele. The 27-year-old from San Diego never got properly going this week, which is something of a surprise given his record in the majors. No wins yet, but nine top-ten finishes in his previous 17 starts, including a tie for second at Carnoustie in 2018. His fine round today sweeps him up the standings to -3, but nowhere near the top ten this time. If Day Four Xander rocks up at the start next year, watch out St Andrews!
Updated
Conditions are favourable, then, and though there are a few tricky pin positions, there’s a score out there. Illustrating this: the 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who finishes his topsy-turvy tournament with his best round of the week: a blemish free 65 that brings him to -2. He’s on record this week admitting he’s yet to figure out links golf; perhaps he’s sorted a few things out today, away from the heat of battle. If Day Four Bryson rocks up at the start next year, watch out St Andrews!
Updated
It’s very warm at Royal St George’s. Dry, sunny and hot, a balmy 28°C. The wind isn’t doing much; a light northerly breeze of 3-6 mph, turning easterly later, gusting 6-10 mph. The UV levels are very high, so if you’re out on the links today, drink plenty of water with your Sandwich.
Preamble
Winning the Open is never easy. Take yesterday afternoon’s action as an example. Louis Oosthuizen, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth all took turns at the top of the leader board; they all took turns to suffer walloping golfing breakdowns too, Morikawa at the start, Oosthuizen in the middle, Spieth at the end. And that was only Saturday! Whoever prevails today will have been put through the ringer.
Oosthuizen and Morikawa have separated themselves from the rest of the field ever so slightly. But the chasing pack retain hope of reeling them in. There is next to no wind forecast, and providing the pin positions aren’t too troublesome, there will be opportunities out there. Shoot low, post early, and you never know. Just ask Ben Curtis, who did exactly that, right here, back in 2003.
Anyway, enough waffle. Here’s how the top of the leader board looked after 54 holes ...
-12: Oosthuizen
-11: Morikawa
-9: Spieth
-8: Conners, Scheffler
-7: Rahm, Hughes, Frittelli
-6: Smith, Harding, Siem
-5: Streelman, Simpson, Berger, Lowry, Casey, Sullivan
-4: MacIntyre, Kokrak, Dahmen, Willett, Tringale, Grillo, Johnson
... and here are all today’s tee times (GB & Ireland unless stated, all times local, -a- denotes amateurs). Good luck confidently picking a winner, it promises to be an exciting day’s play. It’s on!
08:00 Kevin Kisner (USA)
08:10 Richard Mansell, Poom Saksansin (Tha)
08:20 Sam Burns (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA)
08:30 Yuxin Lin -a- (Chn), Brendan Steele (USA)
08:40 Jazz Janewattananond (Tha), Chan Kim (USA)
08:50 Richard Bland, Padraig Harrington
09:00 Ryosuke Kinoshita (Jpn), JC Ritchie (Rsa)
09:10 Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Chez Reavie (USA)
09:20 Billy Horschel (USA), Adam Scott (Aus)
09:30 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Xander Schauffele (USA)
09:45 Harris English (USA), Jonathan Thomson
09:55 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Benjamin Hebert (Fra)
10:05 Marcus Armitage, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)
10:15 Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Sergio Garcia (Spa)
10:25 Johannes Veerman (USA), Jack Senior
10:35 Matthias Schmid -a- (Ger), Lee Westwood
10:45 Max Homa (USA), Justin Thomas (USA)
10:55 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Ian Poulter
11:05 Rory McIlroy, Sam Horsfield
11:15 Tony Finau (USA), Daniel van Tonder (Rsa)
11:30 Dean Burmester (Rsa), Brandt Snedeker (USA)
11:40 Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland (Nor)
11:50 Talor Gooch (USA), Antoine Rozner (Fra)
12:00 Ryan Fox (Nzl), Brooks Koepka (USA)
12:10 Brian Harman (USA), Justin Rose
12:20 Aaron Rai, Matt Wallace
12:30 Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lanto Griffin (USA)
12:40 Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Dustin Johnson (USA)
12:50 Cameron Tringale (USA), Danny Willett
13:00 Joel Dahmen (USA), Jason Kokrak (USA)
13:15 Robert MacIntyre, Andy Sullivan
13:25 Paul Casey, Shane Lowry
13:35 Daniel Berger (USA), Webb Simpson (USA)
13:45 Kevin Streelman (USA), Marcel Siem (Ger)
13:55 Justin Harding (Rsa), Cameron Smith (Aus)
14:05 Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Dylan Frittelli (Rsa)
14:15 Jon Rahm (Spa), Scottie Scheffler (USA)
14:25 Corey Conners (Can), Jordan Spieth (USA)
14:35 Collin Morikawa (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa)
