Birdie blitz sees Cameron Smith win the Open

Final Round

Cameron Smith came through a thrilling final-round tussle with Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young to claim a maiden major title with a dramatic one-shot victory in The 150th Open.

Smith overturned a four-stroke deficit during a gripping final day on the historic Old Course, with five consecutive birdies on the back nine seeing him pull clear of overnight leaders McIlroy and Viktor Hovland.

The Australian then birdied the last to close an incredible bogey-free 64, taking him to 20 under and equalling the lowest 72-hole total in men’s major history, with the narrow victory his third of the season and set to lift him to world No 2.

The new Champion Golfer of the Year finished a shot clear of playing partner Young, who eagled the last to close a final-round 65, while McIlroy had to settle for third on 18 under despite a bogey-free 70.

Young responded to a close-range bogey at the first by making back-to-back birdies from the third to move to 13 under alongside Smith, who had birdied the second, as the final pairing of McIlroy and Hovland opened with three consecutive pars.

McIlroy had squandered a five-foot birdie chance at the third but moved ahead when Hovland made a three-putt bogey from 70 feet at the next, with the Northern Irishman making a two-putt birdie at the par-five fifth to double his advantage.

Young matched Smith’s birdie at the fifth and two-putted for another at the seventh after driving the par-four green, lifting the American to tied-second with Hovland, only for him to follow a 10-foot par save at the eighth by bogeying the ninth after taking a penalty drop from the bushes.

McIlroy made amends from a missed birdie try at the ninth to drive the next green and almost hole his eagle putt, leaving a tap-in to move to 18 under, only to see his lead cut to one when Smith started his back nine with three consecutive birdies.

Smith added another from 20 feet at the 13th to pull level with McIlroy, who continued his run of pars, while Young birdied the same par four and Hovland nudged him from close range at the 12th to lift the pair back to within two of the lead.

Young took advantage of the par-five next to make further inroads on McIlroy, who was unable to birdie the same hole, while Smith got up and down from the back of the 14th green to register a fifth consecutive birdie and jump into the solo lead on 19 under.

Smith followed back-to-back pars by holing a clutch 12-footer to save par at the 17th, after an impressive pitch over the bunker, before a stunning tee shot into the par-four last set up a two-putt birdie for victory.

Young eagled the final hole to finish a shot behind, while McIlroy was unable to find the final-hole eagle of his own to force a play-off as he ended a frustrating final day with yet another two-putt par.

McIlroy hit all greens in regulation but was left to rue a disappointing putting display, with his third-place finish extending his winless streak in majors, which stretches back to the 2014 PGA Championship.

Hovland’s hopes ended when he had to come out sideways from a bunker at the 13th, resulting in a bogey, with a further dropped shot at the 16th seeing him close with a two-over 74 that dropped him to tied-fourth alongside England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

Brian Harman and former world No 1 Dustin Johnson ended the week tied-sixth, while Bryson DeChambeau birdied his final three holes for a closing 66 to claim a share of eighth with Patrick Cantlay and 2017 champion Jordan Spieth.

A final round 70 from 2019 Open winenr Shane Lowry saw the Offaly man finish on nine under par in a tie for 21st.

In benign conditions it was a disappointing final round for qualifier David Carey, who shot a one-over 73 to finish on three under for the tournament, in a tie for 62nd.

McIlroy was understandably emotional after his latest close run thing in a major.

“It’s just disappointment, I guess,” he told the Golf Channel. “I had a great opportunity today to add to that major tally and I didn’t get it done.

“It didn’t feel like I did much wrong, but the putter went cold on me there pretty much throughout the round.

“I did what I wanted to do today, I played a controlled round of golf, I didn’t take advantage of some of the holes I had been taking advantage of this week.

“When Cam Smith went on that run on the back nine I had to dig deep to make birdies and I just couldn’t.

“I got beat by the better player: to shoot 64 to win an Open at St Andrews is a hell of a showing.”

Smith was elated with his first major win, coming after victory at the Players Championship earlier this year.

“Jeez, what a week., I’m going to fall apart here I know,” said Smith as he fought back the tears.

“It was absolutely awesome out there. The course was exactly how an Open Championship should be played: firm and fast. It was absolutely unreal.

“I had a lot of support out there, especially the Aussie guys who really kept me going out there. This one’s for Oz.”

Smith added: “It’s just unreal. This place is so cool. To have the 150th Open here and to walk away with the win is just something that I have dreamt of.

“I didn’t even know I was going to get this far and it’s just awesome.

“It’s unreal to look at these names on this trophy and then add mine, I’m lost for words.

“I’m definitely going to find out how many beers fit in this thing, that’s for sure,” he said, gesturing to the Claret Jug.

On his remarkable escape with par at the 17th, having left himself behind the bunker, he said: “I was just trying to get it on the green there and give myself a look.

“I knew if I could get it somewhere inside 15 or 20 feet I’d have a good run at it and luckily I got away with it.”