Collin Morikawa wins The Open with a score of -15 as he holds off late surge from Jordan Spieth
Collin Morikawa is the first-timer who simply loves firsts, the virgin soldier who thinks nothing of being the last man standing on the battlefield. No player has ever before won two different majors on their debuts before, but then no major debutant has ever looked so nerveless before.
The 24-year-old was impervious in lifting the Claret Jug, overhauling 54-hole leader Louis Oosthuizen, before resisting the seemingly irresistible challenge of Jordan Spieth. With a bogeyless 66 for a 15-under total and a two-shot victory, Morikawa was unbreakable, unmatchable and unbelievable, adding the Open Championship to the US PGA he collected last year.
Royal St George’s witnessed history on a beautiful Sunday. Granted, the links purists were no doubt begging for a stiff wind to make this a proper seaside test, but Morikawa could only play what was in front of him and he did so magnificently. If anyone is any doubt about the class of this Californian then consider that he only turned pro in June 2019 and this was only his eight major - and only Bobby Jones has won two quicker.
And these are the players aged 24 or less who have won the Open in the last 100 years: Jones, Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth. That is some list, but Morikawa fits in effortlessly. He is already considered one of the great iron players of all time, but, in truth, all aspects of Morikawa’s game were firing here on the south coast.
Except it was his composure that most impressed. Starting one behind Oosthuizen - the South African who was attempting to go wire-to-wire and so end his run of six major runners-up - Morikawa coolly hunted him down, birdieing the seventh to move ahead.
It was the first time that Oosthuizen, 38, had not led or shared the lead since the 12th on Friday and he was doomed never to recover eventually finishing in tie third on 11-under after a 71 alongside the fast-finishing Spaniard Jon Rahm, who played the back nine in four-under to fire a 66.
The back nine became all about Morikawa and Spieth, two young Americans who will surely have many showdowns over the forthcoming years. This first one was a veritable cracker.
Spieth looked flat over his first seven holes, apparently still feeling the effects of the two-footer he yanked on the 18th green on Saturday evening. Yet with a 15-footer for eagle on the seventh, he burst back into the reckoning. From there he picked up the pace in that deliciously fidgety style of his, birdieing the ninth, the 10th, the 13th and the 14th.
Credit to the 2017 champion, because Sandwich had been in danger of observing little but a procession over that closing nine. Instead, it had a drama on which to feast. Morikawa, however, refused to play the fall guy.
Each time as Spieth dared to breathe down his neck, so he calmly pulled away again. Morikawa had awarded himself a cushion with three birdies in a row from the seventh and then it became a case of trusting his short-game to keep the chaser at bay.
On the 10th, he was odds-on to bogey, but made a par save from behind the green. Spieth was within one when making a four on the par-five 14th, but then Morikawa reached the same green and holed an 18-footer for his own birdie.
On the 15th, Morikawa uncharacteristically pushed his approach into thick rough. No matter. He chopped it out to eight feet and once again converted. Spieth had no more to give and by then was relying on Morikawa mistakes. They never arrived. In contrast, Morikawa became stronger, almost birdieing the 18th.
There was a brief hug for his caddie, Jonathan Jakovac, but this success was marked in certainty, not euphoria. Morikawa is two years out of college but halfway to the career grand slam and, after this, who will be brave enough to declare he will not become the dominant performer of his generation?
On 13-under, Spieth had to take consolation in second, his best placing in a major since Royal Birkdale four years ago. There can be no question that following his slump, Spieth is returning to his peak. The major stages are so much grander for his presence.
Bob MacIntyre was the leading UK player in a tie for eighth. The 24-year-old tied for sixth at Royal Portrush two years ago and following this 65-67 weekend for a seven-under total, he looks an Open champion in waiting. He was the only Scottish representative in the field, but he made his country proud. It if fair to say they have been waiting for this fearless man from Oban.
Alas, it was a wretched tournament for England. The nation came in hoping for an English winner on English soil for the first time in 52 years. In the event, there was not even an Englishman in the top 10. This was the first time this had happened in seven years and just the second time in 13 years.
Paul Casey was top-places in a tie for 16th on five-under after a 70, with Aaron Rai in a tie for 19th on four-under following a 69 and Ian Poulter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (70) and Andy Sullivan (73) in a group tying for 26th on three-under. Next year at St Andrews will be 30 years since Sir Nick Faldo won England’s last Claret Jug at Muirfield. “It’ll be all that 30 years of hurt, won’t it?” Poulter said. “Don’t ask me for any explanations, because I don’t have any.”
In a tie for 59th came 48-year-old Lee Westwood, setting a new record of playing in the most majors (88) without winning. “Opens are just hard to win, but we have a lot of good, young English players and they just have to keep knocking on the door,” Westwood said. “They have either got to persevere like I have or give up and find something else that pays them millions.”
Morikawa eyes more major memories after 'special week'
By James Corrigan
Collin Morikawa maintains that he is “ no student of golf’s past ”, but even he was forced to recognise how “special” his Open Championship glory was here.
Not only is the 24-year-old the first player to win two different majors on his debuts, but this was only his second outing on a links course, having finished 71st in the previous week’s Scottish Open.
“I tell everyone I'm not the biggest history guy, but when you do make history it's hard to grasp and it's hard to really take it in," Morikawa said. "At 24 years old, it's so hard to look back at the two short years that I have been a pro and see what I've done because I want more.
“I want to make memories for myself and to be holding the Claret Jug is one of the greatest memories in my lifetime, Everything about this entire week has been very special."
If Morikawa putts like this everyone else should simply go home. Ranked 124th on the PGA Tour in overall putting average, Morikawa ranked first here. "Yeah, my putting stats might not be up there," he said. “But they came in a moment when I needed them. So I’m happy.
"I've had belief in myself since I turned professional I could do it. Coming into these tournaments and courses I've never played I do my work Monday through Wednesday.
"The Scottish Open last week was a huge learning experience for me. I put it all together, and thankfully it all paid off this week.”
It paid off to the tune of £1.6 million and saw him rise to world No 3 (with Jon Rahm leapfrogging Dustin Johnson to world No 1 courtesy of his tie for third?. And runner-up Jordan Spieth sounded certain that his young countryman has more to come.
“Clearly, with the shots he’s hit and the putts he’s holed, he’s not afraid of high-pressure situations,” Spieth said. “Winning one major can happen to a lot of people playing really good golf in one week. Winning two, three or more? Collin has obviously proven that this stage is where he wants to be.”
Spieth was still rueing his back-to-back bogeys with which he finished Saturday’s round, especially the two-footer on the 18th.
"The finish yesterday was about as upset as I've been with a finish to a round," he said "I walked in and said 'Is there something that I can break?'. I knew that was so important because I would have been in the final group. I’m upset because I really felt like I played well enough to win and made a couple of really dumb mistakes.”
05:58 PMCollin Morikawa quotes
Collin Morikawa quotes
"This is by far one of the best moments of my life to see everyone out here,"
"I wouldn't be here without my family, friends, Kat, my girlfriend. They haven't been able to make the trip but they've been getting up early to watch.
"We are all so honoured to be out on this beautiful golf course, to be called the Open champion winner, the Champion Golfer of the Year. It gives me chills."
05:34 PMCollin Morikawa win The Open
Collin Morikawa win The Open
With a score of -15.
05:33 PMCollin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa
makes that wee putt - he has done it!
05:33 PMLouis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen
finishes his own round with a 71 for -11.
05:29 PMCollin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa
onto the green nicely. He has a very good crack at a long putt, it just skirts the hole and he's got a three footer to wrap it up.
05:21 PMCollin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa
has it at his mercy. He won the PGA Championship at the first time of asking. Can he add a win at The Open on his debut at this too?
With a tee shot like that he certainly can! Belts it down the centre of the 18th.
05:20 PMJordan Spieth shoots 66
Jordan Spieth shoots 66
Great effort. He shot two bogeys in the first six holes today but fought brilliantly to get four birdies and an eagle. He finishes on -13.
05:18 PMNice pic this of Jordan
05:14 PMSpieth on 18
Nice pic this of Jordan
05:14 PMSpieth on 18
Spieth on 18
Spieth put his ball into the rough on the left, not a bad shot at all to get that onto the green, 150 yards or so but it rattles on. Going to be an unbelievable putt from here to get a birdie... no. Close but no cigar. Not all that close to be honest.
05:12 PMAlready completed today
Already completed today
Four guys managed a 65: Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and Rickie Fowler.
05:11 PMCollin Morikawa on 17
Collin Morikawa on 17
Collin Morikawa with his tee shot on 17, not down the centre, it dribbles just off the nicest bit of the fairway but far from disastrous.
05:08 PMJordan Spieth on 18
Jordan Spieth on 18
I would say he needs a birdie here and then hope, against the evidence so far, that Morikawa gets nervous. I suppose the one previous Major Collin M won, that was in font of hardly anyone, so....
05:07 PMMorikawa on 16
Morikawa on 16
Morikawa had two putts for his par on 16 and, although the first one was a bit nervy, he takes care of business on with the saver and marches on.
05:04 PMHere is Jordan with a solid
Here is Jordan with a solid
chance at one of them... After a great second, he has a birdie chance on 16, but he wobbles his head as he hits it. He is hoping it comes back right to left, but it does not. Another hole gone...
04:56 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
is on -13. He has two holes left to play. Realistically has to birdie at least one of them, because Collin Morikawa has parred 15 and Collin remains steady as she blows on -15.
04:47 PMScotland's Robert MacIntyre
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre
had an excellent round today of -67. That makes him -7 for the Championship, nice effort. He tied for sixth place here in 2019 and, at just 24, looks to have a future in this home event.
04:46 PMJon Rahm meanwhile
Jon Rahm meanwhile
is tearing it up. He has birdied four in a row from 13.
3, 4, 3, 2 for Jon, moves him to -11 with two holes to play.
04:45 PMA birdie on 14
A birdie on 14
For Collin Morikawa moves him to -15. And now a huge moment for Jordan Spieth as he lines up a long, but gettable birdie put on 15.... Ah no, he's just missed it.
04:32 PMHere comes Jordan Spieth
Here comes Jordan Spieth
again. Birdie on the 14th. That takes him to within a shot of Collin M.
04:26 PMJon Rahm
Jon Rahm
is putting together some nice stuff, he's had birdies at 14 and 15 to move to -9. You'd imagine that he'll need more but a strong run.
04:16 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
moves into a clear second place, -12, as he makes a birdie on 13.
04:15 PMAnd staying with Oosthuizen
And staying with Oosthuizen
This feels like a key moment. He's got a birdie putt on 12, it's about 12 feet. He gives it a good crack and it runs around the lip. Just a bit too hard. That keeps him at -11, and Morikawa still on -14.
04:02 PMOosthuizen
Oosthuizen
is not gone yet. A brilliant tee shot on 11, one of the hardest holes on the course, and he makes his putt for two.
03:58 PMMorikawa had
Morikawa had
three birdies in a row to finish the front nine, but then showed steel to go with his huge talented as he battled hard for a par on ten. He's steady at -14.
03:38 PMLouis has it all to do...
Louis has it all to do...
03:37 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
But another nerveless ten footer from Jordan gives him a birdie on ten as well!
03:36 PMCollin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa
at it again! Another birdie, he has moved to -14.
03:25 PMThe final pair are on 9
The final pair are on 9
Spieth is starting on the 10th. As it stands:
Morikawa -13
Spieth and Oosthuizen -10
Frittelli -9
Brooks Koepka, in the shed with a 65, sits on -8
03:24 PMSpieth
Spieth
with a birdie at nine, is looking impressive.
03:24 PMMorikawa is at it again!
Morikawa is at it again!
He has birdied the next one as well, seven and eight, and he's now opening up a wee bit of a gap. -13
This is only his 8th Major...
03:11 PMAnd a birdie for Morikawa
And a birdie for Morikawa
at the same station ensures that we now have a new leader - Collin Morikawa
03:10 PMOosthuizen
Oosthuizen
has bogeyed the seventh and slips back to -10.
03:09 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
on 8... showing his minerals as he tucks away a not insubstantial par putt.
02:52 PMMovement!
Movement!
Spieth and Conners have both eagled on the seventh and both move to nine under.
02:37 PMBrooks Koepka
02:26 PMAnd just the first signs of pressure
Brooks Koepka
02:26 PMAnd just the first signs of pressure
And just the first signs of pressure
there for the leader, Oosthuizen, as he leaves a putt significantly short on the fourth green. He has to settle for a bogey and slips to 11.
Joint Leaders now: Morikawa and Oosthuizen -11
02:24 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
bogeying four, slips back a stroke.
02:19 PMSergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia
has also finished his round, and is four under for today - and indeed four under for the tournament.
02:17 PMThis course
This course
is averaging under par today. With no wind, this course is definitely attackable.
02:07 PMRory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy
has finished his round, and the Northern Irishman hangs them up today with a round of one over, finishing the tournament even. His wait for a fourth Major carries on. 2014 was when he last won one.
02:02 PMShane Lowry
Shane Lowry
has dropped a shot with a bogey, after two birdies in a row.
01:58 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
looks a threat. He's played two lovely chip and run shots today so far and looks in command of his short game.
01:53 PMTom O'Connor RIP
Tom O'Connor RIP
Liked his golf, Tom.
01:49 PMCorey Conners
Corey Conners
hasn't got his putter working, he's started bogey-bogey today despite, as is his way, finding the greens assuredly enough.
01:42 PMOosthuizen
Oosthuizen
Rock solid with his second shot as well, lands that fair and square on the first green.
01:39 PMBrooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka
is the man on the move today. He is five under par through 13th, and that has taken him to eight under, four shots off the lead.
01:37 PMLouis Oosthuizen is on the first tee
Louis Oosthuizen is on the first tee
Confident, solid tee shot - bang down the fairway and he looks like he means business.
All players are now in action.
01:27 PMJordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth next - he started this week with a 65, then a 67, and then a 69 yesterday that has probably (but not certainly) left him with a bit too much on his plate. His first tee shot is into the rough, right.
01:26 PMCorey Connors
Corey Connors
Bespectacled, bearded, on the first tee, four shots back. The Canadian sends his ball left, a yard into the first cut.
01:25 PMBig Jon
01:08 PMThere's a South Africa on the first tee
Big Jon
01:08 PMThere's a South Africa on the first tee
There's a South Africa on the first tee
Not our leader Louis Oosthuizen, but rather his compatriot Dylan Frittelli. He's put his tee shot right, that looks a bit grassy down there, bru...
12:52 PMGuys teeing off
Guys teeing off
at the moment are beginning their final rounds six under par. Too far back, surely?
12:41 PMThe leader
12:39 PMBiding his time
11 years - Henry Cotton 1937 - 1948 🏆
10 years - Ernie Els - 2002 - 2012 🏆
Can Louis Oosthuizen make another piece of Open history this afternoon? 🤔 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/rgClZat1CQ
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2021
12:24 PMAnd here comes
The leader
12:39 PMBiding his time
11 years - Henry Cotton 1937 - 1948 🏆
10 years - Ernie Els - 2002 - 2012 🏆
Can Louis Oosthuizen make another piece of Open history this afternoon? 🤔 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/rgClZat1CQ
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2021
12:24 PMAnd here comes
Biding his time
11 years - Henry Cotton 1937 - 1948 🏆
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2021
10 years - Ernie Els - 2002 - 2012 🏆
Can Louis Oosthuizen make another piece of Open history this afternoon? 🤔 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/rgClZat1CQ
12:24 PMAnd here comes
And here comes
his playing partner Shane Lowry, a fitting and warm applause for the defending champion. He grins at the crowd.
12:23 PMPaul Casey
Paul Casey
is on the first tee.
11:43 AMTommy Fleetwood on the tee
11:34 AMRickie Fowler
Tommy Fleetwood on the tee
11:34 AMRickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler
Rickie completed his round today five under par. There's very little wind today. I reckon we could see some serious scores.
11:25 AMBryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau
having a good day, he is five under through 15. Considerable improvement on earlier in the week...
Bryson DeChambeau accused of 'acting like an eight-year-old' after saying his driver 'sucks'
11:13 AMProper scorchio there
Proper scorchio there
Touching 30 degrees...
11:04 AMLee Westwood
Lee Westwood
With a smashing putt there on the seventh for an eagle. Well in, Lee. That sent him to one under...
10:59 AMSky Sport's golf coverage
Sky Sport's golf coverage
is addressing this story. Transgender golfer subjected to abuse while giving lessons at The Open
10:55 AMRory McIlroy two bogeys
Rory McIlroy two bogeys
already today, he's got the face on.
Rory McIlroy throws club in frustration
10:47 AMKevin Kisner
Kevin Kisner
has finished his round, he got home two under for his round today. Rickie Fowler is finishing strong this weekend, he's five under par through 17.
All these early birds, of course, are playing for pride and not going to feature in the shake-up. The leading pair are going off at 2.35pm.
10:45 AMLovely day there
Lovely day there
at Royal St George's in Sandwich.
10:28 AMThose tee times in full
Those tee times in full
Here's today's order of play.
08:00 Kevin Kisner (USA)
08:10 Richard Mansell, Poom Saksansin (Tha)
08:20 Sam Burns (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA)
08:30 Yuxin Lin (Chn), Brendan Steele (USA)
08:40 Jazz Janewattananond (Tha), Chan Kim (USA)
08:50 Richard Bland, Padraig Harrington
09:00 Ryosuke Kinoshita (Jpn), J. C. 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 (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)
10:19 AMLow scores out on course already
Low scores out on course already
Morning all. The sun is shining, the sky is blue and cloudless, and the flags are barely fluttering atop the grandstand at No. 18 that will be welcoming a British Open champion in about eight hours.
The final round is well under way at Royal St. George's and the conditions couldn't be more pleasant for the world's best golfers.
Louis Oosthuizen leads on 12-under 198 and is looking to end a run of near misses at the majors to win his second claret jug after 2010.
The South African is a shot clear of former PGA champion Collin Morikawa and they go out at 2.35 p.m. local time. Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth is a further two strokes back.
It is 11 years to the day since Oosthuizen, who finished runner-up in the US PGA and US Open this season, lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews.
But his one-shot lead is vulnerable, especially with another former winner, Spieth, in the group in front three shots back and still smarting from bogeying his last two holes yesterday.
If the 2017 champion needed any inspiration it was provided by compatriots Kevin Kisner and Brendan Steele earlier this morning.
Kisner, who usually shares a house with Spieth during Open week but has been prevented from doing so by Covid-19 bubbles, was first man out on his own and had four birdies and two bogeys through 15 holes.
Steele started even better by picking up three strokes in his first seven bogey-free holes.
Jon Rahm, who won his maiden major last month's US Open, tees off just before Spieth five shots back and will look to make a charge and exert some pressure on the top of the leaderboard.