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Cameron Smith was four strokes away from the lead and needed two things for the fourth round of the British Open on Sunday. He had to make almost every putt and wanted Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland to slip enough for him to return to the lead.
What happened was a miracle, considering how hot McIlroy and Hovland were throughout the tournament. Smith rebounded after shooting 73 in the third inning.
Smith recorded 8 birdies, 10 pars and a clutch save on the 17th hole of the final round.
“Winning the open championship is probably the highlight of a golfer’s career,” Smith said. “I think it’s unbelievable to do that around St Andrews.”
He didn’t bogey the hole and finished 64 in the final round. It was the second time he shot 64 in a tournament. He posted the score in the second round on Friday.
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It was Smith’s first major tournament victory. He approached second place in the 2020 Masters in Thailand.
“All the names out there, all the players at the top of their game have won this championship,” he added. “It’s pretty cool to be there. It hasn’t sunk yet. I don’t think it’s going to sink for a few weeks. Yeah, it’s just unrealistic.”
ESPN Stats & Info has relayed several important milestones related to Smith’s victory at St Andrews. In the last 20 years, he has become the only player to record a birdie in the first five holes of the last nine rounds of a major golf tournament. Smith has also become the first player to return to win an open-down four-stroke since Phil Mickelson in 2013.
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McIlroy shared the lead into the final round. He didn’t bogey the hole in the final round, but only recorded two birdies. He finished in the final round 70 and finished third in the open. He was under the age of 18 in a tournament.
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Cameron Young finished second thanks to the 18th hole Eagle. He finished 19 under par in the tournament. It was his best finish on a golf major to date. He finished third in the PGA Championship earlier this year.