Awesome victory for player from Brisbane

Australian Cameron Smith pulled-off a sensational victory in the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland scoring a magnificent final round of 8-under par 64 for a tally of 20-under par.  The 28-year old from Brisbane beat Cameron Young from America by one stroke.  But there were a handful of other golfers, including Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who had a strong chance of seizing the Open title.

 

Just as with all the Majors, the 150th Open boasted a stage full of golf’s greatest stars like champions Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy and many more.  Even Tiger Woods with his total of 15 Majors was also competing.

 

Camerons go head-to-head twice

 

It was intriguing to see Cameron Smith and Cameron Young go head-to-head twice on the links course.  The Aussie seemed to just have the edge on the 25-year American who was playing in his first Open.  But when you are listed as number 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, I guess that’s no real surprise.  However, Cameron Young was simply fearless and kept bouncing back at Smith with yet another spectacular shot.

 

 

The final day of play began with Rory McIlroy and Norway’s Viktor Hovland at the top of the leaderboard on 16-under.  Smith and Young were in striking distance just four shots behind with one round still to be played.

 

McIlroy and Hovland in the lead

 

Eight holes later McIlroy had got himself to 17-under after making a birdie at the 5th.  He was two ahead of Hovland with Smith and Young one shot further behind.  America’s Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth were tucked-in on 5th and 6th spot on 13-under and 12-under.  Johnson was having a great tournament playing with England’s Tommy Fleetwood but both needed to inject a few more birdies into their rounds on the back nine.

 

Cameron Young’s spring back to the top of the leaderboard began after he made five birdies in the first ten holes.  However, such fine play didn’t disturb Cameron Smith.  The Aussie birdied the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and then he narrowly-missed making an eagle at the 14th.  Five birdies on the trot got him to the top of the leaderboard on 19-under par.

 

McIlroy simply needed to make one more birdie to draw even with Smith who was playing ahead of him.  Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood holed-out at the 18th with his 5th birdie of the day to get himself to 14-under with rounds of 72, 69, 66 and 67 for a well-deserved share of 4th place.  And the honour of becoming the best Englishman in the Open.

 

With two holes to play, Smith was just one stroke ahead of McIlroy who was desperately seeking another Major victory.  But Cameron Smith was already proving himself as a top player this season.  Victory in the Players Championship on the PGA Tour in America and a host of other good finishes had launched him into the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking.  His focus at the 150th Open was truly formidable.  His putting stroke was awesome.  Even on the 343-yard 18th, he holed his 8th birdie putt of the day to secure a brilliant score of 20-under par.

 

It was Sweden’s Henrik Stenson who last shot 20-under par in the Open and that was in 2016.

 

Young soars up the leaderboard

 

America’s Cameron Young made an impressive eagle down the last hole to soar up the leaderboard to a second spot on 19-under.  Who would clinch the 150th Open title?  Could Rory McIlroy fulfill his dream?  It was now all down to the player from Northern Ireland and Viktor Hovland as the last pairing out on the course.

 

McIlroy also needed an eagle down the last hole if he was to draw even with the Aussie on 20-under.  And the 18th green had been reachable with a drive for some players this week.  As we all know so well, in golf anything is possible!

 

And so it was that McIlroy and Hovland teed-off on the 72nd hole at St Andrews.  The fans around the world were desperate to see whether the Claret Jug would be presented to Rory McIlroy again just as in 2014 or to a new winner, the Aussie Cameron Smith.

 

Victory was sweet for Smith.  Alas, McIlroy did not make an eagle at the 18th.  His par settled him into 3rd spot with a score of 18-under par.  Instead it was Cameron Smith who had realised his dream golfing ambition of winning the 150th Open Championship at the magical links course of St Andrews in Scotland with an impeccable score of 20-under par.

 

 

Many congratulations to you Cameron Smith, Champion Golfer of the Year.  We are truly impressed by your golf and your determination!  Simply brilliant!

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

CHECK OUT the scores of your favourite players HERE.

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: The newly-crowned Champion Golfer of the Year from Australia, Cameron Smith stands proudly before the clubhouse at St Andrews, Scotland.  MINIS (l-r): Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and leading amateur from Italy Filippo Celli. BELOW: The proud winner of the historical 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland, Cameron Smith, was thrilled but pretty speechless after his victory.