Brian Harman on the first hole during the third round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Harman captures first major with ease at The Open Championship

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 7/23/23

Even the rain couldn't stop the sun from shining on Brian Harman. He closed out The Open Championship with ease on Sunday, securing his first major title.

Harman was one-under par for the round and finished at 13-under, the third-lowest winning score for an Open champion at Royal Liverpool. Rory McIlroy shot 17-under in 2014 while Tiger Woods set the record at 18-under in 2006.

Sloppy conditions kept the field from having a legitimate shot at making a charge. His six-stroke win was only two shy of Tiger Woods' memorable eight-stroke win at St. Andrews in 2000. And while he didn't match Woods' mark, he accomplished something equally impressive by keeping the field at arms' length during the final three rounds.

Brian Harman led by at least 5 shots after each of the final 3 rounds at #TheOpen.

He's the first player to do that since Henry Cotton in 1934. pic.twitter.com/izOksAP8Xs
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 23, 2023

Harman essentially put a fork in The Open Championship when he nailed a 40-foot put for a birdie on No. 11.

Relentless from Brian Harman.

A 40 foot masterstroke from the long-time leader.

He is now on the verge. pic.twitter.com/NXEOg0kk0X
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 23, 2023

His win marks the fifth consecutive season four different golfers have won golf's four majors — the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship — in a calendar year.

Brooks Koepka was the last to win multiple majors, doing so in 2018. Jordan Spieth (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014), Padraig Harrington (2008) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006) are the only other golfers to win multiple majors in a year this century.

The five-year drought is tied for the longest since 2000, with one also occurring from 2009-13.

For a brief period Saturday, Jon Rahm, winner at this year's Masters, appeared as though he would have a chance to snap the streak after a historic 63 put him four strokes behind Harman. When Harman started the third round with two bogeys on his first four holes to shrink his lead to two strokes, it only improved Rahm's case.

Instead, Harman steadied himself and finished Saturday with a five-stroke lead, setting up his cakewalk on Sunday.

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