Cameron Smith Wins Open After Reeling Off Rory Mcilroy With Stunning 64 The Open

There was to be no moment of miracle. McIlroy’s wait for a fifth major will drag on until 2023. The fact that he didn’t even finish second here rubbed salt into McIlroy’s wounds. A 72nd hole eagle from Cameron Young, who enjoyed an outstanding Open debut, gave him second place. Smith’s 20-under par saw Young by one and a sad but magnanimous McIlroy by two. It’s hard to say McIlroy did much wrong during the fourth round, other than perhaps not capitalizing on the opportunity. He will be stung, for example, by failing to sell on the 9th or 14th. This was the wrong time for McIlroy to deliver a St Andrews Open round not in the 60s for the first time. A mere two-under 70 was insufficient to keep up with the unflappable Smith. The Australian’s back nine of 30 is the lowest score in a Sunday half by any champion in Open history. The 28-year-old is no longer one of the best golfers of this generation to never win a major. He played with a fearless day-four that makes him a worthy champion of such a landmark event. Smith, who won the Players Championship in March, is having the time of his life. With McIlroy and Victor Hovland in the final group, it was the Norwegian who blinked first. Hovland three-putted the 4th, which gave McIlroy a one-shot lead. McIlroy comfortably birdied the fifth to double his lead. Hovland was playing tryouts. The pressure on McIlroy suddenly came from elsewhere. Smith birdied the 10th and 11th to move within one. Almost immediately McIlroy holed a 126-foot putt on the 10th. The two-stroke margin of error has been restored, with McIlroy now 18 under. Smith parried with another shot at the 12th. Smith, now five under for his round, posed a serious threat. That challenge from the Brisbane native intensified with a fourth birdie in a row, this time from 15 feet. The lead was now shared. Smith was inspired, McIlroy knew what was happening in the group ahead. Smith’s 19 under matched McIlroy’s 18 under as the former reached the 14th. A frustrated Rory McIlroy on the 18th hole. Photo: Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock Smith, it seemed incredible to remember, had started the day four shots clear of McIlroy and Hovland. A 74 from Hovland meant he was tied for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood, who signed with 67. Young, meanwhile, cut a disappointing number despite signing for a 65. “It probably hurts a little bit worse going up a shot,” he said. “If you lose by eight, you don’t really care.” The 25-year-old’s odd senior year featured two missed cuts, a tie for third and a second. Smith chipped in from the 15th but was able to salvage par from a favorable lie in the rough. McIlroy needed to make short work of the par-five 14th but couldn’t after failing to reach the green in two. Smith recorded a simple, two-foot par at the 16th and refused to swing at the iconic Road Hole despite missing the green with his approach. McIlroy’s last realistic hope came on that penultimate hole after a majestic 18-foot iron. As the birdie dribbled past, Smith had one hand and four fingers on the Claret jug. Brian Harman and Dustin Johnson tied for sixth at 13-under. Bryson DeSambeau matched Patrick Kandaley and Jordan Spieth one shot back. Adam Scott’s 71 left him 10 clear of Smith, but there were words of praise for Smith. “He’s tough and he picked up his game quickly,” Scott said of his Australian. “He’s learned to play golf very well, very quickly. I think his mind is a great asset, as is his mouse. “I don’t know if you can say it was inevitable that he would get an opportunity like this, but based on talent? Yes.” Filippo Celli, the 21-year-old Italian, secured low amateur honors at five under. After finishing three shots short of that tally, LIV rebel Sergio García made it clear he hadn’t particularly enjoyed his week. The Open back at St Andrews in 2030 seems a bridge too far for García. “Pretty tough,” he said of an appearance after eight years. “And the way everyone reacts to us, probably even harsher. Things are coming to an end. So is”. Speaking to media from his home country, the Spaniard added that he would withdraw from the DP World, formerly the European Tour, which would rule him out of future Ryder Cups. Garcia feels he has been victimized in Europe after joining the LIV series. Feverish speculation continues to link Henrik Stenson, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, to this controversial domain. With Greg Norman leading the Saudi-backed operation that McIlroy is in such stark opposition to, there is a joke somewhere about the Aussies giving the Northern Irishman grief. Now may not be the time to say it.

title: “Cameron Smith Wins Open After Reeling Off Rory Mcilroy With Stunning 64 The Open " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “George Robinson”

There was to be no moment of miracle. McIlroy’s wait for a fifth major will drag on until 2023. The fact that he didn’t even finish second here rubbed salt into McIlroy’s wounds. A 72nd hole eagle from Cameron Young, who enjoyed an outstanding Open debut, gave him second place. Smith’s 20-under par saw Young by one and a sad but magnanimous McIlroy by two. It’s hard to say McIlroy did much wrong during the fourth round, other than perhaps not capitalizing on the opportunity. He will be stung, for example, by failing to sell on the 9th or 14th. This was the wrong time for McIlroy to deliver a St Andrews Open round not in the 60s for the first time. A mere two-under 70 was insufficient to keep up with the unflappable Smith. The Australian’s back nine of 30 is the lowest score in a Sunday half by any champion in Open history. The 28-year-old is no longer one of the best golfers of this generation to never win a major. He played with a fearless day-four that makes him a worthy champion of such a landmark event. Smith, who won the Players Championship in March, is having the time of his life. With McIlroy and Victor Hovland in the final group, it was the Norwegian who blinked first. Hovland three-putted the 4th, which gave McIlroy a one-shot lead. McIlroy comfortably birdied the fifth to double his lead. Hovland was playing tryouts. The pressure on McIlroy suddenly came from elsewhere. Smith birdied the 10th and 11th to move within one. Almost immediately McIlroy holed a 126-foot putt on the 10th. The two-stroke margin of error has been restored, with McIlroy now 18 under. Smith parried with another shot at the 12th. Smith, now five under for his round, posed a serious threat. That challenge from the Brisbane native intensified with a fourth birdie in a row, this time from 15 feet. The lead was now shared. Smith was inspired, McIlroy knew what was happening in the group ahead. Smith’s 19 under matched McIlroy’s 18 under as the former reached the 14th. A frustrated Rory McIlroy on the 18th hole. Photo: Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock Smith, it seemed incredible to remember, had started the day four shots clear of McIlroy and Hovland. A 74 from Hovland meant he was tied for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood, who signed with 67. Young, meanwhile, cut a disappointing number despite signing for a 65. “It probably hurts a little bit worse going up a shot,” he said. “If you lose by eight, you don’t really care.” The 25-year-old’s odd senior year featured two missed cuts, a tie for third and a second. Smith chipped in from the 15th but was able to salvage par from a favorable lie in the rough. McIlroy needed to make short work of the par-five 14th but couldn’t after failing to reach the green in two. Smith recorded a simple, two-foot par at the 16th and refused to swing at the iconic Road Hole despite missing the green with his approach. McIlroy’s last realistic hope came on that penultimate hole after a majestic 18-foot iron. As the birdie dribbled past, Smith had one hand and four fingers on the Claret jug. Brian Harman and Dustin Johnson tied for sixth at 13-under. Bryson DeSambeau matched Patrick Kandaley and Jordan Spieth one shot back. Adam Scott’s 71 left him 10 clear of Smith, but there were words of praise for Smith. “He’s tough and he picked up his game quickly,” Scott said of his Australian. “He’s learned to play golf very well, very quickly. I think his mind is a great asset, as is his mouse. “I don’t know if you can say it was inevitable that he would get an opportunity like this, but based on talent? Yes.” Filippo Celli, the 21-year-old Italian, secured low amateur honors at five under. After finishing three shots short of that tally, LIV rebel Sergio García made it clear he hadn’t particularly enjoyed his week. The Open back at St Andrews in 2030 seems a bridge too far for García. “Pretty tough,” he said of an appearance after eight years. “And the way everyone reacts to us, probably even harsher. Things are coming to an end. So is”. Speaking to media from his home country, the Spaniard added that he would withdraw from the DP World, formerly the European Tour, which would rule him out of future Ryder Cups. Garcia feels he has been victimized in Europe after joining the LIV series. Feverish speculation continues to link Henrik Stenson, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, to this controversial domain. With Greg Norman leading the Saudi-backed operation that McIlroy is in such stark opposition to, there is a joke somewhere about the Aussies giving the Northern Irishman grief. Now may not be the time to say it.