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A14 sports
Monday 24 July 2023

Brian Harman unstoppable in drama-free British Open win at Hoylake

By DOUG FERGUSON major winners. His drive had
AP Golf Writer landed between bushes,
HOYLAKE, England (AP) — allowing for a shot just short
Brian Harman turned back of the green and a birdie.
every challenge in the Brit- The lead was down to three
ish Open, from big names shots. The rain wasn’t stop-
to bad weather, and took ping. The rest of the links,
his place among major along with the pressure
champions Sunday with a that comes with Sunday at
victory that was never seri- a major, was still ahead of
ously in doubt at Royal Liv- him.
erpool. Harman drained a 15-foot
Harman twice responded birdie putt on the par-3
to a rare bogey with back- sixth, a 25-foot birdie putt
to-back birdies, leaving ev- on the next hole and he
eryone else playing for sec- was on his way.
ond. He closed with a 1-un- He dropped another shot
der 70, making an 8-foot on the par-3 13th that re-
par putt on the last hole for duced his lead to four
a six-shot victory. shots with five to play. And
At age 36, he is the oldest then he made birdie from
first-time major winner since 40 feet on the tough 14th,
Sergio Garcia was 37 when and followed with an 8-foot
he won the Masters in 2017. United States’ Brian Harman poses for the media as he holds the Claret Jug trophy for winning the birdie on the 15th.
Garcia wasn’t a surprise. British Open Golf Championships at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, Sunday, The year ended in more
July 23, 2023.
Not many would have seen Associated Press disappointment for Rory
this victory coming at the McIlroy, who had won the
start of the week. Harman Friday morning with the sec- He walked up toward the 72 holes. That’s the biggest Scottish Open last week
had gone 167 tournaments ond of four straight birdies 18th green to a standing key to Royal Liverpool. and was the last Open
over six years since his last early in the second round. ovation, and tapped his And he made the putt, champion at Royal Liver-
win in the 2017 Wells Fargo He never trailed over the hand to his heart to ac- giving him only 106 for the pool in 2014. He was never
Championship. This is only final 51 holes, leading by knowledge the fans as he week. really a factor, although he
his third title in his 12 years five shots after the second walked off the green. All “I doubled down on my certainly teased the large
on the PGA Tour. round and five shots after that remained was signing process and I know it’s bor- galleries that followed him.
And then the avid outdoor- the third round. his card — a 13-under 271 ing and it is not flashy,” Har- Sunday was no exception.
sman made winning golf’s He started the round in the — and return to collect the man said. “But, until hitting McIlroy started nine shots
oldest championship look rain with a smattering of silver claret jug, the oldest that last bunker shot, I have behind and ran off three
as easy as shooting fish in boos from the grandstand, trophy in golf. not thought about winning straight birdies, starting with
a barrel. Masters cham- fans either wanting a big Brian Harman, champion the tournament.” a 50-foot putt on No. 3. He
pion Jon Rahm birdied his star or perhaps not paying golfer of the year. Imagine There was one anxious mo- was within five shots and still
last hole for a 70 to make attention to the master- that. ment early on Sunday in on the front nine. And then
it a four-way tie for second class performance Harman “I’m going to have a cou- a steady rain. Harman hit he stalled, not making an-
place with Tom Kim (67), had delivered. Playing with ple of pints out of this here his drive into a gorse bush other birdie until Harman
Sepp Straka (69) and Jason Tommy Fleetwood of Eng- trophy, I believe,” Harman left of the fairway on the was well on his way.
Day (69). land on Saturday, Harman said. par-5 fifth hole and had to McIlroy was one shot better
That turned out to be the said he heard a few com- The finish, even without any take a penalty drop. It led each round — 71-70-69-68
B-flight. “He won by six, so ments he described as un- drama, was fitting. Harman to his second bogey of the — to tie for sixth with Emil-
there’s nothing really any repeatable. hit his approach from 194 round. iano Grillo (68). That wasn’t
of us could have done,” But he is full of Georgia grit, yards into a pot bunker right Rahm, playing in the group nearly enough to match a
Rahm said. never wavering in rain or of the 18th green, only the ahead, looked to get one performance like Harman
Harman took the lead on sunshine or wind. third bunker he was in over of those breaks that fall to delivered. q

Russia’s Zvonareva banned from entering

Poland for WTA 250 tournament

Vera Zvonareva has been airport and on Saturday that Zvonareva was on
banned from entering Po- flew to Podgorica, Mon- a banned list and not al-
land, the country’s Inte- tenegro. Zvonareva, cur- lowed into the country for
rior Ministry said. She was rently ranked 60th, was to reasons of state and public
to participate in a WTA take part in the PNB Paribas security.
250 tournament in Warsaw Warsaw Open tournament The communique stressed
starting Monday. that begins Monday. that Poland is consistent
A communique on the min- The 38-year-old player was in opposing the “regime
istry website said the Pol- still on the event’s partici- of (Russian and Belarusian
ish Border Guard on Friday pants’ list Sunday. The WTA Presidents Vladimir) Putin
Vera Zvonareva of Russia returns the ball to Danielle Collins of prevented entry by the for- said in a statement it was and (Alexander) Lukash-
the U.S., during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, mer world No.2, who flew in evaluating the situation. enko” and is not allowing
March 26, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. from Belgrade on a French Poland, which supports “people who support Rus-
Associated Press visa. She remained in the Ukraine in its war against sian and Belarusian actions
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Russian tennis player transit zone of the Warsaw Russia’s aggression, said to enter our country.”q