Cameron Smith Tops McIlroy & Young To Win British Open

Cameron Smith posted a near-perfect closing round at St. Andrews that included five straight birdies on the back nine to beat out Cameron Young and the favorite Rory McIlroy.

“All the names on there, every player that’s been at the top of their game has won this championship,” Smith, 28, told reporters following his British Open win. “It’s pretty cool to be on there. It really hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will for a few weeks. Yeah, it’s just unreal.”

Under pressure, Smith was flawless. He posted eight-under 64 in the final round, which is good for the lowest final round by a champion at St. Andrews ever.

Young came in second one shot behind Smith.

With the win, the Australian golfer moves up to No. 2 in the world behind only Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.

McIlroy, who had been poised to break his eight-year majors drought in front of a home crowd, struggled to putt early. The four-time major champion before the age of 25, who joins Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in that category, has finished in the top 10 of 17 majors since 2015 but has failed to win one.

He congratulated Smith on his big win.

“The putter went cold on me,” McIlroy said. “When both Camerons – especially Smith – went on that run on the back nine, I had to dig deep to make birdies. And I just couldn’t. I got beaten by the better player this week. To go out and shoot 64 to win the Open Championship at St. Andrews is a hell of a showing. Hats off to Cam.”