Open 2022 LIVE result: Final leaderboard as Cameron Smith beats Rory McIlroy to Claret Jug
Follow reaction from the final round of the Open Championship as Smith lifts the Claret Jug at St Andrews
Rory McIlroy’s wait for a fifth major goes on after he was beaten to the Claret Jug by the sensational Australian Cameron Smith.
Smith produced a string of birdies to close out with a round of 64, beating his playing partner Cameron Young by one shot, as McIlroy ended up finishing third with a final round of 70.
Follow for live updates and reaction from the Open at St Andrews, below:
The Open 2022
Hovland leaves his putt on 17 short and looks set for a par. Now McIlroy: this is a huge moment in the championship, and perhaps his entire career...
Smith -19 (17)
McIlroy -18 (16)
Young -17 (17)
Hovland -14 (16)
The Open 2022
McIlroy hits a lovely approach to the 17th green, stopping after one bounce, and he will have a 15-footer for birdie. Given Smith’s tee shot on 18, McIlroy probably needs to make this to force a play-off.
Meanwhile Young has hit a brilliant drive close on 18, and he will putt for eagle. He’s not quite out of it, yet.
Smith -19 (17)
McIlroy -18 (16)
Young -17 (17)
Hovland -14 (16)
The Open 2022
Hovland made only bogey on 16 and his challenge is over.
Smith stands on the 18th tee with the outright lead of the Open Championship. It’s a good drive, a yard short of the green.
Smith -19 (17)
McIlroy -18 (16)
Young -17 (17)
Hovland -14 (16)
The Open 2022
McIlroy hits a beauty of a fade from the 17th tee box, whipping around the hotel and on to the middle of the fairway. Up ahead he won’t know Smith faces a nervy 10-footer for par... He makes it! What a two-putt from behind a bunker, just outrageously good.
Smith -19 (17)
McIlroy -18 (16)
Young -17 (17)
Hovland -14 (16)
The Open 2022
Smith is not attempting that nasty chip and instead opts for the lower-risk putt, up the bank beside the bunker and on to the green. It’s a good effort, but it leaves him a far-from-straightforward par putt to retain the outright lead.
McIlroy knocks in his par on 16.
Smith -19 (16)
McIlroy -18 (16)
Young -17 (16)
Hovland -15 (15)
The Open 2022
Hovland pretty much has to make this putt, you would think... he gives it a good run but it’s never quite on line after pushing wide on the bank. He gives one of his wry smiles, he knows the game is up. McIlroy rolls his close and will, it looks, make par.
Up ahead on 17, Cam Smith comes up short with his approach – that might be his worst shot of the day. He’s left himself a tricky chip over a bunker to get anywhere close to the pin.
Smith -19 (16)
McIlroy -18 (15)
Young -17 (16)
Hovland -15 (15)
The Open 2022
On 16, Hovland has found deep rough on the left side. He lashes out of the long stuff with a short iron and finds the back of the green, leaving a horror putt back up to the flag. McIlroy’s 100-yard wedge approach is not quite as precise as he would have hoped, and although he finds the heart of the green it is going to take some putt to make birdie.
Smith -19 (16)
McIlroy -18 (15)
Young -17 (16)
Hovland -15 (15)
The Open 2022
Young judges his putt pefectly up the hill to the raised pin on 16, and taps in for par. Smith does likewise from a shorter distance – the Australian is two holes from the clubhouse.
McIlroy goes the Cam Young route on the 16th tee, smashing a driver a long way up the fairway. It’s perfectly placed but it still leaves him a tricky wedge shot in.
Smith -19 (16)
McIlroy -18 (15)
Young -17 (16)
Hovland -15 (15)
The Open 2022
McIlroy’s long birdie putt on 15 slides by and he mops up for a par, as does Hovland. Chances to make up the ground are running out.
Smith -19 (15)
McIlroy -18 (15)
Young -17 (15)
Hovland -15 (15)
The Open 2022
Smith’s approach to 16 is good – it was actually from semi-rough, not the fairway – as he sends a short iron high into the sky, landing on the bank at the front and rolling up on to the shelf for a long putt.
Smith -19 (15)
McIlroy -18 (14)
Young -17 (15)
Hovland -15 (14)
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies