The Open 2021 LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Collin Morikawa wins the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s
Follow all the action live from Royal St George’s
Collin Morikawa has won The Open after a stunning final round of 66 at Royal St George’s.
The 24-year-old American had started the day one shot adrift of Louis Oosthuizen but surged four clear by the turn thanks to a spectacular front-nine of 32.
Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm both mounted charges over the course of the back nine, but Morikawa then held his nerve under the most heightened pressure, with tremendous putts at the 10th, 14th and 15th to card a round of 66 and ensure himself of a two-shot victory
Follow all the reaction from what was a thrilling afternoon at Royal St George’s:
THE OPEN 2021: PERFECT DRIVE FROM MORIKAWA AT 18
Straight down the middle from Morikawa, and Oosthuizen follows suit. The South African will of course be frustrated with how this one has slipped away, but Morikawa has earned this position. Four birdies, no bogeys (as it stands), and some sensational iron and recovery play has sparked his round.
And this is his first ever appearance at an Open Championship - remarkable.
THE OPEN 2021: SPIETH FINISHES ON -13
Spieth’s birdie putt at 18 breaks left and the 2017 champion taps in for his par to complete a round of 66 and finish on -13. If it wasn’t for those back-to-back bogeys at 17 and 18 last night, as well as those two opening bogeys earlier today, he would have been right in there. His play over the rest of today’s round has been glimmering at times.
Morikawa’s birdie puts runs a couple of inches wide before he taps in for par.
Just one more hole to go.
THE OPEN 2021: MORIKAWA ON THE GREEN AT 17
Morikawa punches his approach into the front of the 17th green. It just about makes it on and hangs there, about 15 feet from the hole.
Spieth finds the back of the green with his final approach shot of the week at 18. He needs a birdie here but is 10 feet or so away.
THE OPEN 2021: RAHM CARDS 66
Rahm’s birdie putt at 18 goes left and doesn’t break, so he finishes at -11. He didn’t quite take all his chances today but those four birdies in a row on the back nine lit up his round, as he finishes with a four-under-par 66.
THE OPEN 2021: MORIKAWA AT 17
Morikawa finds the left edge of the fairway with his drive. It’s safe.
Two holes to go, two shots to spare. This is what is means.
THE OPEN 2021: MORIKAWA MAINTAINS TWO-SHOT LEAD
Morikawa still had some work to do after he left his birdie putt short, but he rolls in his par putt to maintain his two-shot lead. There hasn’t been a single blemish on the 24-year-old’s score card all day.
Oosthuizen sends his birdie attempt left of the hole but doesn’t get the break as he taps in for par.
At 18, Rahm goes at the flag and lands his ball to 12 feet of the pin.
THE OPEN 2021: MORIKAWA SAFELY ON 16TH GREEN
Morikawa lands his ball on the green from the 16th tee. It’s around 20 feet away but it’s safe, which is all he could ask for. Oosthuizen, needing something huge now, goes closer and lands 10 feet away.
Spieth hits a nice approach into the green at 17 to set up another birdie chance - but he can’t take it. The Claret Jug moves closer to Morikawa.
At the 18th, Mackenzie Hughes makes birdie at the last to finish -8 overall while Dylan Frittelli finishes -9, which is good enough for an outright grip of fifth place.
THE OPEN 2021: HUGE PAR SAVE FOR MORIKAWA AT 15
Another clutch putt from the leader! Morikawa does very well from the rough to get his ball down onto the green and within six feet of the hole. Still, it leads to a tough par putt, which he makes! Cold-blooded from Morikawa. That was a superb up and down to save par under a huge amount of pressure.
Oosthuizen can’t convert his birdie putt from 15 feet, and neither could Spieth at the hole ahead. Both players move on with their pars.
At 17, Rahm’s birdie run ends as his putt lips out of the hole. It’s as you where all round.
THE OPEN 2021: TROUBLE FOR MORIKAWA AT 15?
Morikawa sends his drive at 15 to the right side of the fairway, narrowly avoiding the pair of threatening bunkers on the edge of the short stuff. Oh no... that’s a poor second shot. He finds the rough at the back of the green. That could be a tough up and down from there.
Spieth lands his tee-shot on the green at the par-three 16, but he didn’t threaten the pin in the same way as Rahm a few moments ago.
THE OPEN 2021: CLUTCH FROM MORIKAWA
Huge! Morikawa makes his birdie at 14, rolling the ball up the slope of the green and into the hole to move to -15! With Spieth heating up out there, Morikawa had to respond, and he did so there.
Spieth’s birdie putt at 15 is inches away, so he remains two behind.
Rahm taps in for his birdie at 16 - for his fourth birdie in a row - while Oosthuizen does the same at 14. Both players move to -11.
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