British Open: American Brian Harman wins first major title by six strokes
Winning pose: Brian Harman kisses the Claret Jug after winning the British Open on Sunday. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
By Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
HOYLAKE, England — American Brian Harman won the 151st Open Championship on Sunday, claiming his first major tournament win at rainy Royal Liverpool Golf Club by six strokes.
Harman, 36, a native of Savannah, Georgia, who attended the University of Georgia, cruised to victory at the British Open by six strokes after he shot 1-under 70 in the final round for a 13-under-par 271 total at Royal Liverpool, according to The Associated Press.
His margin of victory ties the second-largest in the Open’s history. Tiger Woods won the Claret Jug by eight shots at St. Andrews in Scotland in 2000, ESPN reported.
Harman weathered a stormy start with bogeys on two of his first five holes, but he regained his composure to finish six shots ahead of Australia’s Jason Day, Austria’s Sepp Straka, South Korea’s Tom Kim and Spain’s Jon Rahm, CNN reported.
Rahm, Day, Straka, and Kim had a four-way tie for second place, the AP reported.
Harman is the 26th-ranked player in the world, according to ESPN.
The British Open win is Harman’s first victory after 167 tournaments dating to 2017.
He is the oldest first-time major champion since Sergio Garcia, 37, from Spain, won the Masters in 2017, according to ESPN.
Harman won $3 million for his win Sunday, ESPN reported.
2023 British Open: Georgia native Brian Harman holds the Claret Jug after winning the 151st British Open by six strokes on Sunday. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: It was thumb's up for Brian Harman after he won his first major championship. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Brian Harman celebrates after winning the British Open on Sunday. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Christo Lamprecht of South Africa is presented with the Low Amateur Silver Medal on the 18th green after Sunday's final round. Lamprecht tied for 74th after a final-round 74. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Brian Harman hits out of the bunker at No. 18 on Sunday as he wrapped up his first major golf championship. (Luke Walker/Getty Images for HSBC)
2023 British Open: Jon Rahm of Spain reacts after draining a birdie putt at No. 18 on Sunday. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Tommy Fleetwood of England throws his cap to the crowd after finishing his final round on Sunday. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Sepp Straka of Austria plays his second shot out of the rough at No. 18 during Sunday's final round. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Shubhankar Sharma of India reacts after missing a putt at No. 18 on Sunday. (Luke Walker/Getty Images for HSBC)
2023 British Open: Tommy Fleetwood of England tees off on the 14th hole during Sunday's final round. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt during Sunday's final round. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Brian Harman stays dry at No. 10 during Sunday's final round. (JARED C TILTON/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Sungjae Im of South Korea plays his third shot on the 15th hole during a rainy day at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
2023 British Open: Young Spectators react as they make requests for players equipment as they leave the green on the 18th hole at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)