The final round of The Open at Hoylake has dished up a tasty grudge match that, despite not knowing who will win the Claret Jug, should be top viewing in Sunday’s final round.
Australian Cameron Smith’s title defense is likely up in smoke – he starts the fourth round 11 shots behind American leader Brian Harman – but a pair with former rival Patrick Reed should be enough to keep the competition afloat.
Smith and Reed formed an unlikely feud at the 2019 Presidents Cup, which came a week after the polarizing American was embroiled in a cheating controversy.
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Reed – no stranger to rules drama before and since – had been penalized two shots for illegally improving his lie in a bunker.
He said he did not cheat at the Hero World Challenge when he twice brushed the sand behind his ball during practice swings, claiming camera angles did not tell the whole story.
No colleagues were willing to call Reed out, except for Smith, who didn’t hold back in the build-up to the Presidents Cup.
“If you make a mistake maybe once, you might understand, but to give a bit of a bulls*** response like the camera angle … that’s pretty up there,” said Smith, who was just a new 26-year-old at the time ranked No.52 in the world.
“I have no sympathy for anyone who cheats.
“I hope the crowd absolutely gives it to not just him, but everyone (on the U.S. team) next week.”
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The comments drew attention from Reed, who was cold towards Smith during the tournament, even bumping his shoulder at one point mid-round.
During training at Royal Melbourne ahead of the Presidents Cup, Smith admitted there were tensions between the two.
“I’ve looked at Patrick a couple of times, but he hasn’t looked back. I’m looking forward to the weekend,” Smith said. “I’m definitely not going to go out of my way (to talk to him). I think our friendship isn’t quite there anymore.”
It is unclear what terms the pair are on today, although they regularly cross paths on the LIV Golf tour, having both joined the circuit last year.
They have also been partners at The Open before – in 2021 they played the first two rounds with Rory McIlroy. Neither contended for the title, but Reed missed the cut, while Smith came in T33.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Harman in the final group to see if they falter and fall back against a chasing pack that includes Australia’s Jason Day at five-under and world No.3 Jon Rahm, who posted an eight-under third round.
In all, nine players are between seven under and four under and could consider themselves still in the mix if Harman slips.
The American has a significant advantage going into the final round, but with a lead of five shots instead of six, he will know the Open’s sordid history all too well.
Twice has a player failed to win the Open with a five-shot 54-hole lead – the most famous being Jean Van de Velde in 1999, who still held a three-shot lead going to the final hole at Carnoustie before imploding and losing a playoff.
The ‘Butcher of Hoylake’ remains patient as he chases the British Open crown
Runaway leader Harman says chasing has taught him “patience” and “strategy” as he approaches his first major win at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
The American, nicknamed “The Butcher of Hoylake” because of his penchant for hunting, is 12 under par after three rounds, five ahead of compatriot Cameron Young.
The 36-year-old, a runner-up at the 2017 US Open, has won twice on the US PGA Tour but has not lifted a trophy for six years.
Harman admitted after his two-under-par 69 on Saturday that he envisioned being a big winner.
“I’ve been thinking about winning majors my whole life,” he said. “That’s the whole reason I work as hard as I do and why I practice as much as I do and why I sacrifice as much as I do.
“Tomorrow, if I’m going to succeed, it’s going to be about golf.”
The world number 26 said hunting back home in America had taught him “patience and the strategy” of golf.
“When I go turkey hunting, I can spend all day out there,” he said. “Hunting is another thing I do that makes me lose track of time.
“We’ve been on some really cool elk hunts out in Colorado, really tough hunting, tons of elevation, and then after we harvest the animal.”
He added: “I enjoy putting meat in the freezer. We eat a lot of wild meat at home.” Harman, who hails from the state of Georgia, said he was taught to hunt at a young age.
“My father used to take me hunting,” he said. “We always made it a point that I knew how to skin a deer by the time I was eight years old… I enjoy it from start to finish.”
— With AFP
HOW TO WATCH AND SHOW TIMES
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Final round at 6:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
Monday
04.00-06.00 Live From The Open (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
3RD ROUND
201 – Brian Harman (USA) 67-65-69
206 – Cameron Young (USA) 72-68-66
207 – Jon Rahm (ESP) 74-70-63
208 – Sepp Straka (AUT) 71-67-70, Jason Day (AUS) 72-67-69Antoine Rozner (FRA) 67-74-67, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 70-72-66, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 66-71-71
209 – Alex Fitzpatrick (ENG) 74-70-65, Shubhankar Sharma (IND)
211 Min Woo Lee 71-68-72
212 Cameron Smith 72-72-68
216 Adam Scott 72-73-71—216
FINAL ROUND AUSTRALIAN TEE TIMES (AEST)
18.20 Victor Perez, Adam Scott
21:00 Patrick Reed, Cameron Smith
21.20 Rickie Fowler, My Woo Lee
22.55 Jason Dayby Antoine Rozner