It was not McIlroy or Viktor Hovland, who took the advantage before entering the final day of the 2022 British Open, that Cameron Smith won the final. Another Cameron, Young, took the runner-up position.
With -16 strokes after 3 days of competition, McIlroy is highly appreciated for the opportunity to end 8 years of waiting for a major title, because although Hovland also has the same index, the 24-year-old golfer lacks experience. The championship will be meaningful as this is the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship.
Compared to the previous 3 days, McIlroy did not have any bogey in 18 holes, but his form could not be maintained, with only 2 Birdiedie. That has left the Northern Irish golfer finishing with 70 standard sticks for the first time in this year's tournament, to have a total of 270 sticks after 4 days and a score of -18 sticks.
Hovland is even worse, with 3 bogey and only 1 Birdie, so it takes 74 sticks to complete 18 holes, thereby being pushed down to the 4th place with Tommy Fleetwood (total 274 sticks, -18 points).
In contrast, two golfers named Cameron created a very exciting race, despite Young not starting well with a bogey point in the first hole. After the third day, they have -12 sticks together, so they will have to play really well in the hope of competing. In addition to being somewhat lucky because McIlroy and Hovland did not play well, both Smith and Young regained their form.
After the first bogey, Young was hit once again in the 9th hole, but with 7 Birdiedie and 1 eagle in the 18th hole, the world-class 32nd-class golfer heated up the race until the end. Meanwhile, Smith did not play any bogey and scored 8 Birdie points. The drama was when Smith saved the pair in hole 17, and then, with a putt from 24m away on green hole 18, the golfer born in 1993 ended the tournament with -20 sticks after 268 shots, only 1 stick difference compared to Young.
Smith has made his name in the history of the Old Course in St Andrews and is the first Australian to win The Open Championship since Kel Nagle in 1960.
