As the sun shone brightly once again at Royal St George's, Collin Morikawa held his nerve, carding a final-round four-under 66 to take the Open title at his first effort. The American held off former champions Jordan Speith and Louis Oosthuizen to win by two strokes.
Louis Oosthuizen did not look as assured on day three of the Open Championship but still finished the day with a one shot lead. Oosthuizen who started the day with a two shot advantage was joined in the lead late on by both Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa but a birdie at the 17th saw him grab a slender heading into Sunday.
The last time the Open was held at Turnberry Stewart Cink broke the hearts of thousands of golf fans when he pipped a 59-year-old Tom Watson. Sadly, the great links on the west coast of Scotland are unlikely to see a return of the Open any time soon.
Call me old fashioned and perhaps I am showing my advancing years but watching the Open isn’t what it used to be. That all-day free coverage on the BBC from the early hours until the early evening with the only requirement being to on occasion switch between BBC 1 and BBC 2.
How Louis Oosthuizen hasn't won more majors is beyond us. The man from South Africa who has a swing to die for made his way effortlessly around a tough Royal St George's on Thursday to lead the 149th Open Championship.
The ticket ballot for The 150th Open has opened today, giving golf fans around the world the opportunity to secure a ticket for the historic Championship. The 150th Open, taking place from 10-17 July 2022 in St Andrews, is set to be a true celebration of golf and the long history of golf’s original championship, as well as the many great champions who have lifted the iconic Claret Jug.
STATEMENT ON THE 149TH OPEN AT ROYAL ST GEORGE’S
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It comes as no great surprise that the 149th Open is going ahead in 2021. The big question is whether spectators will be allowed. The event, which was due to be played at Royal St Georges in July 2020 was the COVID pandemic's biggest golf casualty.
American Doug Sanders, who sadly will always be remembered for missing a three-foot putt to win the 1970 Open Championship has died of natural causes aged 86. As we remember the flamboyant golfer from Cedartown, Georgia we look back at an interview GolfPunk was lucky enough to have with the legend that is Sanders, Our Kinda Soldier!
Well, the R&A finally made a decision and somewhat surprisingly for some the decision was to cancel the 149th Open Championship because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Tournament will now take place at the same venue, Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, in 2021.
As the various tours are losing millions each week in TV and sponsorship income and the Coronavirus trundles on the R&A continues to put out woolly statements about continuing to look at the options. Given the likely time frames for the lifting of social distancing and the issues over international travel, the R&A must postpone.
