Hunter Harman lands his biggest prize at Open Championship

Unheralded Brian Harman, the US golfer with a passion for hunting, is celebrating the biggest trophy of his career after cantering to victory at the Open Championship on Sunday.

AS IT HAPPENED | 151st Open

The unflustered world number 26 started his final round at soggy Hoylake five shots clear of his nearest challenger and ended up winning by six.

The left-hander, who stands only 1.70m, made his big move in the second round on Friday, when he made a six-under-par 65 to surge to 10 under.

He showed his nerve after a wobble on Saturday and it was a similar story on the final day, when he dropped shots on two of his first five holes before hitting successive birdies.

Each time the gap closed Harman found a response, with his supreme putting game serving as the foundation for a final score of 13 under par.

Etched into history forever. Brian Harman collects the most iconic trophy in golf. pic.twitter.com/faxkJ1U25G

Harman's first major victory at the 151st Open is a remarkable achievement for a man who has won just twice on the PGA Tour - the John Deere Classic in 2014 and the Wells Fargo Championship three years later.

He has been close winning a major before. Leading going into the final round of the 2017 US Open, he was overtaken by Brooks Koepka and had to settle for a runners-up spot alongside Hideki Matsuyama.

Harman, who enjoys links golf, gave a glimpse of his pedigree at the 2022 Open at St Andrews, finishing joint sixth, and he tied for 12th at the recent Scottish Open.

Before the Open, the 36-year-old had finished in the top 10 five times in the 2022/23 PGA Tour season and had been runner-up three times, but was not among the favourites at Hoylake.

271 - Brian Harman (USA) 67-65-69-70

277 - Jason Day (AUS) 72-67-69-69,