Brian Harman WINS the Open as the American holds on at Hoylake

Brian Harman has won the Open  after holding on to a six-shot lead in the final round at Hoylake.

The American went one under par on Sunday to finish at -13, holding off late challenges from Jason Day and Tom Kim.

He landed a brilliant 40-foot putt to birdie the 14th hole that all but guaranteed the victory by taking him back to 12 under after a bogey earlier in the round.

Kim was among the closest to toppling him after going four under in the final round, but still finished six shots behind the leader.

Sepp Straka also threatened at times a final round 69, but finished level with Kim on seven under.

The win gives Harman his first major victory, with his previous best finish coming at the US Open in 2017.

It is also just the 36-year-old’s third ever PGA Tour win, and his first since 2017.

He first stormed ahead by shooting a classy 65 in the second round, and held his nerve on the final two days despite a surge from Masters Champion John Rahm.

The Spaniard went one shot behind Young after a bogey-free 63 on Saturday.

It was a magnificent effort from Rahm, who began the day two over before  wrestling his way into contention with the best round of golf at the Open since 1987.

There was talk of him challenging Harman, but the 28-year-old failed to match his earlier form on Sunday and finished joint second at seven under

Rory McIlroy and Emiliano Grillo were both one shot behind, while Shubhankar Sharma produced an impressive bogey-free final round to finish five under par.

Cameron Young local favourite Tommy Fleetwood fell away slightly on the final day but ended in the top 10.