Over 72 glorious holes, Smith shot 20-under on the super fast, super firm St. Andrews track.
Cameron Smith turned in a clutch putting clinic Sunday while Rory–the fan favorite by a Swilcan Burn-mile–managed to hit every green in regulation. But sadly, he took 36 final-round putts. That kind of output doesn’t win major championships, club championships, or even $10 nassaus.
Rory, we’re not going to lie, this win for Cameron broke our hearts. 99.9% of golf fans around the world were rooting for you, along with us. You deserved this victory. You’ve put in the work. You’re leading the charge against LIV. You’re the man!
But the better golfer/putter hoisted the Claret Jug yesterday.
Smith shot an incredible, bogey-free final round that featured a 6-under back-nine. Crazy. Like Nicklaus at the Masters in ’86, Smith came roaring back to win the Open Championship on the back nine, playing magnificent, career-defining, calm-as-a-lion-about-to-pounce-on-his-pray-level golf.
Soccer may be the ‘beautiful game,’ but Smith Sunday was the beautiful man playing the gentlemen’s game.
Clutch shot after clutch shot, this victory was meant to be. Smith was not going to lose the tourney once he took the lead. Steely.
Look, we were rooting hard for Rory. Because we love him. Because we had money on him winning. Because it’s been 8-long-years since he’s won his last major. But we all have to give Aussie Joe Dirt his do. He is without question a Top 10-in-the-world-pro, who right now, is the best clutch putter in the game.
Tourney Scores and Payout:
| Position | Player | Score | Earnings |
| 1 | Cameron Smith | -20 | $2,500,000 |
| 2 | Cameron Young | -19 | $1,455,000 |
| 3 | Rory McIlroy | -18 | $933,000 |
| T4 | Tommy Fleetwood | -14 | $654,000 |
| T4 | Viktor Hovland | -14 | $654,000 |
| T6 | Brian Harman | -13 | $469,500 |
| T6 | Dustin Johnson | -13 | $469,500 |
| T8 | Bryson DeChambeau | -12 | $325,667 |
| T8 | Jordan Spieth | -12 | $325,667 |
| T8 | Patrick Cantlay | -12 | $325,667 |
| T11 | Sadom Kaewkanjana | -11 | $231,000 |
| T11 | Abraham Ancer | -11 | $231,000 |
| T11 | Dean Burmester | -11 | $231,000 |
| T11 | Tyrrell Hatton | -11 | $231,000 |
| T15 | Lucas Herbert | -10 | $165,583 |
| T15 | Xander Schauffele | -10 | $165,583 |
| T15 | Anthony Quayle | -10 | $165,583 |
| T15 | Francesco Molinari | -10 | $165,583 |
| T15 | Adam Scott | -10 | $165,583 |
| T15 | Si Woo Kim | -10 | $165,583 |