At 28, Cameron Smith came out of the woodwork to sign a magnificent victory, Sunday July 17, at the 150th British Open. Ranked 4th before the last day, the current 6th player in the world finally returned a card of -20 to impose himself suddenly in front of theAmerican Cameron Young (-19). Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (-18) completes the top three. This edition will also have been marked by the tears of Tiger Woods who, if he does not retire, has declared that he will probably no longer drive back the greens of Saint Andrews. Here’s what to take away from this edition:
Smith makes a name for himself
In ambush with four strokes behind on the edge of the last lap, Cameron Smith finished the British Open with a bang to win his first Grand Slam tournament and make a name for himself with the general public. With a final card of -8, the Australian notably chained five birdies in a row from hole 10 to 14 to take the lead.
This success marks the consecration for Smith, already very successful this season with a victory at the Players championship, the unofficial fifth Major, and a third place at the Masters, the first Major of the year.
‘Oh my goodness’
Cam Smith with nerves of steel #The150thOpen pic.twitter.com/DQ3atZKXTY
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2022
Woods surrenders
His will alone will not have been enough. Tiger Woods failed to make the cut in Scotland and left the tournament in tears. “I’m not retiring”he first assured. “But I don’t know if I will still be physically able to come back here to Saint Andrews when it’s time to host the British Open”he added to explain his tears.
Tiger Woods takes an emotional walk down 18 for what could possibly be his final British Open at St. Andrews pic.twitter.com/cuEl7LTbkH
— Locked On Sports (@LockedOnNetwork) July 15, 2022
“I’m still going to play the British Opens, but in eight years [le temps qu’il évalue avant que le tournoi ne revienne à Saint Andrews], I don’t think I’m competitive enough yet.”, he insisted. At 46 and after a car accident in February 2021 which almost cost him his right leg, Woods was nevertheless able to fulfill his recovery objective and play the 150th British Open on the historic Saint Andrews course. This scene was needed for the Tiger’s farewell.
McIlroy, the black hole
Announced successor to Tiger Woods because of his extraordinary talent and his enormous drive, the Northern Irishman is still there, but he is struggling to win the Grand Slams.
Still in the lead after the 13th hole on Sunday, but already tied with Smith, McIlroy missed a multitude of birdies by inches or less throughout the day. In the end, he once again fails to win a fifth Major. His last dates back to the 2014 PGA Championship.
Victor Perez best Frenchman
The only French representative at the British Open, Victor Perez returned a final card of -2, for a total of -7 which places him in 34th place in this last Major of the season, 13 strokes behind the winner Cameron Smith.
Perez made the cut in a Major on Friday for the first time since the 2020 PGA Championship, which he finished in 22nd place. He then missed the cut of the six Majors played before this Open.