British Open 2017 highlights and results: Jordan Spieth wins

Jordan Spieth wins The Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale, his first and third career major.

Jordan Spieth’s magical 2015 season, which included a win at The Masters and the U.S. Open was derailed during the British Open, a major that has eluded him so far in his young career.

Entering Sunday, Spieth had a solid three stroke lead over Matt Kuchar and looked to be in a comfortable position to wrap up the third major of his career, and put himself on the brink of completing a career Grand Slam at just 23.

Spieth had never lost an event when holding a multi-stroke lead after 54 holes.

But it all went wrong from the jump. Spieth bogeyed three of the first four holes to find himself tied with Kuchar at -8.

On the fifth, a birdie helped Spieth regain the lead and sole possession of the lead.

On hole six, a Kuchar bogey extended Spieth’s lead to two strokes and Kuchar missed a birdie putt on seven to close the gap on Spieth.

Kuchar missed another birdie putt on the eighth, and Spieth made par again to hold onto a two-stroke lead.

On the ninth, Kuchar was finally able to sink the birdie putt and a bogey from Spieth tied the pair at -8 through the first nine holes. Spieth’s meltdown was astonishing. In the first 54 holes, Spieth had just four bogeys, a total matched on the first nine holes of the final round.

Before the 10th hole, Spieth and Kuchar were asked to pick up the pace as rain began to fall. On the 11th, Spieth sent a ball into the crowd but recovered to put himself in position for par. Kuchar missed a birdie putt on 11th that would’ve given him the lead.

On the 13th, a horrendous tee shot from Spieth put him in trouble, on the back side of a dune.

Meanwhile, Kuchar sat 20 feet from the hole with a birdie chance. Spieth had to take an unplayable which pushed him back on the line onto the practice range. After a long delay, Spieth finally hit a shot into the rough just short of the bunker.

After the long delay, Kuchar missed a birdie putt and settled for par. Spieth was able to salvage bogey, giving Kuchar a one-stroke lead at -8.

Spieth’s response continued on 14, with a near ace off the tee that put him inches away from a birdie putt. Kuchar was lucky to miss a bunker and land on the green. Spieth sunk the birdie putt to tie Kuchar for the lead at -8 once again.

The momentum was swinging Spieth’s direction. Kuchar found himself in the greenside bunker on 15, while Spieth landed on the front of the green to set up an eagle attempt.

And Spieth drained it to move to -10. Kuchar drained the birdie putt to hang within a stroke at -9.

On 16, Spieth’s drive found the rough but Kuchar’s second shot was short and to set up a long putt. Spieth recovered and found the heart of the green. Spieth sunk a long birdie putt to move to -11 and regain a two-stroke lead.

Both Kuchar and Spieth missed the fairway on 17. Kuchar and Spieth both rebounded with birdie putts, to maintain a two-stroke gap heading into the final hole.

On 18, Spieth played it safe with his tee shot. His second shot set up a long birdie putt. Kuchar’s second shot found the bunker, effectively ending the tournament and cementing Spieth’s win.

Spieth sunk a par putt to win.

Spieth is the youngest American to win the British Open and the youngest winner overall since Seve Ballesteros in 1979. All eyes will turn to the PGA Championship to see if Spieth can wrap up a career slam just a couple weeks removed from his 24th birthday.

Highlights:

After a rough start, Spieth got a birdie on the 5th to regain sole possession of the lead.

A Kuchar bogey helped extend Spieth’s lead.

https://twitter.com/TheOpen/status/889134636793823234

Kuchar sunk a birdie putt on nine, after missing birdie putts on the previous two holes, helped him tie the lead with a bogey from Spieth.

Kuchar missed a birdie on 11 that would’ve given him sole possession of the lead.

Jordan Spieth’s remarkable recovery shot on the 13th.

Spieth responded by nearly acing the 14th hole.

Spieth sinks an eagle on 15 to retake the lead.

Spieth’s hot streak continues with a birdie on 16.

Spieth’s winning putt.

What’s Next

The British Open is the third major of the season, following The Masters and the U.S. Open. The only major left in 2017 is the PGA Championship.

The 2017 PGA Championship will be played at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tournament begins on Thursday, August 10 and crowns a winner on Sunday, August 13.