Cameron Smith makes a comeback and wins the British Open on a one-shot margin

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Cameron Smith charged his direction into history on the Old Course, a Sunday shocker at St. Andrews that sent the Australian to his most memorable major by defeating Rory McIlroy to win the British Open.

The stage was set for McIlroy to end his eight-year dry spell in the majors and cap off seven days of festivity at the home of golf in the 150th Open.

Smith captured everyone's attention by running off five straight birdies to begin the back nine and conveying more grip minutes toward the end. His 8-under 64 was the most minimal last round by a boss in the multiple times golf's most established champion has been played at St. Andrews.

Smith won by a single shot over Cameron Young, who holed a 15-foot falcon putt on the last opening. It wasn't sufficient, nor was whatever McIlroy might gather.

He was unable to make a putt early. He was unable to hit it close enough late. His last great possibility was a 15-foot birdie endeavor on the terrifying Road Hole at No. 17, and it barely missed to one side.

Smith, who saved standard on the seventeenth with a 10-foot putt, was at the front of the eighteenth green with his tee shot. From 80 feet away, his speed up the slant and toward the cup was near great, passing on him a tap-in birdie to complete at 20-under 268.

Smith matched the significant title record to standard, last came to by Dustin Johnson in the 2020 Masters held in November.