Harman the Hunter Remains on Top at Hoylake

Brian Harman grabbed some column inches earlier in the year, discussing his response to a missed cut at the Masters – which was to go home and kill a turkey and a pig.

He was labeled the Hunter, and quips from 24 hours ago suggested that the hunter was about to become the hunted at this year’s Open, fading away into a T16 spot after a strong start. However, Harman continues to hunt.

18 holes away from etching his name into golfing history at Hoylake, the diminutive Georgian native has put on a clinic over the last three rounds. As big names have faltered and collapsed, failing to navigate the links turf, Harman has forged a route of his own, storming to 12 under par and commanding a five-shot lead.

Brian Harman’s putter is on fire. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mFdfkj0k0c

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 22, 2023

We could see his performance altering the Ryder Cup teams for September, especially with guys like JT failing to break 80 on Thursday, and several LIV golfers playing poorly and knocking themselves out of contention.

Cam Young sits behind Harman after an impressive 66 today, as well as Jon Rahm set the course record with a 63 on Moving Day to catapult him from +2 to -6, six back of Harman. Rahm said he felt invincible, and he will need a similar day – or some help from Harman – tomorrow to capture his third major.

Harman’s major record this season is questionable, but he was rolling off the back of a T2 at the Travelers and a T9 at the Rocket Mortgage. Hoylake has complemented his best stats on the Tour, including putting from six feet, Bogey Avoidance, Scrambling, and Fairways in Regulation.

Harman is a two-time winner on Tour but looks poised and ready to bag his maiden major. Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman would not be the first two names you select for the US and British Open titles, but such is the nature of this game.

In other news, Rory had a Rory Sunday – but a day too early, hitting it close on seemingly every hole and still barely breaking 70. He produced eight approach shots that left less than fifteen feet for Birdie, making only two. He and Scheffler are playing exquisitely tee-to-green, but giving away so many strokes with the flat stick mean their next major will continue to elude them until something changes.

There are talks of this major feeling flat, whether it is the course not playing as firm and fast as expected, or just the names we want to see at the top cannot quite get there. The fact is that the leaderboard is all bunched up nicely with some big names, but Brian Harman is way out in front – making them all chase. Harman is a grinder, a positional golfer, and he is playing a level above everyone else in the field this week.

The 2023 Open is shaping out to be a strangely anti-climactic one if Harman continues, but good luck to him. If he gives back a shot early and Hovland, Rahm, Young, or Tommy Fleetwood gain a couple, it’s game on.

Cover Image Via Sky Sports