BRIAN HARMAN has won The Open after overcoming brutal weather at Hoylake to pocket the $3million prize money.

The American star, 36, is celebrating after clinching his first-ever Major.

Harman went into the day with a five-shot lead, despite falling back to the pack with a couple of early bogeys he came up clutch.

Rory McIlroy had fans dreaming of a first major in nine years with three birdies on the bounce on holes 3, 4 and 5 but bogeyed 10 and missed key chances to close the gap.

Masters champion Jon Rahm shot a spectacular -8 yesterday but the Spaniard could not find the magic again to mount a challenge, finishing tied second on -7.

And local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, starting the day at -5, could just not bag the birdies needed before a triple bogey at 17 summed up his round.

There were also good rounds from Tom Kim, Sepp Straka, Jason Day and Emilliano Grillo but none could get close enough.

And the closest player to him before the day began, Cameron Young, struggled as he finished +2 for the day and finished -5 overall.

Harman is only the third left-handed player to win a Claret Jug, joining Bob Charles (1963) and Phil Mickelson (2013).

And he made par at the last despite finding the greenside bunker to seal it by six shots.

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After the presentation of the Claret Jug on the 18th green, Champion Golfer of the Year Harman said: “I got to thank my wife, my family back home. I sure miss them. I can’t wait to get back to them tomorrow.

“First I’m going to have me a couple of pints out of this here trophy, I believe.

“This golf course was a real test. It was set up so great, even with the weather, so to all the superintendents and everyone that helped put it together, thank you so much.

“The greens were perfect, the golf course was excellent – thank you.”

He then added: “Lastly, I want to thank The R&A for putting together such an incredible Championship. I couldn’t be happier to be its Champion.

“And to all the fans, all the nice words and all the people back home who were rooting me on, I appreciate it so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”