RORY MILLROY'S The major drought that began in 2008 will last until the ninth year. Cameron Smith's extraordinary birdie blitz robbed him from the Claret Jug.

McIlroy had a round without bogeys in the final round of 70, but was defeated by the Aussie with the mullet haircut and the moustache who won the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews due to five back nine birdies.

McIlroy from Northern Ireland was overnight co-leader with Viktor Hovland of Norway. He held a clear lead at day four's turn.

McIlroy chose to go steady as you go and was shocked by Smith, who played one group in front, lighting up the leaderboards with his razor-sharp playing.

Smith may be able to afford a good barber with a PS2.1million winner's check.

This was the first major in the Aussie's professional career. However, he was highly-favorite here after finishing second at the Masters and winning this year's Players Championship at Sawgrass.

McIlroy (33) was in pain. He may never have had a better chance to add to his collection of Majors. Cameron Young's final-hole eagle even took the Brit out of the runners-up spot.

He didn't choke, and he didn't throw it away. Smith won the match, and he was right.

The 28-year old Queenslander shot an eight-under 64 to win the historic prize and set a new record at St. Andrews for the lowest final round by a champion.

McIlroy has not landed a major in eight years. 31 Majors have passed since then. Since McIlroy won, there have been 24 players who have achieved the feat.

While Saturday's match with Hovland was all smiles, Hovland was not. Here, both Ryder Cup team-mates were ready to play.

The atmosphere was intense, with storm flies gathering, and the wind threatening.

McIlroy played steady, but didn't make any putts. Hovland missed the par 4th hole, but the thought of an all-European duel was already sinking.

Smith and American Young had both lost their Camerons but they were reuniting with two birdies each, over the first five.

McIlroy made an expected birdie on McIlroy's par-five fifth, but he missed the mark at 10 feet on six.

Smith's blitz followed. The first was not unexpected. The tenth had been enjoying a relaxed day, but then the mullet men's putter got serious.

McIlroy was rolling an incredible eagle putt at 10 while he sank a 16-footer at par-three 11.

Smith rolled one from 12 feet on the 12th. Smith saw every hole as a bloody great bucket and he took a piece of the lead on 13 by sinking one from 18ft.

Smith added another birdie on the long 14th to claim the lead.

McIlroy was still unbogey but was beginning to feel the pressure of the scoreboard. Smith was fully in control when he three-putted long distance on 14 and McIlroy was still undefeated.

Young, a little-known Open rookie from New York, had also scored back-to-back birdies and moved to within one shot of McIlroy, two, and the lead.

Smith eventually gave in and accepted a par at 15, but McIlroy drove straight into the rough before matching him.

Smith finally made a mistake at the Road Hole. His approach shot was to find the rough, a bunker and separate him from the pin.

Smith was utterly inept and putted around the sandtrap before rolling in a 12-footer to keep him in front.

Then he drove down the 18th and rolled a putt to score his eighth birdie. This was his second 64 in the tournament. He also recorded 268 for the lowest total at St. Andrews.

Young putted an eagle on 18 to beat McIlroy who had just lost with a long birdie putt at the Road Hole. He couldn't manage the eagle at the last to force McIlroy to play.

Smith was the first Australian to win The Open for 28 years and he broke down when he spoke about his historic win.