Spieth Wins British Open in Nail-Biting Match

A record crowd watched the American win his third major championship
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 23, 2017 1:32 PM CDT
Jordan Spieth Takes Home Top Prize at British Open
Jordan Spieth of the United States lines up a putt on the 1st green during the final round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, Sunday July 23, 2017.    (Peter Morrison)

American Jordan Spieth is the winner of the 146th British Open championship. Spieth used a remarkable string of holes on the back nine to hold off American Matt Kuchar and win the third major championship of his career. He won by three shots—the same margin he started the day with—after a final round 1-under-69. He played the last five holes in 5-under-par. Spieth was behind by a shot after 13 holes when he went birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to snatch the tournament away from Kuchar.

The sizzling stretch of play came after he made an improbable bogey from the driving range after taking an unplayable penalty shot. A record crowd has taken it all in, reports the AP. The R&A says this is the highest attendance for a British Open in England, topping the 230,000 mark set at Royal Liverpool when Tiger Woods won in 2006. The Open congratulated Spieth for his victory on Twitter and also commended Kuchar for a well-fought second place, writing: " What an afternoon's golf. Matt Kuchar, who puts his second shot in the bunker, should be very proud too." (More golf stories.)

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