British Open champion Brian Harman prepares for defence of ‘coolest trophy’

TROON – Defending British Open champion Brian Harman heads to Royal Troon this week in the belief that he can become the first man since Padraig Harrington 16 years ago to claim back-to-back victories.

The American shot a one-under 70 in the rain-soaked final round at Royal Liverpool in 2023 to finish six strokes clear of Tom Kim, Sepp Straka, Jason Day and Jon Rahm.

It was his first Major championship title and made him just the third left-hander after Bob Charles (1963) and Phil Mickelson (2013) to win the Open, but he is hoping it is not his last.

“Any time that you become a Major champion, it certainly elevates your status in the game, elevates the way that you’re perceived in the game,” said Harman, 37, in his pre-tournament press conference on July 15.

“I try to take all of that in my stride but, at the same time, understand that the golf is the most important thing. I’ve tried to improve my golf game and get it in a place where I can maybe contend in some more Majors down the road.”

The world No. 13 is certainly keen to get his hands back on the Claret Jug.

He described it as the “coolest trophy” in sport and admitted that during his year of custody he had used it to enjoy some “unusually expensive wine” and some “unusually exceptional bourbon”.

Harman has just three career PGA Tour wins and none since his 2023 Open. But he did finish tied-second, just one stroke behind Scottie Scheffler, at the Players Championship at Sawgrass and professes to be pleased with his game.

“My stats this year have been really good, my ball striking has been as good as it’s ever been. The only thing I haven’t done well this year is I haven’t putted especially well. So I’m just kind of waiting for it all to line up correctly,” he said.

“You can work and work and work. You just never know when that work is going to pay off. You never know when the peak is coming, when you’re going to catch a little bit of momentum.

“I’ve worked really hard, and my game is in really good shape. I’m happy with what I’m going into this week.”

Harman also played down the heckling he received in Liverpool in 2023.

“It doesn’t bother me. I’m ready to take whatever in my stride. I’m here to play the best golf that I possibly can. That’s my main focus,” he said.

“I’ve always loved the fans over here. I’ve spoken a bunch of times about how I find them the most knowledgeable fans of any that we play in front of. I kind of chalk last year up as more of an anomaly than anything else.”

Meanwhile, there is no overstating the importance of a victory at the British Open, as far as Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg is concerned.

He makes his debut in the Major this week at Royal Troon, the same golf club where, in 2016, his countryman Henrik Stenson won dramatically.

“I’ve said that a few times before, that day should be a national holiday in Sweden. It was a very cool day,” Aberg said on July 15 at a press conference.

“I vividly remember watching that with my friends, and it’s cool to see what he’s done for Swedish golf, and (what) he’s doing, so, obviously, was the pinnacle of that.”

At 24, Aberg is very early in his career since turning professional in 2023 after a standout collegiate career at Texas Tech. He already has played for the European Ryder Cup Team and won two tournaments in 2023 on the DP World Tour (European Masters) and PGA Tour (RSM Classic).

Ranked No. 4 in the world, Aberg has made 14 of 15 cuts in 2024 with seven top-10 finishes, including two runners-up at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and the Masters in April.

His lone missed cut was at the PGA Championship in May and, in his third Major of the year, he tied for 12th at the US Open in June.
AFP, REUTERS