Check in each day of this week’s Open Championship for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topic in the tournament, and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com.
Brian Harman is running away with the final major of the year, as he leads the 2023 Open Championship at 12 under, five shots clear of second-place Cameron Young (seven under). Jon Rahm, after a Saturday 63, is six under and six shots back, and there’s also a handful of golfers seven shots behind at five under: Viktor Hovland, Antoine Rozner, Jason Day, Tommy Fleetwood and Sepp Straka. Is the margin too big? Who wins come Sunday at Royal Liverpool?
Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): At first glance, it sure looks like only Harman, Young and Rahm have a chance at winning this thing. But if Young and Rahm have a chance, they’ll either have to go really low or Harman will have to come back to them. I sense the latter, especially with the bad weather that was supposed to come all week hopefully coming Sunday. If that happens, then it opens everything up for the guys at five and maybe four under. The last player to lose a five-stroke lead in an Open was Jean van de Velde in 1999. I think the chasers are better this time. I think Rahm shoots 67 and beats Harman in the four-hole playoff.
Sean Zak, senior writer (@Sean_Zak): The margin is too big.
Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): If the margin were too big, they’d have the trophy ceremony this evening. As solid as Harman has looked, it doesn’t seem likely but we’ve seen larger leads than this lost in majors before. Young and Rahm are very much still in it. For guys farther back to win, I think we’d need to see a bit of wildness in the weather. If the wind picks up, things could go topsy-turvy quickly.
Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Before the third round, I posted an (unscientific) poll on Twitter, querying folks on whether, if they were placing a bet, they’d take Harman or the field. Only 23% of respondents took Harman, despite the fact that in the last 40 years all eight players who have had a five-shot-or-greater 36-hole major lead have gone on to win. Ye of little faith! Harman appears undaunted by the moment. On Sunday, he will become the ninth member of that group.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): He’s been playing too well, and five strokes is a lot. I think it really helps him he won’t have an intimidating presence like Jon Rahm in that final group with him — no offense, Cam Young — and he’ll be able to post a score good enough to win. Like I said, he’s got room to make a mistake or two. But maybe not three.
James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Alright, yeah yeah, Harman is gonna win. But let’s pretend for a second that he doesn’t. Who amongst the remaining contenders would be your pick? The obvious choice is Jon Rahm, who could turn a good, Masters-winning year into a legacy-defining one. The all-time great players have the ability to make magic appear out of thin air. I believe Rahm has the ability to be an all-time great — but this would be a real rabbit-out-of-the-hat.
