On Sunday Harman carded a final of one-under-par for a six-stroke victory to lift the Claret Jug for the first time.

Harman finished on 13-under-par, while Jason Day, Tom Kim, Joh Rahm and Sepp Straka finished six strokes back for a share of second.

The 36-year-old from Savannah, Georgia, said playing in the Open certainly caused him some sleepless nights, but he knew he had what it takes to win a major, especially completing the game that has become a lot more modern, with fitter and stronger younger golfers breaking onto the scene.

“You know, I've always had a self-belief that I could do something like this,” said the player for finished in tied second at the 2017 US Open.

“It's just when it takes so much time it's hard not to let your mind falter, like maybe I'm not winning again.

“I'm 36-years-old and the game is getting younger. All these young guys coming out, hit it a mile, and they're all ready to win. Like when is it going to be my turn again.

“It's been hard to deal with. I think someone mentioned that I've had more top-10s than anyone since 2017, so that's a lot of times where you get done, you're like, dammit, man, I had that one - it just didn't happen for whatever reason.

“To come out and put a performance like that together, like start to finish, I just had a lot of control. I don't know why this week, but I'm very thankful that it was this week.”

Louis Oosthuizen was the leading South African by finishing on par for a tied 23rd, while the first round leader, Christo Lamprecht, won the amateurs silver medal.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport