Brian Harman credits motivation from Georgia’s Kirby Smart to win 2023 Open Championship
Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog. On Sunday, University of Georgia alum Brian Harman posted a one-under-par 70 in the Final Round of The 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Sunday to win the Claret Jug and the first major of his career.
After securing the significant victory, Harman shouted out his alma mater. Specifically, the 36-year-old pro golfer thanked UGA head coach Kirby Smart for motivation down the backstretch.
“I was a wreck last night. I’ve been a wreck the whole week. It’s just trying to grind it and… I kept thinking about something Kirby Smart said. I’m not going to be hunted. I’m going to hunt. I decided to get out and try and take as much control as I could. When I made a couple of putts on the front nine I felt like it settled down. I felt like I had a lot of control,” Harman said.
It wasn’t a direct conversation, but Smart’s words certainly hit home for Harman.
“I didn’t speak to Kirby. I’ve just been really impressed with how he’s handled success. I’ve always kind of paid attention when really successful people talk and there’s always clues there to how they feel. And I’ve always admired that even with all the success that he’s had, it’s all about the next play, the next game, the next week of practice. And he knows the results come because of what you do in the trenches,” Harman said on the Golf Channel after the win.
Control wasn’t easy on a rainy Sunday. In the win, Harman fought through a barrage of showers as the field of competitors, including past major champions Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, battled to catch up. Harman even put down fellow UGA alums Sepp Straka and Jason Day in the process.
Ultimately, Harman finished 13-under par for the tournament, six shots ahead of Rahm, Straka, Day and Tom Kim. Harman became the first player since Henry Cotton in 1934 to lead by at least five shots after each of the final three rounds at The Open Championship, per ESPN Stats & Info.
While Harman sent love toward Athens, Georgia sent love back, including Smart.
Although Harman wasn’t an instant success on the pro scene, he was a standout for the Bulldogs. Harman was a three-time Second-Team All-American on the UGA golf team. Further, he won the 2005 NCAA Preview and the 2006 Isleworth Invitational. He also won the yearly award for the highest Grade Point Average three times.
The wait was seemingly worth it.
“Just overwhelming joy,” Harman told Mike Tirico of NBC Sports. “… Cool as it gets. This is the best tournament in the world. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
At 36 years old, Harman is the oldest first-time major champion since Spain’s Sergio Garcia, 37, won the Masters in 2017. Harman will earn $3 million for the win.
On3’s Matt Connolly and Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.
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