Now the Viennese Sepp Straka is also a big one at major level

“If I play my best golf, then I can keep up with everyone.” After his second triumph on the PGA Tour, two weeks ago at the John Deere Classic in Silvis (Illinois), Austria’s golf star Sepp Straka spoke of the pure self-confidence that the 30-year-old Viennese transported to Europe. He’s in the form of his life – and is now a big hit at major level too.

Yesterday, Straka wrote another chapter in red-white-red golf history, finishing the oldest top-category tournament, the $16.5 million 151st British Open at Hoylake’s Royal Liverpool Golf Club, with 277 strokes (seven under par) as an excellent tied second. The traditional challenge cup for the champion, the Claret Jug, the venerable silver jug ​​from which wine can be drunk, went to the unleashed USA’s Brian Harman (-13), who was two places ahead of Straka in 26th place in the world rankings before the event.

Harman received a check for $3 million, leaving Straka for $1.708 million. “When I grew up, I would never have thought that I would one day play in the big tournaments. It’s all a dream,” said the shooting star, who had done brilliantly with the links course on all four days of the competition.

A schnitzel from mom

Straka enjoyed the family atmosphere, together with his wife Page, father Peter (an architect from Vienna) and his American mother Mary, who spoiled her junior with schnitzel and other delicacies, he had rented a little house just 100 meters from the first tee. Straka is coolness personified and doesn’t let disruptive maneuvers throw her off course. Climate activists disrupted the events on Friday. Three supporters of the group “Just Stop Oil” protested on lane 17, lit a torch and scattered orange powder next to the green. The police quickly intervened and took the trio away.

At the showdown on Sunday, all eyes were on the leading group – of course with Straka, who was unstoppable on the way to the best major result by an Austrian. He topped the seventh place he had just achieved at the PGA Championship in May. The red-white-red British Open record by Markus Brier (twelfth in 2007) has also been pulverized.

“Last year I was 145th at the Open, that’s going in a different direction now,” said Straka before his final round of 69, on which he should hit five birdies and three bogeys.

The dethroned Australian Cameron Smith was far from that. The 29-year-old had to give up the Claret Jug with a heavy heart. “I would have loved to keep it. I enjoyed drinking wine from it,” said Smith, who finished 33rd this time.

Harman was simply unbeatable over this long weekend. The 36-year-old from Sa-vannah, who was second at the US Open in 2017, celebrated the biggest triumph of his career. Very deserved. Ex aequo with Straka were Jon Rahm (Esp), Jason Day (Aus) and Tom Kim (Kor).