Cameron Smith wins the Open after reeling in Rory McIlroy with stunning 64

It will be of scant consolation to Rory McIlroy that Cameron Smith produced a major championship final round for the ages to claim the 150th Open. McIlroy found himself standing short of the Valley of Sin, wedge in hand, needing to hole out for a two to join Smith in a playoff. The crowd offered an impromptu roar in vain hope of sporting fairytale. How had it come to this?

The 28-year-old is no longer one of the finest golfers of this generation never to win a major. He played with a day-four fearlessness that renders him the worthy champion of such a landmark event. Smith, who won the Players Championship in March, is enjoying the time of his life.

With McIlroy and Viktor Hovland in the final group, it was the Norwegian who blinked first. Hovland three putted the 4th, which edged McIlroy into a one-shot lead. McIlroy comfortably birdied the par-five 5th to double his advantage.

Hovland was playing tentatively. Pressure on McIlroy suddenly arrived from elsewhere. Smith birdied the 10th and 11th to move within one. Almost immediately McIlroy left a 126ft putt on the 10th within kick-in range. The two-stroke margin for error was restored, with McIlroy now 18 under. Smith jabbed back by picking up another shot at the 12th. Smith, now five under for his round, was posing a serious threat.

Smith, it seemed incredible to recall, had started the day four shots adrift of McIlroy and Hovland. A 74 from Hovland meant he tied fourth with Tommy Fleetwood, who signed off with a 67.