Brian Harman Wins 151st Open Championship-WITB

[Golfspy_CG2]

 

PGA TOUR/DP WORLD TOUR | The 151st Open Championship: Strong and steady over the most pressure-packed 36 holes of his career, Titleist Brand Ambassador Brian Harman trusted his Pro V1 golf ball, TSi2 driver, 620 CB irons and Vokey Design wedges to a historic six-shot victory in the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Harman raced out to an early five-shot lead through two rounds, following a Friday 6-under 65 – featuring consecutive birdies from Nos. 2-5 and a closing eagle on 18 – that was 8.45 shots better than the day’s scoring average (the week’s single largest differential).

From the final group, he played his next 36 holes in 3 under par (69-70), including a 2-under performance over his last five holes Sunday to claim the Claret Jug.

The 36-year-old former U.S. Junior Champion is the first player to lead The Open by 5-plus shots after Rounds 2, 3 and 4 since 1934.

“I’m over the moon. It was a tough last three days, really was,” Harman said. “Being able to get some sleep was big last night. Sleeping on a lead like that is really difficult, so glad of the way I hung in there the last couple days.”

With the win, Harman moves to No. 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking, the highest position of his career; to No. 6 in the FedEx Cup standings; and to No. 3 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings.

 

• WITB | BRIAN HARMAN Titleist Pro V1 golf ball TSi2 9.0 driver | Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 5 S TS2 13.5 fairway | Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution 2 S U•500 3-5 utility irons | Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 90HY 6.0 620 CB 6-P irons | True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 Vokey Design SM9 50.08F, 54.08M, 60.04L wedges | True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

• THE STORY BEHIND BRIAN HARMAN’S SWITCH TO PRO V1, TITLEIST EQUIPMENT: Prior to the start of 2017, Brian Harman had been playing a competitive golf ball and equipment (the only Titleist club in his bag at the end of 2016 was a Vokey pitching wedge).

During that offseason, he made a call to Titleist Tour Rep Jim Curran, asking for a set of Titleist irons, similar to the ones he had played as a junior golfer and in college at the University of Georgia.

Said Curran: “Brian called me during the offseason holidays last December (2016) and said he played Titleist irons before he turned professional and has not had that feel in his iron ball striking since then. He ordered a set of 716 CB’s and we agreed to meet on the range in Palm Springs the Monday of CareerBuilder. It was then that we dialed in his loft, lies and yardages. From there, Brian was low maintenance all season. I would check his grips, lofts and lies roughly once a month and he did the rest.”

Harman put his new set of CB’s in play for the first time that Thursday at PGA West’s Nicklaus Course. (He now plays the 620 CB models.)

“Very first time when I played (the CB’s) was in Palm Springs,” Harman said in 2018. “I worked with Mr. Jim Curran and we got them figured out. Finished third that week and I was having a pretty nice year.”

Three months later, Johnson Wagner asked Harman, who was still playing a competitive golf ball, if he wanted to team up at the Zurich Classic (the first year that the Zurich went to the team format).

“He was kind of curious as to what ball we wanted to play,” Harman said. “I said, ‘I played Titleist balls in college and everything. We’ll just play your ball (in alternate shot), no problem.

“We had a nice tournament... It got really windy. I was hitting some shots with Johnson’s ball, shots that I just couldn’t hit with the ball I was playing. After that round, I decided to switch to the Pro V1. …

“I hit one shot on the second hole the last day in New Orleans (with the competitive ball) that spun up into the wind. I hit it flush but it came up 10 yards short and plugged in the bunker. And I just remember thinking, ‘That’s the last time I’m going to hit that ball. I’m switching balls.’ So, I switched, man, and I’m back. When I switched (to Pro V1), I want to say I was right around 90th in the world, and now I’m 30th, I think. … (Prior to Wells Fargo, Harman was 93rd in the OWGR. He ended 2017 at 25th.)

The following week, Harman teed up Pro V1 at the Wells Fargo Championship. On Sunday, he birdied 17 and 18 at Eagle Point GC to win by one shot. “I won the next week with it (Pro V1), the very first week I played it,” Harman said.

Harman reiterated the significance of his switch prior to last year’s Open Championship at St. Andrews, where he finished T6: “The reason I switched back to Titleist was because of windy days and with Open Championships and major championships in mind. To flight the ball and not have to worry about it getting up and getting out of hand was a big deal.”

“I switched to this ball in 2017 from a different company and the effects were immediate. You know, the last four years on tour have been my best four put together,” Harman said prior to the 2022 U.S. Open. “I just was never able to flight my old ball. I had trouble controlling and especially in the wind and we ended up playing so much wind out here. The effects for me were immediate switching to this Pro V and I mean, it’s been a complete 180. The way that I flight iron shots, the way that I control it around the green, it saves me, I don't know how many shots it’s saved me.”

When Harman arrived at the winners-only Sentry Tournament of Champions to open 2018, there were several new additions to his bag, including a new Titleist driver, fairways and full set of Vokey Design wedges.

[BallsLeon]

Interesting about switching to CBs and the ball changes! He was previously with TaylorMade is that right?

[RCGolf]

So happy for a great guy like Brian Harmon! Almost flawless golf for 72 holes, finished in style, and a big middle finger to the haters (few) in the crowd. Cheers. Also, nice to see a guy with almost the same bag setup as myself. Graphite Design IZ-5S! Love it.

[StrokerAce]

2 things that the reporters in the UK are fascinated over with Mr. Harman.
1. hunting
2. tractors

Hilarious!

 

[Golfspy_CG2]

38 minutes ago, BallsLeon said:

Interesting about switching to CBs and the ball changes! He was previously with TaylorMade is that right?

Yep, previous ball and clubs were TM, has been with Titleist since the ball switch.  Still uses the Spider OS CB putter, it's the only non Titleist club in his bag. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

19 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

2 things that the reporters in the UK are fascinated over with Mr. Harman.
1. hunting
2. tractors

Hilarious!

 

I heard that yesterday.....It was unreal how they wouldn't let it go.  I posted to KVV on FB asking who that reporter was if he knew.  He didn't reply yet.   

[IndyBonzo]

Watching down the stretch I was *amazed* at how steady and unfazed Mr. Harman was.  Automatic, like he was playing a leisurely Sunday twilight round at his club.  I found it very, very impressive.

[vandyland]

Loved seeing a different style of golf and golfer prevail. Makes you wonder if we played more golf courses like that on tour if you would see less of the bombers win? Also loved seeing truly penalizing bunkers which made the pros bunker play look like mine, haha, on some holes. 

[BMart519]

Looked like he was still gaming a 2019 pro V1 with the black triangles. Looks like the left dash markings which is what I thought he was playing at first. 

[StrokerAce]

This might be the funniest thing you listen to today...

 

[Q22Golf]

Thank you for sharing this! I find the ball comments the most intriguing! I have been experimenting with balls and Pro V1x is the next up. Thanks again!

[RyanJohnson_Official]

What are the odds the 2016 TaylorMade Spider OS CB gets a relaunch and starts selling for $500+? Man us golfers can be fickle creatures at times....

[Golfspy_CG2]

50 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Loved seeing a different style of golf and golfer prevail. Makes you wonder if we played more golf courses like that on tour if you would see less of the bombers win? Also loved seeing truly penalizing bunkers which made the pros bunker play look like mine, haha, on some holes. 

So true.  I think you have to also acknowledge the lack of wind this year, especially after the first day.  Over the weekend, they didn't have any wind at all to speak of.    I think a normal Open Championship type wind would have brought a lot more of those bunkers and deep gorse into play.  So the conditions definitely helped even out the paling field. 

13 minutes ago, Q22Golf said:

Thank you for sharing this! I find the ball comments the most intriguing! I have been experimenting with balls and Pro V1x is the next up. Thanks again!

Yeah, that was a pretty cool story.  Especially about the TM ball just getting caught in the wind and falling short. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

Just now, RyanJohnson_Official said:

What are the odds the 2016 TaylorMade Spider OS CB gets a relaunch and starts selling for $500+? Man us golfers can be fickle creatures at times....

Ebay is already on it...Ha    I guess the Versa Jailbird is yesterdays news 

 

[funkyjudge]

I was VERY happy to see Brian Harmon win the Open Championship. The only annoying thing about watching him is the 13 or more waggles and twitches prior to every shot. It brought back unpleasant memories of watching Sergio Garcia in the early 2000s, with his many re-gripping antics prior to each of his shots.

[myanta]

Congratulations to Brian. Great play throughout the tournament.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

the awesome thing here, he is a tour pro that had stiff shafts in every club. Goes to show that swing speed shouldn't be a dictator of shaft flex.

[cnosil]

8 minutes ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

the awesome thing here, he is a tour pro that had stiff shafts in every club. Goes to show that swing speed shouldn't be a dictator of shaft flex.

He swings 109 so some people could/would say that stiff is the right flex based on speed.   
 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

7 minutes ago, cnosil said:

He swings 109 so some people could/would say that stiff is the right flex based on speed.   
 

fair enough. I am going by my paltry 111 being in XS, albeit not fitted  

[RCGolf]

3 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

I heard that yesterday.....It was unreal how they wouldn't let it go.  I posted to KVV on FB asking who that reporter was if he knew.  He didn't reply yet.   

I know, right? That is about the most Ultra-Liberal part of the world as you’ll find, the Brit media. “If you could hunt and kill the most rare and protected animal in the world, how would that rate to winning the “British” Open”… Or whatever BS that D-bag said, you could tell Harmon was like “Really?” I looked at my wife and said, “imagine if I won, the abject disaster the media session would have been!!?” 

[Golfspy_CG2]

24 minutes ago, RCGolf said:

I know, right? That is about the most Ultra-Liberal part of the world as you’ll find, the Brit media. “If you could hunt and kill the most rare and protected animal in the world, how would that rate to winning the “British” Open”… Or whatever BS that D-bag said, you could tell Harmon was like “Really?” I looked at my wife and said, “imagine if I won, the abject disaster the media session would have been!!?” 

Yeah, that was such an off the wall question, he just got wierder with each question.   Harman handled it well, by saying, I would love to golf every day, but I wouldn't' love to hunt every day. So no comparison.    In other words...get off it man. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

So a full confession.  As little as two months ago, I really disliked Harman.  it was absolutely no fault of his, nothing he said or did.  It was when he started showing up regularly in the Top 10.   Every broadcaster had to describe him as a grinder, scrapper, fighter, and of course a Bull Dog, with some of them having no idea of where he played college golf.   They just couldn't' let go of those descriptions.   It became like nails on a chalkboard to me.   I was like, How about just saying,  Here's Brian Harman, he's playing really well this week with another top 10 finish.    

But I gained so much respect for him this week seeing the way he handled things and laughing about the heckler that insulted him, can you imagine what Patrick Reed would have done...ha  

And of course with him being Team Titleist, that doesn't' hurt him in my book at all

[RCGolf]

16 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

So a full confession.  As little as two months ago, I really disliked Harman.  it was absolutely no fault of his, nothing he said or did.  It was when he started showing up regularly in the Top 10.   Every broadcaster had to describe him as a grinder, scrapper, fighter, and of course a Bull Dog, with some of them having no idea of where he played college golf.   They just couldn't' let go of those descriptions.   It became like nails on a chalkboard to me.   I was like, How about just saying,  Here's Brian Harman, he's playing really well this week with another top 10 finish.    

But I gained so much respect for him this week seeing the way he handled things and laughing about the heckler that insulted him, can you imagine what Patrick Reed would have done...ha  

And of course with him being Team Titleist, that doesn't' hurt him in my book at all

Team Titleist finally got two in a row. 

[StrokerAce]

I saw him throw the ball in the crowd right handed. Is he a natural righty that plays golf left handed??

[StrokerAce]

1 hour ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Every broadcaster had to describe him as a grinder, scrapper, fighter, and of course a Bull Dog... 

reminds me of when Wojo played at Duke and they'd talk about him.

(apologies for the digression)

[Golfspy_CG2]

59 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

reminds me of when Wojo played at Duke and they'd talk about him.

(apologies for the digression)

Yep, I think they pull out those cliches for any pro athlete shorter than 5'10"   Don't even ask me how many times we heard it in the washington area about Tyler Heinicke ...Good grief! 

He could throw 3 pics but "He's a grinder, got to love his guts"   

 

[cnosil]

Golfers are so interesting.  After Rickie’s, Clark’s and Bradley’s success with the Jailbird we saw prices soar for Jailbird putters and Odyssey releasing a new model.   Coming aft Harman’s victory there has been talk of the putter,  it the biggest talk is about the mirror since Harman credited it for the win.   Ironically no one seems to know what mirror he uses but they are what everyone is buying.

per Golf magazine and Golfweek it is the Short Game Gains  mirror which has become sold out:  their social media is promoting that it is theirs based on the articles.   https://golf.com/instruction/putting/brian-harman-putting-aid-open-championship-dominance/

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/07/24/brian-harman-credits-training-aid-putting-2023-british-open/

according to the PGA Tour article it is an Eyeline mirror: https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/equipment-report/2023/07/24/five-things-every-golfer-can-learn-from-brian-harman-equipment-at-the-open-championship-titleist-taylormade-spider

 Saw a Twitter post with a photo which would be the par perfect mirror: https://www.parperfectgolf.com/products/the-par-perfect-mirror-bundle

 

[Kenny B]

5 hours ago, cnosil said:

Golfers are so interesting.  After Rickie’s, Clark’s and Bradley’s success with the Jailbird we saw prices soar for Jailbird putters and Odyssey releasing a new model.   Coming aft Harman’s victory there has been talk of the putter,  it the biggest talk is about the mirror since Harman credited it for the win.   Ironically no one seems to know what mirror he uses but they are what everyone is buying.

per Golf magazine and Golfweek it is the Short Game Gains  mirror which has become sold out:  their social media is promoting that it is theirs based on the articles.   https://golf.com/instruction/putting/brian-harman-putting-aid-open-championship-dominance/

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/07/24/brian-harman-credits-training-aid-putting-2023-british-open/

according to the PGA Tour article it is an Eyeline mirror: https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/equipment-report/2023/07/24/five-things-every-golfer-can-learn-from-brian-harman-equipment-at-the-open-championship-titleist-taylormade-spider

 Saw a Twitter post with a photo which would be the par perfect mirror: https://www.parperfectgolf.com/products/the-par-perfect-mirror-bundle

 

I'm surprised no one has asked what underwear the winners are wearing.     

[Golfspy_CG2]

19 hours ago, cnosil said:

Golfers are so interesting.  After Rickie’s, Clark’s and Bradley’s success with the Jailbird we saw prices soar for Jailbird putters and Odyssey releasing a new model.   Coming aft Harman’s victory there has been talk of the putter,  it the biggest talk is about the mirror since Harman credited it for the win.   Ironically no one seems to know what mirror he uses but they are what everyone is buying.

per Golf magazine and Golfweek it is the Short Game Gains  mirror which has become sold out:  their social media is promoting that it is theirs based on the articles.   https://golf.com/instruction/putting/brian-harman-putting-aid-open-championship-dominance/

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/07/24/brian-harman-credits-training-aid-putting-2023-british-open/

according to the PGA Tour article it is an Eyeline mirror: https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/equipment-report/2023/07/24/five-things-every-golfer-can-learn-from-brian-harman-equipment-at-the-open-championship-titleist-taylormade-spider

 Saw a Twitter post with a photo which would be the par perfect mirror: https://www.parperfectgolf.com/products/the-par-perfect-mirror-bundle

 

This, the jailbird and just driver sales in general in our shop are a true indication that the AVERAGE golfer is influenced by tour succes, maybe not avid forum member golfers but jut the guy who watches the PGA and goes to Big Box to buy new golf stuff, definitely is.  We see it in our shop all the time...asking for the DJ Driver when he drove the 400 yard green at Kaalua a few years ago, asking for Bryson's One Length Clubs when he went to Cobra and more recently had two people ask me about the Jailbird putters.

 

[cnosil]

4 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

This, the jailbird and just driver sales in general in our shop are a true indication that the AVERAGE golfer is influenced by tour succes, maybe not avid forum member golfers but jut the guy who watches the PGA and goes to Big Box to buy new golf stuff, definitely is.  We see it in our shop all the time...asking for the DJ Driver when he drove the 400 yard green at Kaalua a few years ago, asking for Bryson's One Length Clubs when he went to Cobra and more recently had two people ask me about the Jailbird putters.

 

This phenomenon is the basis for MGS and their testing.  We see people that get fit or have been fit and say that the most wanting test didn’t indicate the best club for them.   People that get fit or have knowledge about golf clubs is rare; most people just buy off the rack based on what the big PGA star or social media influencer is using.   MGS most wanted is to help steer those people to the clubs that seem to work for the largest percentage of players.