Clinical mastery of Brian Harman extends Rory McIlroy's major drought

LOOK OF LOVE: Brian Harman with the Claret Jug during a press conference after winning The Open at Royal Liverpool, Wirral. Pic: David Davies/PA Wire

Another year goes by, another new Open champion joins the pantheon of major winners but as Rory McIlroy’s drought in golf’s main events is set to stretch into a 10th year, the world number two has insisted he will keep looking forward rather than reflect on a decade without silverware in the game’s most prestigious tournaments.

A missed cut at The Masters, a tie for seventh at the PGA Championship, runner-up to Wyndham Clark at last month’s US Open and now a share of sixth place at Royal Liverpool on Sunday behind runaway winner Brian Harman, the wait for major title number five will extend to nine years and seventh months when he will next get a shot, at Augusta National next April.