The 146th Open

Here’s how Spieth emerged from the practice area's equipment trailers to claim the Claret Jug on Sunday at Royal Birkdale: Leaderboard: Spieth (-12), Kuchar (-9), Haotong Li (-6), Rory McIlroy (-5), Rafa Cabrera Bello (-5), Matthew Southgate (-4), Marc Leishman (-4), Alex Noren (-4)

The Champion Golfer of the Year

The win gives Spieth his 11th career victory, his third major championship, and the third leg of the career Grand Slam. He did not make it easy on himself.

Spieth squandered his three-shot lead in four holes and went to the back nine tied with Kuchar at 8 under after going out in 3-over 37. Still tied at 8 under through 12, Spieth played one of the most unforgettable holes in golf history at 13.

After sailing his drive into a dune, he took an unplayable, walked onto the adjacent practice area, took relief from the parked equipment trailers and somehow – over the course of a half hour – made bogey. 

Seemingly refocused and re-energized by the ordeal, he followed up with a birdie the par-3 14th and an eagle at the par-5 15th and another birdie at the par-4 16th to take a two-shot lead with two to play.

Thanks to yet another birdie at 17 and a par at 18, Spieth played his final five holes in 5 under to win by three - the same margin he started with on Sunday.

He is now just one of two players – along with Jack Nicklaus – to win his third different major before the age of 24. He will have his first chance to complete the slam in three weeks at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

The runner-up

While Spieth performed his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine, Kuchar made four birdies and three bogeys en route to a steady, workmanlike 1-under 69.

This is the 39-year-old's best ever finish in a major and his fourth career major top-5. In the last year, Kuchar has walked away with both an Olympic bronze medal and The Open's Silver Salver.

Round of the day

Li fired the 32nd round of 63 in major championship history to go from 12 shots back to start the day to solo third. Li was bogey-free Sunday and birdied each of his final four holes. The 21-year-old, 107th-ranked player in the world just earned his first Masters invite.

Best of the rest