Cameron Smith's 2022 Open Win Highlighted as Burns Chases Claret Jug

Cameron Smith's dramatic 2022 British Open victory at St. Andrews is in the spotlight as Sam Burns leads the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Burns holds a two-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round, but history shows comebacks like Smith's are rare-only 13 players have overcome a four-shot deficit to win, with Smith being the last to do so.

What happened at the 2026 Open so far?

Sam Burns sits atop the leaderboard at 10-under after 54 holes, with Ryan Fox (-8), Si Woo Kim (-8), Ryan Gerard (-7), and Lucas Herbert (-7) chasing. Burns' playing partner, Fox, is the closest challenger, but the field remains packed with contenders. The Open has seen only 13 winners come from outside the top four after three rounds since 1999, with Francesco Molinari's 2018 Carnoustie win being the last.

Why Cameron Smith’s 2022 win matters

Smith’s four-shot comeback at St. Andrews in 2022 remains the most recent example of a player overcoming a significant final-round deficit. His victory serves as a reminder that while Burns is favored, golf’s unpredictability means anything can happen on Sunday. The last time a player overcame a bigger deficit was Paul Lawrie in 1999, who erased a 10-shot gap at Carnoustie.

Who are the key contenders?

Burns and Fox tee off in the final group, but Rory McIlroy (-2) and Scottie Scheffler (-4) are lurking. Scheffler, paired with Jon Rahm (-4), is among the biggest threats, while McIlroy seeks his first Open title since 2014. Other notables include Xander Schauffele (-4), Hideki Matsuyama (-4), and Bryson DeChambeau (-6), who could all make a late charge.

What’s next for the 2026 Open?

The final round at Royal Birkdale begins at 7:40 a.m. local time (2:40 a.m. EDT), with Burns and Fox teeing off at 2:20 p.m. (9:20 a.m. EDT). If Burns holds on, he’ll join Smith as a recent Open champion who defied late-round pressure. If not, history could repeat itself with another dramatic comeback.