They’ve set their dreams. They’ve put in the work. They’ve done their time. Now it’s time for a taste of the PGA Tour.

Four members of Team Canada’s National Squad are gearing up to play the Royal Montreal Golf Club for the 105^th Canadian Open. Accompanied by Head Coach Derek Ingram are Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson and Chris Hemmerich. Together, they make up four out of 19 Canadians in the field.

Sure, winning Canada’s Open would be a dream come true for these young men – but that’s not the mindset that Head Coach Derek Ingram is preaching. Instead, he hopes to prepare them for the ups and downs of professional golf, and the emotional swings that can happen under the spotlight.

“The magnitude of playing in your national championship on the PGA Tour is definitely a lot of pressure,” said the Winnipeg native. “Inside the solitude of the ropes is just you, your caddie and a golf course – they just need to focus on sticking to their routines and game plan.”

Although these players have reached the pinnacle of amateur golf in Canada, Ingram confirms that there is much still to be learned.

“It opens a door for them to work harder, learn from their results, and polish their game a little bit more so they are prepared to play in future Web.com or PGA Tour events,” he said. “It gives them an opportunity to deal with being nervous and feeling a lot of pressure – so it’s a very big week for the guys and a lot can be learned from playing in this event.”

With Hemmerich, Pendrith and Conners all graduating this year, and Svensson winning NCAA’s Jack Nicklaus award as a sophomore, professional golf may come sooner rather than later. With that said, the RBC Canadian Open will prove to be a great experience for Team Canada, regardless of the outcome.

Adam Svensson, 20, of Surrey, B.C. is returning this year for his second consecutive RBC Canadian Open. After missing the cut last year (76-72), he has some gained confidence on how to handle the big stage.

“I want to get into position to be able to come into the top 20,” said Svensson, the No. 30 ranked amateur in the world. “I have a lot more experience now and I think that will help make this week even more fun.”

Conners, a recent graduate of Kent State, is also returning for his second straight Open. The Listowel, Ont. native will look to improve on last year’s results – he missed the cut by just two strokes. His Kent State and Team Canada teammate, Taylor Pendrith, is entering his first Canadian Open and PGA Tour event of his promising career. The big-hitting Richmond Hill, Ont. native earned his spot by way of exemption, and has set modest goals for himself leading into Thursday’s first round.

“My goal is to just play my game and not get too caught up in everything,” said the 23-year-old. “If I remember to have fun and enjoy it, I will be playing on the weekend.”

Kitchener, Ont. native Chris Hemmerich earned his spot through an exemption late on Sunday night. The Guelph University graduate has moved well inside the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) top 100, climbing to No. 61 Like Pendrith, he is confident that he will make a strong mark in his first Canadian Open experience and hopes to focus on playing golf the way he is capable.

“I just need to play my game and to try and stay in the moment,” he said. “I can’t let all the surrounding noise affect my game.”

No matter the outcome, this week will without a doubt be a great learning experience for the rising stars of Team Canada.

MONTRÉAL (Golf Canada) – Jason Allred of Ashland, Oregon; Kevin Stinson, of Mission, B.C.; Ben Silverman of Concord, Ont.; and Robbie Greenwell of Georgetown, Ont. have all earned spots into this week’s RBC Canadian Open at The Royal Montreal Golf Club via Monday’s Final Qualifier at Club de golf St-Raphael.

Allred, 34, topped the leaderboard at the Monday qualifier thanks to a 6-under par 66. The Web.com Tour member who has two top-25 finishes on the PGA TOUR’s development circuit this season carded an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys en route to earning medalist honours.

Canada’s Stinson, Silverman and Greenwell finished in a 3-way tie for second after firing matching 5-under 67s.

After Monday’s Final Qualifier, a total of 19 Canadians are set to compete in the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.

A full list of Final Qualifier scores is available by clicking here.

SYLVANIA, Ohio  — Now that she’s officially a millionaire, Lydia Ko joked she’ll have to keep a closer watch on where her paychecks go.

“I’ll probably see that going into my mom’s account,” she said with a laugh, referring to the $210,000 she got for winning Sunday’s Marathon Classic.

The 17-year-old broke free from a late tie with So Yeon Ryu, hitting a wedge to 4 feet for birdie on the 72nd hole to take the lead. Then she tried in vain – she’s just 5-foot-5 – to see past the large gallery at 18 as Ryu missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have forced a playoff.

“I couldn’t see it properly. I was behind some people,” she said after her second LPGA Tour victory that matched the two Canadian Open titles she won as an amateur. “But I kind of could tell what happened by the crowd’s reaction.”

She became the youngest player to top $1 million in career earnings on the LPGA Tour. Ko is roughly 17 months younger than Lexi Thompson, previously the youngest. Ko has shown incredible consistency in her rookie year on tour, making the cut in all 15 tournaments she’s entered. She has six top-10 finishes in addition to her wins, with five of those being top-fives.

Ryu had poured in a big-breaking, 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th to pull even.

But then Ko stuck her approach at the par-5 closing hole and calmly rolled in the birdie putt for a 6-under 65 that left her at 15-under 269.

Ryu hit a brilliant third shot to the green, but pushed her 6-footer at the 18th.

“Absolutely I’m disappointed I missed (that) birdie putt,” she said. “Sometimes if I get something lucky, then I get something that is unlucky. I just accept it and let it go.”

Ko was resilient, also shrugging aside a challenge from veteran Cristie Kerr, who pulled into a tie with her on the homeward nine.

Ko, who proudly bears the flag of her native New Zealand on her golf bag, started the final round in fifth place, three shots behind co-leaders Laura Diaz and Lee-Anne Pace.

While they foundered, she crept up the leaderboard with birdies at holes 3 and 4. She tied for the top spot with a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth, then took a solo lead for the first time after hitting her approach to 10 feet at the 10th.

Kerr, seeking her 17th career victory, rolled in a left-to-right breaker from 15 feet at the 13th to pull even. But her approach on the 399-yard, par-4 15th missed left and settled into heavy rough. She muscled the pitch shot onto the green, but it rolled 6 feet past and she lipped out the par putt.

Kerr, who shot a 67 to finish three shots back in third, failed to apply pressure when she could not birdie the closing two par-5s.

“I had a good/bad week,” she said. “I didn’t play 17 and 18 well all week. If you’re going to win here you have to take advantage of those holes.”

Ko hit a pitching wedge from 121 yards to 6 feet past the pin, then rolled in the downhill putt for a two-shot lead at the 16, but Ryu birdied four of six holes late in her round to tie.

Playing in the pairing immediately in front of Ryu, Ko hit three perfect shots on the closing par-5, which is bisected by a large, deep valley with a creek at the bottom. Her 72-yard chip shot nestled 4 feet away and she drilled it into the heart of the hole to regain the lead.

Ryu’s third on the final hole ended up pin-high and 6 feet away. But she pushed the putt off the right edge, the large gallery groaning as the ball rolled past.

Ryu’s 67 left her at 270. Kelly Tan (67), Katherine Kirk (68) and Pace (71) were at 273.

Diaz, who led almost from the start after birdieing her first five holes on Thursday, lapsed to a 75 and finished at 277.

Ko came into the round, which was delayed an hour by fog, vowing to shoot a 65. After she did it and collected the routine over-sized cardboard check, she pondered what she might do now that she’s a millionaire.

“I may do one of those teenage things – like getting something electronic,” she said with a grin. Rebecca Lee-Bentham earned a 12th place finish with a 68 in the final round.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Richmond Hill, ON earned a 12th place finish with a 68 in the final round alongside Quebec’s Maude Aimee Leblanc who finished  tied for 54th at 2-under.

If you don’t think golf is a team sport, think again.

Eleven players in the field for the RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club will be sporting the distinctive blue, gold and white shield logo as members of Team RBC.

They are Canadians Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet, David Hearn and Stephen Ames, Americans Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and defending Canadian Open Brandt Snedeker, England’s Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, and South African Ernie Els.

“The 11 are among the best professional golfers today and are fantastically important for the RBC brand,” said Jane Broderick, chief brand and communications officer for RBC. “Team RBC golfers are chosen because their values and what they stand for is totally aligned with the RBC brand.

“The three elements are integrity, trust and responsibility. Those are things that we stand for,” said Broderick. “Having those brand attributes ourselves and their brand attributes so aligned is wonderful.

“These are roles models,” she added. “We all know that these are the good guys in golf. The fans love them and they do things on and off the course that are really differentiated.”

Team RBC is actually 12 members strong with the inclusion of LPGA Tour veteran Morgan Pressel of the United States. As members they showcase the RBC logo on their golf bags and clothing and are featured in company marketing and advertising campaigns in Canada, the U.S. and international markets.

Team RBC is a major component in the bank’s commitment to golf as the title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open as well as the RBC Heritage, held annually at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“The concept began as a complement to our golf portfolio back in 2008. We determined that they could provide us with some additional brand exposure,” said Broderick. “We started with three brand ambassadors (Weir, Ames and American Anthony Kim) and between 2008 and today we now have our current roster of 12.

“Our unique aspect for Team RBC is their commitment to philanthropy and community,” said Broderick. “I can’t speak to other organizations, but I can tell you that within RBC they have been really great in building our brand. We show them in our advertising campaign and as the cornerstone of our Make Your Mark campaign, so again…perfectly aligned.

“Through the #RBCGolf4Kids charity challenge we’ve engaged very large communities because these golfers have communities, followers and influencers. They’re telling their stories and they’re telling the charity’s story, and they’re doing it under the brand of RBC.

“We’re really proud about that and proud of the work they do with the charities that they support.”

Broderick cited Snedeker’s commitment and involvement with Dustin Barr, a young cancer patient from Toronto, while Snedeker was enroute to winning the 2013 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont.

“These are things that these guys do. It’s built into their values. It’s in their DNA. They think, act and behave like RBCers,” said Broderick. “They place great importance in their role and being active. They use this status to do that so we’re really pleased with them.”

What they do on the course is important as well in terms keeping the RBC brand in the spotlight.

Four of the 11 currently are in the men’s top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings; Kuchar (5), Furyk (11), McDowell (17) and Donald (20).

They have a combined total of 72 career victories on the PGA Tour, including seven majors, of which four belong to Els.

Kuchar was the first member Team RBC to record a victory this season, winning at the RBC Heritage in March for his fifth career PGA Tour title. And while the team’s newest members DeLaet and Hearn have yet to win on tour, the fast rising Canadians have combined for seven top-10 finishes this season so far.

Pretty good team, eh?

Thunder Bay, ON – With a crucial up-and-down for birdie at the 72^nd hole, Cincinatti, Ohio’s Wes Homan claimed the inaugural Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, his first PGA TOUR Canada win.

The 30-year old prevailed in a dramatic fight to the finish over rookie Greg Eason of England, who made a clutch birdie of his own at the last to force Homan’s hand. Homan calmly stepped up a drained a 6-footer, punctuated with a pump of the fist, to secure his first win in four seasons on TOUR.

“It felt great to make that putt,” said Homan, who finished at 17-under for the week. “It’s more of a sense of relief about all the hard work I know I’ve been putting in and sometimes people don’t know about. It was amazing. I did hurt my back on one of those fist pumps, so it was pretty exciting and fun.”

The win moves Homan into the fifth spot on the Order of Merit halfway through the 2014 season, in position to earn Web.com Tour status in the season-long chase for The Five.

“It’s huge. Every shot counts,” Homan said, acknowledging he has a long way to go the remainder of the season. “This isn’t gonna change my life, but it’s going to be a step towards where I want to go and I’m glad I was able to accomplish it.”

The Southern Methodist University grad began the day with a two stroke advantage over Eason, a promising rookie in his first season as a pro. Homan would lead by as many as four shots during the front nine, but came to the 72^nd hole with a one stroke lead. Eason, needing at least a birdie, struck a brilliant wedge shot to within two feet, setting the stage for Homan, who needed to get up-and-down from some 60 feet away. Homan responded beautifully with a chip that caught a piece of the hole and ran out to six feet, then poured in the putt to seal the victory.

“I tried to convince myself I didn’t care, so I just kind of freed myself up. I’ve been hitting good chips all week and even over on the practice green, and I’ve been working on that since last week,” said Homan. “That last putt was great. I said ‘just because I’m nervous doesn’t mean I can’t hit a good one,’ and I hit a great putt.”

The win was particularly special for Homan and his father Chip, who was on hand to watch his son play for the first time in nearly two years.

“He doesn’t get to come out a whole lot and he’s my biggest supporter and has been since day one,” said Homan. “It’s nice to be able to do that with him here.”

Homan’s previous best finish was a solo second at the 2011 Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist, with the win coming in his 26^th career start. The $27,000 winner’s check put him at $35,692 in season-long earnings.

“I knew it was in me. I’ve been working hard, and it was nice to let it all accumulate to this big win today,” Homan said of finally breaking through for his first win.

Eason’s solo second result moved him to seventh on the Order of Merit, while Apopka, Florida’s Jeff Corr finished in solo third after a final round 69 to finish at 14-under.

Though he didn’t know where he stood exactly, Fargo, North Dakota’s Josh Persons knew a birdie at the 72^nd hole Sunday would go a long way in helping him move up to No. 3 on the Order of Merit and secure a spot in next week’s RBC Canadian Open.

As it turns out, the birdie Persons posted made all the difference, allowing him to finish in a four-way tie for 11^th and make just enough to sneak by incumbent No. 3 Matt Harmon, who missed the cut. One shot higher, and he would have missed out by $155.

“It’s a big relief,” said Persons, who won the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist earlier this year for his first PGA TOUR Canada win. “I really had to grind it out today, and to know I’ve got a spot on the PGA TOUR next week is a great feeling.”

Order of Merit leader Joel Dahmen, who finished in a tie for fifth to extend his lead at the top, and No. 2 Tim Madigan had already secured spots in the top three for next week and will both make their PGA TOUR debuts.

In addition to the top three, three other PGA TOUR Canada members have already gained entry into the field. Burlington, Ontario’s Michael Gligic and Montreal, Quebec’s Beon-Yeong Lee won regional qualifiers to get in, while North Vancouver, British Columbia’s Eugene Wong was extended a sponsor exemption on Sunday evening to make his fifth RBC Canadian Open start.

With a final round 2-under 70, Peterborough, Ontario’s Ted Brown finished in a tie for seventh to earn Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours. Brown finished at 9-under and won a tiebreaker over Victoria, British Columbia’s Cory Renfrew.

Each week, Freedom 55 Financial honours the top Canadian on the leaderboard with the award and a $1,500 check. The top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end will earn Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year and a $10,000 prize.

Brown also claimed top Canadian honours at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel.

I find myself tucked in the corner of the parking lot of the Royal Liverpool golf club, looking up at the mostly blue skies – a welcomed sight after the horrendous end to yesterday – and the anticipation of a Rory victory has all the fans buzzing as they enter the course. But I am sure that Rickie, Dustin and Sergio have not given up on their quest for the Claret Jug.

I have been here since last Friday, and my role is to co-ordinate the transportation of the players catching the charter flight back to Montreal to play in the RBC Canadian Open, being played at the Royal Montreal Golf Club this year. We have been doing this for eight years now, to help entice players to come back to Canada. Flying on our plane we leave Sunday night in Manchester and arrive home in Canada Sunday night – so the players gain a day back in their life.

We have many top players on the plane with us – DeLaet, Furyk, McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Kuchar, Hearn, Mahan, Schwartzel, Daly and Snedeker to name a few – 23 players in total this year. Ernie Els went home after missing the cut, but is planning to fly his own plane to Montreal on Tuesday.

While what I have to do here seems simple enough, the challenges are different each year – mostly because of the facilities or sizes of the towns. This year, I was not able to get the buses close to the clubhouse at all, creating a huge logistical and trying to keep the players happy. We had to use a field down the road as a staging area, having buses waiting there while we shuttle players from the course to the field so the bus could take them to the private terminal in Manchester. More than any other year, I engaged the help of the R&A and transportation volunteers to come up with the best solution we could. The other challenge I faced was the fact that the driving range was not on site – they used a municipal course down the road and converted a couple of holes into a driving range – very similar challenge that we faced in 2010 at St. George’s Golf Club, where we engaged the assistance of Islington Golf Club to convert a couple of their holes into a range – I put a lot of miles on my feet this week walking back and forth from the range to the putting green.

I come over early and use those pre-tournament days to meet with R&A staff, security, bussing companies and player transportation to work out the best logistical plan – it’s impossible to get done in advance because as the R&A sets up for a tournament, things seems to change on site daily, and I am more of an afterthought for them, not being part of their tournament. They do however provide me with a small trailer or room to use as an office for the week, so players know where to find me, but for the most part, the best place to talk to the players is usually on the range or putting green, but this year there with the range so far away, I tended to hang around the putting green or head over to the chipping area, which was close to the player dining pavilion, where I could catch the odd player entering or leaving from lunch.

A few players start to arrive on the Sunday prior, but most arrive on Monday. My goal is always to touch base with each player that has indicated they are coming to Canada by the end of day Wednesday. I spent most of my day standing around the driving range on Monday, watching players hit balls, waiting for the guys I need to speak to. But with the distance of the range, many players just passed that step and hit some putts before playing a few holes, so I had to change my strategy. Each year it gets easier for me as players recognize me and find me before I see them. For those I don’t know, I need to go through a full introduction, and for others it’s just a quick hello and a handshake.

By Saturday at noon, I need to send a final manifest to Canada customs which has all the passport information from the players. Sometimes getting all the information I need becomes more difficult than it should be. And player’s plans change regularly – whether it’s an injury, or missing the cut here and deciding to go see their family before heading to Canada. The charter is definitely a popular selling point to attract players into our field – many would not make the trek to Canada after playing over here if there wasn’t this charter service.

On Sunday, we will start shuttling people around 4:30 so that we are out of here when play ends – there are so many spectators, we need to avoid the mass exodus as best we can. The last player teeing off that we have in our field is Dustin Johnson, so either I will drive him to the airport, or I will ask player transportation to bring him so I can get away before the mass exodus of fans.

We are flying out of a private terminal at the Manchester Airport. We have arranged for a hospitality service at the terminal as a holding place until we are ready to board, so players will be able to relax there and watch the final few holes on a projected screen and enjoy the catered food and drinks, having already cleared security. Once the golf is over, we will start boarding, and hoping to leave around 9:00 pm or whenever I get there with Dustin. The plane is a 767, owned by Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks owner) which has been retrofitted with only 100 first class seats. Once on board we get hors d’oeurves and a meal is served shortly after we leave.

Once we get to Montreal, we will clear customs on the plane by special arrangement and then player transportation will be ready to give rides to all of the passengers to their final destinations.

I hope to see you at The Royal Montreal Golf Club for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.

HOYLAKE, England -Rory McIlroy had to work a little harder and sweat a little more. No matter. Just like his other two majors, this British Open was never really in doubt.

With two key birdies around the turn, and a powerful tee shot at just the right moment, McIlroy completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday at Royal Liverpool and captured the third leg of the career Grand Slam.

The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland joined some elite company beyond the names on the silver claret jug.

Jack Nicklaus (23) and Tiger Woods (24) are the only other players to capture three different majors by the time they were 25. McIlroy won the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional and the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, both by eight shots.

“It feels incredible,” McIlroy said before heading out to collect the oldest trophy in golf. “Today wasn’t easy. A few guys were making runs at me. I just needed to stay focused and stay in the present and really concentrate on what I was doing out there.”

This could have been another romp except for a shaky stretch early for McIlroy, and solid efforts from Garcia and Fowler.

Garcia pulled within two shots with four holes to play until he put his tee shot in a pot bunker just right of the 15th green. His first shot failed to get over the 4-foot sodden wall and rolled back into the sand. He made bogey, and two birdies over the final three holes were not enough. Garcia shot 66 and was runner-up in a major for the fourth time.

Fowler, playing in the final group for the second straight major, never got closer than three shots. He played bogey-free for a 273.

It was the first time ever that two straight majors were won wire to wire. Martin Kaymer did it last month at Pinehurst No. 2, winning the U.S. Open by eight shots.

McIlroy, who finished at 17-under 271, wasn’t the only big winner Sunday.

Ten years ago, his father three friends each put up 100 pounds ($170) at 500-1 odds that McIlroy would win the British Open before he turned 26.

Boy Wonder made good on the bet with a brand of golf that had him marked early on as golf’s next great player. The victory moves him to No. 2 in the world, perhaps on his way to regaining the No. 1 ranking that two years ago looked as if would be his for years to come.

Ontario-born David Hearn shot 71 in the final round to finish at 3-under and tie for 32nd along with the likes of Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth and Louis Oosthuizen.

Montreal (Golf Canada) – The final four spots into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field will be determined Monday as the Final Qualifier is set for Club de Golf St-Raphaël near Montreal.

Notables in the field include two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen along with Canada’s Derek Gillespie who will look to make his eighth start at the RBC Canadian Open and Rémi Bouchard who has played in Canada’s National Open Championship six times.

A total of 60 competitors will challenge for one of four spots into the field for Canada’s National Open Championship.

The Final Qualifier features 18 holes of stroke play with the low four competitors receiving an exemption directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field.  If necessary, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the conclusion of play.

Click here for pairings, start times and results for RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifying on Monday, July 21. Results will be available here as players complete their rounds.

Bill Burns of Sydney, NS claimed his first major title at the MCT Insurance Mid-amateur this weekend, and in doing so accomplished a lifelong goal.

“It really feels incredible,” he said. “I have been playing these events since I was 24 hoping I could win one and to win one today at 62 is simply awesome.”

Burns, entered the day with a one stroke lead over Aaron Nickerson, and never relinquished his hold on first place on his way to a four stroke win Sunday at Abercrombie Golf and Country Club.

Burns battled a challenging course and was admittedly nervous playing against experienced golfers like Aaron Nickerson, but said he was happy with how he handled himself.

“I was really nervous on the last few holes,” he added. “Aaron’s a great player and he has experience in these situations and won titles before, but I am really happy with how I kept my composure to win”.

Along with an impressive mental game, his play never hinted at the fact he is coming off a recent hip surgery, one that will unfortunately mean he will have to miss the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships this year.

Burns, an accomplished athlete, was inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, but this latest win may be his new career highlight.

“When I won the Four Ball a few years back at Lingan that was my proudest moment, but now this has to be it,” he explained.

Second place was a 3-way tie at +10 between Nickerson, Steven Ward, and Glenn Robinson.  Nickerson, Robinson, Paul Coulson, and Chad Hoffman will represent Nova Scotia at the National Championships in Barrie, Ontario.

Bill intends to defend his latest title next year when the Mid-Amater will be held at the Lingan Golf and Country Club.

For full results and tournament info please click here.

HOYLAKE, England — With a thunderous drive down the middle of the fairway, Rory McIlroy began the final round of the British Open with a commanding lead Sunday and a keen sense of history.

McIlroy knew that a victory at Royal Liverpool would give him the third leg in a career Grand Slam. He already won the U.S. Open in 2011 and the PGA Championship in 2012.

“I’ve got a lot to play for,” he said beforehand. “This is a huge day for me.”

Not backing off a bit, he pulled out the driver at No. 1 and rocketed it more than 300 yards, straight as can be. Then, after sticking his approach to 15 feet, he rolled in the birdie putt to take his score to 17 under – just two shots away from matching Tiger Woods’ scoring record for any major in relation to par. Woods won the 2000 Open at St. Andrews with a `19-under total.

The 25-year-old McIlroy began the day with a six-stroke lead. Barring an unprecedented collapse, he would head to Augusta National next spring looking to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen as the only players to win all four of golf’s biggest events.

Only Woods and Nicklaus won three of the majors at 25 or younger.

McIlroy posted three straight rounds in the 60s on the way to a 16-under 200. He teed off in the final group with Rickie Fowler, knowing that a victory would also mean a big payday for his dad.

British media reported that Gerry McIlroy and three of his friends placed a combined bet of 400 pounds (now $680) in 2004 on McIlroy winning the British Open before he turned 26.

McIlroy was 15 at the time.

The odds were 500-1, so they would win 200,000 pounds ($340,000) if McIlroy lifted the claret jug.

They had to like their chances. No player had surrendered such a big lead on the final day of the Open.

Fowler was at 206, while Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia were another shot back. The only other players closer than 10 shots to the lead were France’s Victor Dubuisson (208) and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (209).

Storms rumbled through Hoylake after the third round, which the R&A wisely started early off two tees because of the forecast, but there was plenty of sunshine for the early starters Sunday and a freshening breeze off the Irish Sea.

Sixty-four-year-old Tom Watson, playing what is likely his next-to-last British Open, showed he’s still got plenty of game by shooting a 4-under 68. He finished at 1-over 289 for the tournament.

“It was a good day,” said Watson, a five-time Open champion who will be the U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup this fall. “I played a real solid round of golf.”

No so for Tiger Woods. Playing only his second tournament since back surgery, he had hoped to give Watson a strong reason to be included on that American team. Woods sure didn’t impress at Royal Liverpool, finishing five shots behind the captain.

Woods made another double bogey – his third of the week, to go along with two triple bogeys – and struggled to the finish with a 75. That left him at 294 for the week and a staggering 22 shots behind McIlroy before the leader even teed off.

“I just made too many mistakes,” Woods said, “way too many mistakes.”

Representing Canada, Brampton native David Hearn sits tied for 36th and at par.