Matthew Southgate describes The Open as the "best tournament in the world"
Last Updated: 23/07/17 9:20pm
Matthew Southgate described The Open as the "best tournament in the world" after carding a final-round five-under 65 to propel him up the leaderboard at Royal Birkdale.
The English golfer, who recovered from testicular cancer in 2015, started his final round at one-over par for the tournament but made six birdies and only one bogey for a fine finish to his third Open appearance.
The 28-year-old, who qualified for The 146th Open on the Southport links by winning the Final Qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports earlier in the month, hailed the importance of the major championship.
"I just love it," Southgate told Sky Sports. "I think it's the best tournament in the world, obviously with the best players in the world.
"Links is the purest version of golf in the world and it's a very special event to me coming as a kid and seeing some great players before me play. It's just really special for me to play."
Southgate admitted to being lifted by the support he received from his family and friends who were present and watching his fine final round.
He added: "That's just what we needed. I got some amazing support out there - all my family were up here today. What a special day that was."
Southgate enjoyed a tied for 12th place finish at The Open last year, and believed he was on target for an impressive round when he holed a birdie putt at the par-three 14th.
"I was a little worried about the pace," he said about the putt which took him to two-under for the tournament. "Just thought that if I hit it a little too soft then it was going to die off to the right, so I thought just go brave and hit it.
"I knew I had hit a good putt and when it rattled the back of the hole I was thinking we have now got some really good chances on the par fives and moving up the leaderboard nicely.
"We have obviously got a nervy afternoon now but I think that might get me in the Masters."
China's Haotong Li went two better than Southgate as he fired a seven-under 63 to finish on six-under 274 and set the clubhouse target for the later starters.
The 21-year-old made a sedate start to his final round with seven successive pars, but he began his surge up the leaderboard with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth.
Another birdie followed at the 12th and a grandstand finish saw him rattle in four straight birdies on the closing four holes.
"I think it is the best round in my life so far and it was incredible," he said.
"I holed a lot of putts and also got up and down a lot - a lot of tough up and downs out there. My caddie told me to always keep pressing, so fantastic."
Li finished in style with a superb approach shot to the 18th which left him with a four-foot putt for birdie.
"I hit a shot just how I wanted," he said. "I was quite nervous on the four-foot putt actually, and after that I thought 'oh an amazing day'."
