Cameron Smith Open champion after dramatic final round at St Andrews

Favourite backers were denied on a dramatic final day at St Andrews as 28-1 shot Cameron Smith overcame a four-shot deficit to reel in 10-1 pre-tournament market leader Rory McIlroy to win the 150th Open Championship.

Putting ace Smith took St Andrews apart, carding a round of 64 to finish on 20 under par, one clear of playing partner Cameron Young. Overnight joint-leader McIlroy ended on 18 under par following a fourth-round 70 which was his worst round of the tournament.

The Australian victor, who bounced back from a disappointing 73 on Saturday, produced a remarkable run of five successive birdies from the tenth hole which proved too hot for McIlroy, who had been 10-11 going into the final round.

It was possible to back Smith at 12-1 after round three but he made a mockery of those quotes to lift the Claret Jug and beat Tiger Woods's 2000 score of 19 under which had been the previous best St Andrews effort.

Smith's 20-under total equalled Henrik Stenson's record of the best 72-hole score in the Open and caps a fine year for the Australian, who won the Players Championship at Sawgrass in March.

Smith was also bang in contention at The Masters until he found water at the par-three 12th on the Sunday, although he arrived in Scotland with little Open form to note.

However, the calm conditions and low scoring enabled his putting abilities to shine, much to the chagrin of McIlroy's supporters.

McIlroy was matched at a low of 1.34 on Betfair but fell agonisingly short, as did his final-round partner Viktor Hovland.

The Norwegian eventually tied for fourth alongside Tommy Fleetwood after a bitterly disappointing round of 74. Hovland had been only 7-4 ahead of the final round and those on him pre-tournament at 55-1 had to settle for the place money.

Runner-up Young massively outperformed his ante-post offering of 125-1 with an eagle at the last seeing the American seal second spot on 19 under.

Smith knows what it feels like to finish second at a Major - he did just that at The Masters in 2020 - but will arrive at Augusta in April with even more belief.

The Open champion is 16-1 to win The Masters with McIlroy available at 12-1.