Brian Harman

Brian Eric Harman (born January 19, 1987) is an American professional golfer from Savannah, Georgia. He plays on the PGA Tour, where he has won three tournaments, including his victory at the 2023 Open Championship. He also finished second at the 2017 U.S. Open. He plays as a line shooter.

In college, Harman was a three-time 2nd Team All-American on the University of Georgia golf team. He won the 2005 NCAA Preview and the 2006 Isleworth Invitational, and he also won the annual award for highest grade point average three times while in college.

In 2003, Harman won the U.S. Junior Amateur. In 2005 he won the Players Amateur and in 2007 the Porter Cup with a tournament record of 22 under par (258 clubs).

In winning teams at the Walker Cup

Harman played on the winning teams of the Walker Cup in 2005 and 2009 and the Palmer Cup in 2007. When he made his debut in 2005, he was the youngest ever member of the Walker Cup team.

In 2010, Harman played primarily on the EGolf Professional Tour, finishing in the top-10 in 11 of his 14 starts and earning his first professional victory at the Manor Classic, where he won by three clubs. He also took part in three Nationwide Tour events in 2010. His best result came at the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA.

Unique situation

Harman became known for a unique situation at the 2012 Players Championship: He was the first alternate when D. A. Points withdrew just minutes before his tee time. Playing partners Carl Pettersson and Robert Garrigus were already teeing off, and after consulting with the PGA, tournament officials allowed Harman to tee off alone in the first round. Harman was eventually assigned Ryan Moore and Bud Cauley as partners for the second round after Paul Casey withdrew. Harman made the cut and finished tied 51st.

Harman later qualified for his first major, the 2012 U.S. Open, and his first win on the PGA Tour was at the 2014 John Deere Classic. In 2015, he was in the lead after 54 holes at the Travelers Championship, but missed the playoff won by Bubba Watson by one shot and finished alone in third.

On August 30, 2015, at The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, Harman became the third player in PGA Tour history to hit two aces in the same round.

On May 7, 2017, Harman won the Wells Fargo Championship at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina, earning his second victory on the PGA Tour. With an 8.5-mater putt on the 18th hole, Harman won by one club over Dustin Johnson and Pat Perez, who finished at 9-under par.

Harman led after 54 holes at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin. He entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over three players (12 under par) and was playing in the final group of a major for the first time. After a final round of 72, he tied for second place with Hideki Matsuyama, four shots behind the winner Brooks Koepka.

Two second places

At the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship in Mayakoba, Harman finished second individually, four clubs behind winner Russell Henley. This was Harman's best finish on the PGA Tour in over five years. In his next appearance at the RSM Classic, he finished in second place, two clubs behind the winner Adam Svensson.

In July 2023, Harman won the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool by six clubs to claim his first Major title. He became only the third left-handed Open Champion (alongside Bob Charles and Phil Mickelson) and the fifth left-handed Major Champion (with Mike Weir and Bubba Watson). Harman took control of the championship in the second round by carding a round of 65 to undercut the field average by more than eight clubs. He went into the final round with a five-stroke lead and eventually won the Open by six strokes. With odds of 125:1, Harman was the surprise winner.

Harman married Kelly Van Slyke on December 13, 2014, and they have three children. The family resides in St. Simons Island, Georgia. Harman enjoys hunting.