Read more: Xander Schauffele Wins British Open for Second Major of 2024

It was a tale of what could have been for defending champion Brian Harman during Sunday's final round of the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. The American entered the day with no realistic hopes of successfully defending his claret jug, but he received an enormous stroke of luck early in his round thanks to an unlikely alliance with a bridge along the third hole at Troon.

Harman had struck his tee shot on the short par-4 third down the fairway but with some decent distance. However, the ball took an unlucky hop towards the deep burn guarding the right side of the hole. It seemed certain that Harman's ball would find the water and potentially ruin any hopes of a good score on the front nine.

That's one way to cross the burn. pic.twitter.com/usdDh5n6dW

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 21, 2024

But just as the ball was tracking towards the burn, it landed perfectly on the narrow stone bridge spanning the hazard. Cameras perfectly captured Harman's reaction of disbelief as his ball came to a rest, high and dry, on the other side of the burn. "No, no. Yes, YES!" was the call from the broadcast team, expressing the wild turn of events.

When I spoke to Harman after his round, he said he had no idea about the bridge save when he found his ball on the opposite bank. "I thought for sure that ball was in the burn," Harman said. "When I got down there and saw it sitting on the bridge, I couldn't believe my luck. In a major championship, you'll take those breaks wherever you can get them."

Brian Harman won the 2023 Open Championship/ Getty

Sadly for Harman, that was the high point of his day. After making a routine par on the third, his game fell apart with bogeys on five holes and seven of his next eight. But hey, just being in the conversation at a Major is an impressive feat these days. At least Brian can say he got an assist from the Troon bridges! Next time maybe the spirits will push a few more putts his way.

The British Open once again showed that on links golf, even the course itself can lend a helping hand from time to time.

References: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2024-justin-rose-caddie-xander-schauffele