Jordan Spieth overcame a rocky start to win the British Open at 12-under 268 on Sunday, while Japan's Hideki Matsuyama dropped out of contention in the final round to finish 10 shots behind in a tie for 14th.

Despite bogeying three of his first four holes at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the 23-year-old American picked up his third major championship title and needs a victory in the PGA Championship to become the sixth player to win all four of golf's majors.

Spieth lost the lead to fellow American Matt Kuchar on the 13th hole when he made a bogey but went birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on Nos. 14-17 to recover, and the remarkable four-hole stretch eventually gave him a three-shot victory over Kuchar.

British Open debutant Li Haotong of China shot the day's low round of 63 and took third at 274.

Matsuyama entered the final round in fifth place but started with a triple bogey on the first hole en route to a 2-over 72 that also featured three birdies and two bogeys.

"My shots were unstable. It comes down to that," said Matsuyama, who struggled in strong wind.

"It was a rough day. If I had kept the first hole to a bogey or a double bogey I probably could've bounced back, but I wasn't able to change my mindset."

Matsuyama said he will take his time to devise a game plan and prepare for the season's final major, the Aug. 10-13 PGA Championship in North Carolina.