Ahead of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews this week, Sport.co.uk looks at the top ten memorable moments from past British Opens at the home of golf. The Old Course is covered in golfing history, with all of the world’s greatest golfer’s having graced the course at one stage in their career. Golfing legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo have all won Open’s on this famous course. Over the years, St Andrews has gathered an encyclopaedia of golfing history, sharing comedy, tragedy and ecstasy with the world of golf for well over a century. Sport.co.uk puts this illustrious history into ten memorable moments...
1) Nicklaus’ farewell (2005)
After a long and emotional love affair with the home of golf, the games most successful ever player bid farewell to the Open Championship in 2005. A teary-eyes Nicklaus famously stood on the Swilcan Bridge, waving to deafening support whilst taking in the scenery he had first laid eyes upon in 1962. A real moment of golfing history.
2) Tiger blows field away (2000)
The Open returned to St Andrews in the millennium, and would witness a golfing master class from a 24 year old Tiger Woods. He would finish an incredible eight strokes ahead of the field, and became only the third winner in Open history to card four rounds in the sixties. Famously, Woods managed to avoid going in any bunkers throughout the tournament.
3) The Claret Jug (1873)
The famous Claret Jug was handed to the winner of the British Open for the first time in 1873 at St Andrews. St Andrean Tom Kidd won in treacherous conditions, shooting 91 – 88 to win when the tournament was concluded after two days.
4) Saunders missed putt lands Nicklaus maiden victory (1970)
On the 72nd tee in 1970, Doug Saunders needed just a par 4 to win the Open. Having made the green in regulation, Saunders had two putts from 30ft for the Championship. His first effort left him just 2.5ft to win, but the tricky downhill putt dibbled agonisingly wide of the cup, meaning he would have to face the mighty Jack Nicklaus in an 18 hole play-off the next day. Nicklaus went on to win his first British Open at the home of golf.
5) The King waves goodbye (1995)
Arnold Palmer is deservedly credited with revamping the American player’s love for the Open Championship, and St Andrews. After 32 Open appearances, Palmer waved goodbye to appreciative fans on Friday at the Old Course.
6) Daly’s triumph (1995)
Misfit Daly was an instant hit with the British crowd, and his victory on the Old Course rejuvenated the world of golf as his volatile nature represented something not seen before at a major championship. Daly eventually won the tournament with a comfortable play-off victory over Constantino Rocca.
7) Palmer reignites global interest the Open (1960)
Arnold Palmer’s decision to take compete in the 1960 Open at St Andrew’s was responsible for greatly enhancing the world image of the Open Championship after several high profile players from America had declined invitations to compete. The then world number one would eventually finish 2nd behind X, but the 1960 tournament is most famously remembered for Palmer’s appearance.
8) Bobby Jones wins second Open (1927)
The great Bobby Jones put his stamp on the Old Course by winning his second Open in 1927. Still an amateur, Jones wowed crowds by winning by an impressive six shots.
9) Faldo sets Open record (1990)
Englishman Nick Faldo set a British Open record at St Andrews in 1990 by carding a miraculous 18 under par, and winning by 5 shots. The young Brit only entered one bunker in the entire tournament, such was his accuracy. Faldo went on to win three Open Championships.
10) J.H. Taylor defends title (1895)
J.H. Taylor became the first ever Englishman to win at the home of golf, when he captured his second title in two years by a comfortable 4 stroke margin.