The Open Championship isn’t only remembered for great Golf. Over its 150 year history, there have been some pretty interesting events that you may not have been brought to the public until now. Sport.co.uk talks you through the unusual events and historical fact that are now deeply engrained in Open folklore.
1 – The Morris family hold a host of Open Championship records. Morris Junior and Senior have the first and second best winning margins in Open history. “Old” Tom won the Championship by 13 strokes in 1860, and just eight years later, his son “Young” Tom Morris won by 12. “Old” Tom Morris also became the oldest winner in history, at 46 in 1867. His son’s victory a year later also made him the youngest ever champion at 17.
2 - Three players have won an Open in three different decades. Harry Vardon was the first to do so, in 1896, 1903 and 1911. Following in Vardon’s footsteps, J.H. Taylor won in 1894, 1900 and 1913. Most recently, Gary player was victorious in 1959, 1968 and 1974.
3 - Talk about putting your foot in it. In the 1921 Open Championship British golfer Roger Wethered incurred a penalty during his last round for accidently treading on his ball. The stroke penalty put him in a tie, and he went on to lose the play-off. Nice work.
4 - This year’s Open venue, St Andrews, held the record for the longest ever putt recorded. Bob Cook holed from 140feet and 2 ¾ inches on the 18th green at the Old Course in 1976.
5 - In 1836, Monsieur Samuel Messieux recorded a whopping 361 yard drive with an early golf ball, made predominantly out of goose feathers, at the Old Course at St Andrews.
6 - The scoreboards on one side of the 18th green are operated by students from Charterhouse school, the others by the 1st is updated by Cranleigh students. The students and teachers have been invited to help out for decades, and as a reward for their hard work they are granted free entry, £140 and a special Open cap.
7 - Forget Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods. James Cheape is the real hero of St Andrews. The club faced imminent bankruptcy due to Rabbit farming until Cheape bought the land in the early 19th century. Without Cheape’s intervention, The Old Course may not exist today.
8 – Tom Watson won the first and second of his five Open Championships in 1975 and 1977 respectively. However, it was later discovered that the clubs he used for both victories did not conform to R&A rules and regulations. No action was taken against the American, and he is still credited with winning the tournaments today.
9 – Two holes in one were recorded during the first round at the 1973 Open at Birkdale. They were both on the 8th “Postage Stamp” hole. Amazingly, they were achieved by Gene Sarazen and David Russell, respectively the oldest and youngest competitors to enter the tournament.
10 – On the final day of the Open Championship at Muirfield in 1987, a young Nick Faldo amazingly made par on all 18 holes to win his first major championship. Consistent stuff from Sir Nick.