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St Andrews stirs up Open memories

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Rob Hodgetts | 12:30 UK time, Monday, 12 July 2010

Still smarting from ? Tom Watson's remarkable tilt at a ninth major title - at the age of 59, and 27 years after his last - added another absorbing chapter to the Open's rich history book.

The - for all but immediate family - was felt around the world, and long after we have forgotten the name of his countryman, we will remember 2009 as the year Watson didn't win.

This year returns to the iconic the home of golf, for the 28th time.

The Auld Grey Toon, which first staged the Open in 1873, has history wherever you look and has hosted some of the most memorable Open moments of them all. It's also crowned some of the greatest names in the game as its champions.

To whet your whistle for this week, we have compiled a few of the key memories from St Andrews over the years, so read on for a little refresher.

The figure of looms large over the Old Course these days, after winning the last two Opens to be staged at St Andrews in 2005 and 2000.

The world number one's star has since lost some of its sheen because of off-course shenanigans, but Woods has a liking for the Old Course and three wins there in 10 years to take him to 15 majors is a distinct possibility.

Woods dominated all four days in warm, sunny conditions, carding 66-67-71 before dousing the home crowd's hopes of a famous Scottish winner as he held off Colin Montgomerie with a closing 70 to win by five.

The poignancy was there for all to see as Woods strolled to his second Open title and a 10th major in all, two days after 18-time major champion , inextricably linked to St Andrews, waved an emotional goodbye to the tournament on the Swilcan Bridge.

In the , a fresh-faced 24-year-old Woods was equally unstoppable, leading by three at halfway and building a six-shot lead going into the final day.

Playing partner David Duval started quickly and closed the gap to three shots after seven holes but the American could not sustain his surge and fell back as Woods, who did not find a single bunker all week triumphed ahead of Thomas Björn and Ernie Els.

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, colourful American the man known as "Wild Thing" and "Long John", showed he had a sweet short game to match his prodigious power off the tee and added the Open Championship to his breakthrough 1991 US PGA win.

Italy's Costantino Rocca needed a birdie on the last to tie with Daly and hit his drive just short and left of the green, into the area known as the Valley of Sin. But he mis-hit his chip and watched in horror as the ball dribbled back. Now needing to hole his third from all of 60ft, Rocca took out his putter and sent the ball on its long journey over the humps, hollows and contours of the 18th green - and into the cup. But the Italian could not hang on in the four-hole play-off and the mullet-haired Daly lifted the Claret Jug.

The 25th Open at St Andrews was also the stage for to say his goodbyes after first competing in the event in 1960, when he finished as runner-up to Australian Kel Nagle.

, the Old Course crowned an English winner as calculated, plotted and caressed his way to victory. Faldo laid the foundations with rounds of 67 and 65 and then fired a third-round 67 to sink the challenge of co-leader Greg Norman, who amassed a 76. Faldo ended with a 71 to win by five shots from American Payne Stewart and Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty.

To this day, one of golf's most iconic images came at St Andrews in when holed out for a birdie on the last to take a one-shot lead with one group to come. The images of him excitedly punching the air in celebration will always be associated with the flamboyant Spaniard, who will sadly not be able to attend this year because of ill health.

Back on the 17th, Tom Watson, who had been tied with Ballesteros on the tee, was in trouble after firing his second shot through the green. Pitching back from near the wall by the road, Watson could only make a bogey as his dreams of a third straight Open title were all but ended.

The American, inevitably, was unable to hole his second shot on the 18th to force a play-off and Ballesteros won the second of his three Open titles by two from Watson and Germany's Bernhard Langer.

In Nicklaus came to St Andrews poised on 14 major titles (ring any bells?) and had not won one since 1975 after narrowly missing out to Watson in the 'Duel in the Sun' at Turnberry the year before.

Watson led again going into the final round on the Old Course and was joined by Britain's Peter Oosterhuis. Nicklaus, fellow American Ben Crenshaw, New Zealand's Simon Owen and Japan's Isao Aoki were one stroke behind. But by the 17th Nicklaus was clear on his own and held on to win by two from Crenshaw, Owen and Americans Tom Kite and Ray Floyd. It was his second Open title at St Andrews, and third Open in all, coming 12 years after his first at Muirfield and 16 years since he had won his first major, the 1962 US Open.

Nicklaus's Open triumph in was due largely to the misfortune of another, as Doug Sanders missed a downhill three-footer on the 18th which would have secured victory. Sanders had to settle for a play-off with Nicklaus on the Monday and the Golden Bear, as Nicklaus was known, was one ahead going up the last.

After driving the green, Nicklaus holed out for a birdie to Sanders's par. Nicklaus celebrated by throwing his putter high in the air, nearly braining his rival with it on the way down and Sanders was consigned to a second runner-up spot behind Nicklaus to go with 1966.

A young Nicklaus was himself a runner-up behind "Champagne" at St Andrews in . The American had never seen St Andrews before, but armed with local caddie Tip Anderson, and benefitting from the withdrawal of Palmer, Lema beat Nicklaus by five shots to win his only major title. Tragically, Lema died in a plane crash two years later.

Back in , South African Bobby Locke stopped Australian run of three straight Open titles. Thomson, who won five Opens in all, came second, two years after winning at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ of Golf himself. Other illustrious winners of the Open at St Andrews include Sam Snead (1946), and Bobby Jones (1927).

These are just the highlights, now over to you. What are your favourite memories of the Open at St Andrews? Were you there to witness any of these Opens, or remember watching on TV? Let's hear your thoughts.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Some good memories there (well the ones in my lifetime anyway!!). I felt sorry for Cink last year as the world and his barn owl were willing Watson to win (and had it not have been for some uncharaceristic fluffing on the final green, could have won). I will, however, remember it as the open that ross fisher failed to win after his 'mare of a hole on the back nine (forget which) that ruined his quest. I had a tidy bet on him to win the thing before it started. I won't be condemming him this year! Cant wait until Thursday!

  • Comment number 2.

    Ian Baker Finch missing the widest faitway on earth from the first tee.
    Westwoods remarks about St Andrews which are still valid... a terrible golf course

  • Comment number 3.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 4.

    It's very sad.
    I find myself hoping Woods does not win.
    While Watson represents all that is good, moral, heroic
    in golf Woods introduced more that his scandalous private life.

    I always felt uneasy at the hero worship. The whoop-de-whopping
    whenever he loomed into view. The too manic air punching and
    snarling when he holed a putt even I could make.

    For me, golf is Ballestarus calling a foul on himself
    nobody else saw. He said "I saw it - so I called it".

    I'm hoping a Brit wins because, sooner rather than later,
    the Brit golfers must stop being good losers.

    In summary, golf must hang onto its dimension of morality and truth.
    It must have heroes like Watson who remain humble.
    Woods? I forecast he will announce his retirement within the
    next two seasons.
    I, for one, will heave a private sigh of relief.

  • Comment number 5.

    Cink won the event but had the MASSIVE advantage of coming down the 72ND hole with very little pressure and fair play to the guy his birdie was the putt that eventually made the difference

    Watson and Westwood were both under hugh pressure by the time they played the last. Westwood because he had never won a major and Watson because it had been 18 years (1991 masters) since he had been in the lead or tied for the lead coming down the final hole at a major,

    so i hope Cink can win a major one day "from the front" otherwise he will be remembered as a one trick pony.

    his form since Turnberry has hardly been great

  • Comment number 6.

    I think 'Rivs' above has missed the point.

    Someone once wrote about the Old Course saying that 'A good golf course is like good music or anything else; it is not necessarily a course which appeals the first time one plays it; but one which grows on a player the more frequently he visits it'.

    Every true golfer should play the course at least once.

  • Comment number 7.

    Brendan ,
    I agree that the Old Course should be played once ( if you can get a place in the ballot and get a tin hat to fit)by every golfer to soak up the history. It is set in a beautiful town , but far too many blind shots, easy get outs if you hit it left, double greens which make putting a lottery when you should be hitting a wedge. The best golfers don't often win there and it favours the big hitters. It is ,in my opinion by far the worse course on the Open rota, and it's praise resembles the "jingoism" of the publisc re Engalnd's chances in the World Cup.
    I have sympathy for the fans who go to watch , and cannot get in between holes, an awful place to veiw golf unlike say Birkdale with the dunes.The closing hole must be one of the easiest in creation with a card in hand and does not lend itself to much excitement. The blazer boys of the EGU should have a rethink

  • Comment number 8.

    Brendan - what do you mean 'the best golfers don't often win [at St Andrews]'? Look at the winners over the last 30 years: Woods, Woods, Daly, Faldo, Seve, Nicklaus, Nicklaus. All legends of the game. St Andrews actually tends to be the one course which does not produce an unknown winner, such as Cink or Curtis. Also, 'the blazer boys on the EGU' have nothing to do with the Open, which is run by the R&A.

    p.s. Cereal_Killer, Ross Fisher's 'blow-up hole' at Turnberry was actually on the front nine, the 5th.

  • Comment number 9.

    I think Westwood branding the course as terrible is a bit stupid.

    Even if it is terrible (I dont know much about golf courses)everyone has to play the same course.

    I think he's making excuses before the thing starts. If it really is as bad as he says then why is he playing it?

    Stop moaning rivs!

  • Comment number 10.

    In 1070 i recall Tony Jacklin going to the turn in 29 before the old lady conjured up some weather to force him off the course, leaving his golf ball somewhere on the back nine overnight.
    We followed Jack Nicklaus on the thursday in miserable weather and his
    playing partner was Warren Humphries who tried his best to kill us all by slicing his way through the outward nine.The thing was he kept scrambling the ball on in 3 before holing some outrageous putts for pars.
    Jack Nicklaus was laughing with the rest of us,a very good atmosphere.

  • Comment number 11.

    You will never play anything like the Old Course anywhere. It is basically playing golf blind but helps with so many features in the background to aim at and a good caddie. The two things you have to do to score well is stay out of bunkers & dont leave yourself long putts. The greatest thrill you can have here is to walk off with par on the 17th after the drive over the hotel the second shot trying to stay out of the Road Bunker. No hole can kill your round like it can. It is not the best course i have played but the most unique.

  • Comment number 12.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

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