Writing the R&A’s book to celebrate the 150th Open was a labour of love, chronicling stories behind the oldest and, for many golf fans, most prestigious championship in the sport.
The tournament was initiated to find a new ‘Champion Golfer’ following the death of the supreme St Andrean Allan Robertson.
It became known as The Open after it was decided the event should be ‘open to all the world’ because only eight competitors entered the inaugural joust for the Challenge Belt 162 years ago.
Having delved through the records of a tournament initially won on the links of Prestwick on 17 October 1860 by Willie Park, here are my top 10 Opens:
10. Royal Liverpool 2006
Tiger Woods played arguably the best golf to win by eight in 2000 and followed it with another epic St Andrews triumph in 2005. But this dominant display on the Wirral shone a revealing light. As the sun broke through on the 72nd fairway, caddie Steve Williams told him "Pops was smiling down." Moments later, Woods completed his first major triumph since the death of his father before dissolving into tears on the shoulder of his trusty bagman.
9. Royal Portrush 2019
A glorious return for only the second Open to be staged in Northern Ireland following Max Faulkner’s victory at the same Antrim course. The Open’s first all ticket sell-out crowd witnessed the drama of Rory McIlroy’s early exit before jubilantly following Shane Lowry’s command performance for the Irishman’s maiden major title.
8. St Andrews 1957
Notable for its controversial conclusion, this was Bobby Locke’s fourth and final win. On the final hole Locke marked his ball a putter head away and forgot to replace it properly. The champion was liable to disqualification but chairman Bobby Selway wrote to Locke: "When a competitor has three for the Open Championship from two feet and then commits a technical error which brings him no advantage, exceptional circumstances then exist."
7. Royal St George’s 1934
Sir Henry Cotton arrived at the Kent course with four sets of clubs, his form so poor the great Henry Longhurst commented that he seemed "unable to hit his hat with any of them." But the English challenger opened with a fine 67 and followed with a sensational 65, immortalised by the Dunlop 65 golf ball. It helped him to the first of three Open titles.
6. St Andrews 1984
Seve Ballesteros, the car park champion of Lytham in 1979, surpassed that feat with this epic triumph on the Fife coast. As he willed home what proved the winning putt on 18, Tom Watson succumbed at the Road Hole, leaving the swashbuckling Spaniard’s fist pumping celebration as the iconic emblem of a glorious career.
5. Royal St George’s 1899
The third of Harry Vardon’s record six Opens might never have happened. Echoing current unrest, this championship was threatened by a players’ strike over prize money. Rebels were undermined by greats; defending champion Vardon, JH Taylor, James Braid and Willie Park Jr refused to support the dissidents. First prize increased to £30 and went to the Jerseyman after a five-shot victory.
4. Royal Birkdale 1961
No one popularised the Open more than Arnold Palmer. At Birkdale wild windy weather threatened the tournament. On Saturday morning Palmer hit the front and later struck a famous six-iron from thick rough at the base of a bush on the 15th hole. A huge divot flew into the air and his ball landed on the green 140 yards away. He won by one from Welshman Dai Rees who made up three shots over the last four holes.
3. Carnoustie 1999
Jean Van de Velde took seven at the last when six would have made him the only French winner bar Arnaud Massy in 1907. The genial Van de Velde tussled with a grandstand, thick rough, the Barry Burn and a greenside bunker before completing his triple bogey. The play-off was won in fine style by local Paul Lawrie, who started the day 10 shots behind.
2. St Andrews 1970
A heartbreaking miss by Doug Sanders on the 72nd green at the home of golf. The charismatic American surely had beaten a star-studded leaderboard but that tiddler never looked like dropping. A day later Sanders was ducking to avoid Nicklaus’ putter hurled skyward in celebration of a second Open triumph.
1. Turnberry 1977
Two greats separated themselves from the field. Tom Watson pipped Jack Nicklaus with a textbook birdie after the record major winner conjured his own magical closing birdie from the gorse. They departed arm in arm, glorious golf matched by the spirit and sportsmanship of two titans. Who would have thought that Watson would come within a missed eight-footer to match that feat on the same green 32 years later?
The 150th Open: Celebrating Golf’s Defining Championship by Iain Carter (Harper Collins, £35)