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PGA European - British Open Preview
From The Sports Network
Dates: Thursday, July 19th through Sunday, July 22nd
Site: Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lancashire, England
Course Architect: George Lowe and T.H. Miller (1897); Ken Cotton (1952)
Par: 70
Yardage: 7,086
Hole-By-Hole
HoleParHolePar
1 Par 3 205 Yds 10 Par 4 387 Yds
2 Par 4 481 Yds 11 Par 5 598 Yds
3 Par 4 478 Yds 12 Par 3 198 Yds
4 Par 4 392 Yds 13 Par 4 355 Yds
5 Par 3 219 Yds 14 Par 4 444 Yds
6 Par 4 492 Yds 15 Par 4 462 Yds
7 Par 5 592 Yds 16 Par 4 336 Yds
8 Par 4 416 Yds 17 Par 4 453 Yds
9 Par 3 165 Yds 18 Par 4 413 Yds
34 3,440 Yds36 3,646 Yds
Annual: 141st
Television:
ESPN:
- Thursday/Friday -- 5 a.m.-3 p.m. (ET),
- Saturday -- 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (ET),
- Sunday -- 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (ET)
Defending Champion: Darren Clarke
Runner-Up: Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson
Tournament Record: 67 (Greg Norman, 1993 - Royal St. George's)
54-Hole Record: 198 (Tom Lehman, 1996 - Royal Lytham & St. Annes)
36-Hole Record: 130 (Nick Faldo, 1992 - Muirfield)
18-Hole Record: 63 (Mark Hayes, 1977 - Turnberry)
(Isao Aoki, 1980 - Muirfield)
(Greg Norman, 1986 - Turnberry)
(Paul Broadhurst, 1990 - St. Andrews)
(Jodie Mudd, 1991 - Royal Birkdale)
(Nick Faldo, Payne Stewart, 1993 - Royal St. George's)
(Rory McIlroy, 2010 - St. Andrews)
Total Purse: $7,788,898 (5,000,000 pounds) - Rates as of July 13, 2012
Shares: 1st Place - $1,401,952; 2nd Place - $810,017; 3rd Place - $521,838
2011 Finish
 PlayerScorePlayerScore
  Darren Clarke 275 Anthony Kim 280
  Phil Mickelson 278 Rickie Fowler 280
  Dustin Johnson 278 Raphael Jacquelin 281
  Thomas Bjorn 279 Sergio Garcia 282
  Chad Campbell 280 Davis Love III 282
  Simon Dyson 282
Past British Open Results
YearWinnerScoreRunner(s)-upCourse
2011Darren Clarke275Mickelson & D. JohnsonRoyal St. George's
2010Louis Oosthuizen272Lee WestwoodSt. Andrews
2009*Stewart Cink278Tom WatsonTurnberry
2008Padraig Harrington283Ian PoulterRoyal Birkdale
2007*Padraig Harrington277Sergio GarciaCarnoustie
2006Tiger Woods270Chris DiMarcoRoyal Liverpool
2005Tiger Woods274Colin MontgomerieSt. Andrews
2004*Todd Hamilton274Ernie ElsRoyal Troon
2003Ben Curtis283Vijay Singh, Thomas BjornRoyal St. George's
2002*Ernie Els278Steve Elkington, Thomas Levet, Stuart ApplebyMuirfield
2001David Duval274Niclas FasthRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
2000Tiger Woods269Ernie Els, Thomas BjornSt. Andrews
1999*Paul Lawrie290Justin Leonard, Jean Van de VeldeCarnoustie
1998*Mark O'Meara280Brian WattsRoyal Birkdale
1997Justin Leonard272Darren Clarke, Jesper ParnevikRoyal Troon
1996Tom Lehman271Ernie ElsRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1995*John Daly282Costantino RoccaSt. Andrews
1994Nick Price268Jesper ParnevikTurnberry
1993Greg Norman267Nick FaldoRoyal St. George's
1992Nick Faldo272John CookMuirfield
1991Ian Baker-Finch272Mike HarwoodRoyal Birkdale
1990Nick Faldo270Payne Stewart, Mark McNultySt. Andrews
1989*Mark Calcavecchia275Wayne Grady, Greg NormanRoyal Troon
1988Seve Ballesteros273Nick PriceRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1987Nick Faldo279Paul Azinger, Rodger DavisMuirfield
1986Greg Norman280Gordon BrandTurnberry
1985Sandy Lyle282Payne StewartRoyal St. George's
1984Seve Ballesteros276Tom Watson, Bernhard LangerSt. Andrews
1983Tom Watson275Andy BeanRoyal Birkdale
1982Tom Watson284Nick Price, Peter OosterhuisRoyal Troon
1981Bill Rogers276Bernhard LangerRoyal St. George's
1980Tom Watson271Lee TrevinoMuirfield
1979Seve Ballesteros283Ben Crenshaw, Jack NicklausRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1978Jack Nicklaus281Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Ray Floyd, Simon OwenSt. Andrews
1977Tom Watson268Jack NicklausTurnberry
1976Johnny Miller279Jack Nicklaus, Seve BallesterosRoyal Birkdale
1975*Tom Watson279Jack NewtonCarnoustie
1974Gary Player282Peter OosterhuisRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1973Tom Weiskopf276Johnny MillerRoyal Troon
1972Lee Trevino278Jack NicklausMuirfield
1971Lee Trevino278Lu Liang HuanRoyal Birkdale
1970*Jack Nicklaus283Doug SandersSt. Andrews
1969Tony Jacklin280Bob CharlesRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1968Gary Player289Bob Charles, Jack NicklausCarnoustie
1967Roberto DeVicenzo278Jack NicklausHoylake
1966Jack Nicklaus282Dave Thomas, Doug SandersMuirfield
1965Peter Thomson285Brian Huggett, Christy O'ConnorRoyal Birkdale
1964Tony Lema279Jack NicklausSt. Andrews
1963*Bob Charles277Phil RodgersRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1962Arnold Palmer276Kel NagleRoyal Troon
1961Arnold Palmer284Dai ReesRoyal Birkdale
1960Kel Nagle278Arnold PalmerSt. Andrews
1959Gary Player284Fred Bullock, Flory Van DonckMuirfield
1958*Peter Thomson278Dave ThomasRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1957Bobby Locke279Peter ThomsonSt. Andrews
1956Peter Thomson286Flory Van DonckHoylake
1955Peter Thomson281John FallonSt. Andrews
1954Peter Thomson283S.S. Scott, Dai Rees, Bobby LockeRoyal Birkdale
1953Ben Hogan282Frank Stranahan, D.J.Rees, Peter Thomson, A.CerdaCarnoustie
1952Bobby Locke287Peter ThomsonRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1951Max Faulkner285A.CerdaPortrush
1950Bobby Locke279Roberto DeVicenzoRoyal Troon
1949*Bobby Locke283Harry BradshawRoyal St. George's
1948Henry Cotton294Fred DalyMuirfield
1947Fred Daly293R.W. Horne, Frank StranahanHoylake
1946Sam Snead290Bobby Locke, Johnny BullaSt. Andrews
1945Not Held Due to World War II
1944Not Held Due to World War II
1943Not Held Due to World War II
1942Not Held Due to World War II
1941Not Held Due to World War II
1940Not Held Due to World War II
1939Richard Burton290Johnny BullaSt. Andrews
1938R.A. Whitcombe295James AdamsRoyal St. George's
1937Henry Cotton290R.A. WhitcombeCarnoustie
1936Alfred Padgham287J.AdamsHoylake
1935Alfred Perry283Alfred PadghamMuirfield
1934Henry Cotton283S.F. BrewsRoyal St. George's
1933*Denny Shute229Craig WoodSt. Andrews
1932Gene Sarazen283Macdonald SmithPrince's
1931Tommy D. Armour296J.JuradoCarnoustie
1930Bobby Jones291Macdonald Smith, Leo DiegelHoylake
1929Walter Hagen292Johnny FarrellMuirfield
1928Walter Hagen292Gene SarazenRoyal St. George's
1927Bobby Jones285Aubrey BoomerSt. Andrews
1926Bobby Jones291Al WatrousRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1925James Barnes300Archie Compston, Ted RayPrestwick
1924Walter Hagen301Ernest WhitcombeHoylake
1923Arthur Havers295Walter HagenRoyal Troon
1922Walter Hagen300George Duncan, James BarnesRoyal St. George's
1921*Jock Hutchison296Roger WetheredSt. Andrews
1920George Duncan303Alexander HerdDeal
1919Not Held Due to World War I
1918Not Held Due to World War I
1917Not Held Due to World War I
1916Not Held Due to World War I
1915Not Held Due to World War I
1914Harry Vardon306John H. TaylorPrestwick
1913John H. Taylor304Edward RayHoylake
1912Edward Ray295Harry VardonMuirfield
1911Harry Vardon303Arnaud MassyRoyal St. George's
1910James Braid299Alexander HerdSt. Andrews
1909John H. Taylor295James Braid, Tom BallDeal
1908James Braid291Tom BallPrestwick
1907Arnaud Massy312John H. TaylorHoylake
1906James Braid300John H. TaylorMuirfield
1905James Braid318John H. Taylor, Rolland JonesSt. Andrews
1904Jack White296John H. TaylorRoyal St. George's
1903Harry Vardon300Tom VardonPrestwick
1902Alexander Herd307Harry VardonHoylake
1901James Braid309Harry VardonMuirfield
1900John Taylor309Harry VardonSt. Andrews
1899Harry Vardon310Jack WhiteRoyal St. George's
1898Harry Vardon307Willie Park, Jr.Prestwick
1897Harold Hilton314James BraidHoylake
1896*Harry Vardon316John H. TaylorMuirfield
1895John H. Taylor322Alexander HerdSt. Andrews
1894John H. Taylor326Douglas RollandRoyal St. George's
1893William Auchterlonie322John E. LaidlayPrestwick
1892Harold Hilton305John Ball, Hugh KirkaldyMuirfield
1891Hugh Kirkaldy166Andrew Kirkaldy, Willie FernieSt. Andrews
1890John Ball164Willie FerniePrestwick
1889*Willie Park, Jr.155Andrew KirkaldyMusselburgh
1888Jack Burns171Ben Sayers, David AndersonSt. Andrews
1887Willie Park, Jr.161Bob MartinPrestwick
1886David Brown157Willie CampbellMusselburgh
1885Bob Martin171Archie SimpsonSt. Andrews
1884Jack Simpson160Douglas Rolland, Willie FerniePrestwick
1883*Willie Fernie159Robert FergusonMusselburgh
1882Robert Ferguson171Willie FernieSt. Andrews
1881Robert Ferguson170Jamie AndersonPrestwick
1880Robert Ferguson162Peter PaxtonMusselburgh
1879Jaime Anderson169Andrew Kirkaldy, James AllanSt. Andrews
1878Jaime Anderson157Robert KirkPrestwick
1877Jaime Anderson160Robert PringleMusselburgh
1876Bob Martin176David StrathSt. Andrews
1875Willie Park166Bob MartinPrestwick
1874Mungo Park159Tom Morris,Jr.Musselburgh
1873Tom Kidd179Jamie AndersonSt. Andrews
1872Tom Morris, Jr.166David StrathPrestwick
1871Not Held
1870Tom Morris, Jr.--David Strath, Bob KirkPrestwick
1869Tom Morris, Jr.--Tom Morris, Sr.Prestwick
1868Tom Morris, Jr.--David Strath, Bob KirkPrestwick
1867Tom Morris, Jr.170Willie ParkPrestwick
1866Willie Park169David ParkPrestwick
1865Andrew Strath162Willie ParkPrestwick
1864Tom Morris, Sr.160Andrew StrathPrestwick
1863Willie Park168Tom Morris, Sr.Prestwick
1862Tom Morris, Sr.163Willie ParkPrestwick
1861Tom Morris, Sr.163Willie ParkPrestwick
1860Willie Park174Tom Morris, Sr.Prestwick
* - Won in Playoff
Note: Tournament was extended to 72 holes in 1892.
Top Contenders in the Field
Player2002200320042005200620072008200920102011
Darren Clarke T-37 T-59 T-11 T-15 mc mc --- T-52 T-44 Won
Dustin Johnson --- --- --- --- --- --- --- mc T-14 T-2
Phil Mickelson T-66 T-59 3rd T-60 T-22 mc T-19 --- T-48 T-2
Thomas Bjorn T-8 T-2 mc mc T-41 T-53 --- --- mc 4th
Rickie Fowler --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- T-14 T-5
Chad Campbell --- T-15 mc mc 65th mc --- mc --- T-5
Raphael Jacquelin mc T-53 T-54 --- --- T-65 --- mc --- 8th
Sergio Garcia T-8 T-10 mc T-5 T-5 2nd T-51 T-38 T-14 T-9
Simon Dyson --- --- mc T-34 T-48 --- mc --- T-48 T-9
Davis Love III T-14 T-4 T-5 mc mc mc T-19 T-27 mc T-9
Martin Kaymer --- --- --- --- --- --- 80th T-34 T-7 T-12
Lucas Glover --- --- --- --- mc T-27 T-78 mc T-48 T-12
Steve Stricker T-59 --- --- --- --- T-8 T-7 T-52 T-55 T-12
Charl Schwartzel --- mc --- mc T-22 mc --- mc T-14 T-16
Zach Johnson --- --- mc mc mc T-20 T-51 T-47 T-76 T-16
Y.E. Yang --- --- --- mc --- mc --- --- T-60 T-16
Tom Lehman mc T-46 mc T-23 mc T-51 T-32 T-60 T-14 T-22
Tom Watson mc T-18 --- T-41 T-48 --- mc 2nd mc T-22
Rory McIlroy --- --- --- --- --- T-42 --- T-47 T-3 T-25
Miguel A. Jimenez mc --- T-47 T-52 T-41 T-12 mc T-13 T-27 T-25
Adam Scott mc mc T-42 T-34 T-8 T-27 T-16 mc T-27 T-25
Stewart Cink T-59 T-34 T-14 mc mc T-6 mc Won T-48 T-30
Bubba Watson --- --- --- --- --- --- --- mc mc T-30
Robert Rock --- --- --- T-67 T-16 --- --- mc T-7 T-38
Justin Rose T-22 mc --- --- --- T-12 T-70 T-13 mc T-44
K.J.Choi mc T-22 T-16 T-41 mc T-8 T-16 mc mc T-44
Robert Allenby mc T-43 mc T-52 T-16 mc T-7 T-52 T-27 T-48
Jim Furyk mc mc mc mc 4th T-12 T-5 T-34 mc T-48
Louis Oosthuizen --- --- mc --- mc --- --- mc Won T-54
Paul Casey mc mc T-20 mc 71st T-27 T-7 T-47 T-3 T-54
Paul Lawrie T-59 mc mc T-52 mc mc mc T-47 mc T-66
Lee Westwood mc mc 4th mc T-31 T-35 T-67 T-3 2nd mc
Nick Watney --- --- --- --- --- T-35 --- T-27 T-7 mc
Luke Donald mc mc mc T-52 T-35 T-63 --- T-5 T-11 mc
Alvaro Quiros --- --- --- --- --- --- --- mc T-11 mc
Robert Karlsson mc --- --- --- T-35 mc T-7 --- T-14 mc
Graeme McDowell --- --- mc T-11 T-61 mc T-19 T-34 T-23 mc
Matt Kuchar mc --- --- --- --- mc mc mc T-27 mc
Ross Fisher --- --- --- --- --- mc T-39 T-13 T-37 mc
Hunter Mahan --- --- T-36 --- T-26 T-6 mc mc T-37 mc
John Daly mc T-72 mc T-15 mc mc mc T-27 T-48 mc
Ian Poulter T-50 T-46 T-25 T-11 mc T-27 2nd mc T-60 mc
Mark Calcavecchia T-80 mc T-11 T-60 T-41 T-23 mc T-27 73rd mc
Ernie Els Won T-18 2nd T-34 3rd T-4 T-7 T-8 mc mc
Justin Leonard T-14 mc T-16 T-52 --- mc T-16 T-8 mc mc
Angel Cabrera mc T-22 --- mc 7th 34th mc T-24 mc mc
Padraig Harrington T-5 T-22 mc --- mc Won Won T-65 mc mc
Ben Curtis --- Won mc mc mc T-8 T-7 mc mc mc
Todd Hamilton --- mc Won mc T-68 mc T-32 mc mc mc
David Duval T-22 mc --- mc T-56 --- T-39 mc mc mc
Geoff Ogilvy --- --- --- T-5 T-16 mc mc mc mc mc
Sandy Lyle T-75 mc 73rd T-32 mc T-65 wd mc mc mc
Retief Goosen T-8 T-10 T-7 T-5 T-14 T-23 T-32 T-5 6th wd
Tiger Woods 28 T-4 T-9 Won Won T-12 --- mc T-23 ---
Vijay Singh mc T-2 T-20 T-5 mc T-27 mc T-38 T-37 ---
Keegan Bradley --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
mc - Missed Cut
wd - Withdrew
dq - Disqualified
--- - Did Not Play
Sports Network Selections
Pick to Win - Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan
Darkhorse - Francesco Molinari, Nick Watney, Padraig Harrington
Last Week's Pick to Win - (Luke Donald) - Finished tied for 16th
Last Week's Darkhorse - (David Howell) - Finished tied for 68th
NOTES:
Will world No. 1 Luke Donald or world No. 3 Lee Westwood claim his first major championship in their home country? Can Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel or Keegan Bradley win a second major? Will Phil Mickelson win his third leg of the career grand slam and capture his fifth major? Or can Tiger Woods prove to the world that he is all the way back and win his 15th major championship? These questions will all be answered this week as the 141st British Open Championship takes shape at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. This will be the 11th British Open to be played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes and first since 2001, when David Duval won his first and only major title.

Woods is playing for the first time since missing the cut at The Greenbrier Classic two weeks ago. He is the only player on the PGA Tour with three wins this year. McIlroy has missed four cuts in his last six events. He finished tied for 10th at the Irish Open three weeks ago.

Changes made to the golf course include a new green on the seventh hole and several new tees. In addition, the course has been lengthened 181 yards since the Open was last held at Lytham in 2001 and the par has been reduced from 71 to 70.

Last year, Darren Clarke fought off challenges by Mickelson and Dustin Johnson in the final round to win. Clarke fired rounds of 68-68-69-70 to finish at 5-under-par 275 for a three-stroke win over Mickelson and Johnson. It was Clarke's first major championship title in his 54th attempt. His best previous finish in the four majors both came at this championship -- second in 1997 and third in 2001.

Clarke's win gave Northern Ireland its second straight major championship title and third in six majors contested. Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open in June of 2011, a year after Graeme McDowell won the same event. The back-to-back wins for Northern Ireland were the first for any country other than the United States since 1910. Clarke was also the second player from Northern Ireland to win the claret jug, joining Fred Daly, who won the crown in 1947. He also became the first major champion over the age of 40 since Vijay Singh won the PGA Championship in 2004. It was Clarke's 20th start at the British Open, which breaks the record for most starts before winning the title. Nick Price had the old record, winning the British Open in his 15th appearance.

Clarke became the 12th player to win his first major at this event in the last 27 years, joining Sandy Lyle (1985), Greg Norman (1986), Tom Lehman (1996), Justin Leonard (1997), Paul Lawrie (1999), Duval (2001), Ben Curtis (2003), Todd Hamilton (2004), Padraig Harrington (2007), Stewart Cink (2009) and Louis Oosthuizen (2010).

In 2010, Oosthuizen shot rounds of 65-67-69-71 to finish his first major championship title at 16-under-par 272. He ended seven strokes clear ofWestwood on the Old Course at St. Andrews. Oosthuizen became the fourth South African to win this event, joining Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els. Locke also won at St. Andrews. Americans Sean O'Hair and Nick Watney tied for seventh. It was the first time since 1969 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes that there were no Americans in the top five at a British Open.

In 2009, Cink denied Tom Watson's run at history by winning in a four-hole playoff. Cink totaled 14 strokes in the extra session, while Watson needed 20 shots in the same stretch at Turnberry. For Cink, it was his sixth PGA Tour win and first major championship. Watson had been going for his record-tying sixth Open Championship title and was trying to become the oldest major champion. Cink posted a one-under 69 in regulation, that included a birdie on the 72nd hole to post two-under-par 278. Watson led by one on the 18th tee of regulation, but knocked his approach over the green at the last and could not save par. Watson shot two-over 72 in the final round to match Cink at minus-two. Cink never owned a piece of the lead until his birdie putt dropped on the 72nd hole.

Harrington became the fifth player in 50 years to successfully defend his title in 2008. Harrington fired an outstanding, 1-under 69 in the final round to win his second major championship at 3-over 283. He was an amazing four-under on his back nine when conditions intensified at Royal Birkdale. Greg Norman's amazing run at becoming the oldest major champion ended on the back nine of the final round. The 53-year-old and two-time former British Open champion held the lead on the 10th tee, but four back-nine bogeys derailed his chances. Norman, who held the third-round lead, finished with a 7-over 77 and tied for third place.

Harrington joined Woods (2005-06), Watson (1982-83), Lee Trevino (1971-72) and Arnold Palmer (1961-62) as the only players to repeat in the last 50 years. Amateur Chris Wood finished in a tie for fifth in 2008. It was just the third top-10 finish by an amateur in any major championship since 1970, joining Justin Rose (T-4 at 1998 British Open) and Jim Simons (T-5 at 1971 U.S. Open).

In 2007, Harrington got a second chance and defeated Sergio Garcia in a playoff to earn his first major at Carnoustie. Harrington took the aggregate, four-hole playoff 15-16. Harrington became the first European to win a major since Lawrie titled at Carnoustie in 1999. Harrington made a disastrous double-bogey on the 72nd hole in regulation, but Garcia followed him with a bogey at 18 to force the four-hole playoff to decide the title.

With his win in 2007, Harrington became the first Irishman to win the British Open since Northern Ireland's Fred Daly in 1947. Harrington's six-stroke comeback in the final round was the largest come-from-behind win since Lawrie came from 10 strokes back to win at Carnoustie in 1999.

Woods successfully defended his title in 2006 with a two-shot victory at Royal Liverpool. He was threatened by Chris DiMarco on the back nine, but three consecutive birdies from the 14th allowed Woods to shoot a final-round, 5-under 67. Woods finished the event at 18-under-par 270. It was Woods' third British Open title and first at a venue other than St. Andrews. It was his first victory since his father, Earl, passed away in May of 2006.

In 2005, Woods captured his second British Open championship at the Old Course at St. Andrew's to become the second player in golf history to win the career Grand Slam twice. He did it on the same course where he completed his first slam. In 2000, Woods dusted the field at St. Andrews to win and become the fifth player in golf history to win all four major championships. In 2005, he joined Jack Nicklaus as the only players to do it more than once. Woods opened the event with a 66 and never looked back, as he led wire-to-wire. With his win, Woods became the sixth player to win this event in wire-to-wire fashion. The others are: Ted Ray (1912), Bobby Jones (1927), Gene Sarazen (1932), Henry Cotton (1934) and Tom Weiskopf (1973). He became the fifth player to win two British Opens at St. Andrews, joining Bob Martin (1876, 1885), J.H. Taylor (1895, 1900), James Braid (1905, 1910) and Nicklaus (1970, 78). Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 to join Nicklaus as the only two players to win the career Grand Slam three times.

Nicklaus competed in the final major of his career in 2005 at St. Andrews. The same week Nicklaus bowed out of competitive golf, Woods completed another type of slam. Every major championship Nicklaus stepped away from, Woods hoisted the trophy. It first started in 2000 at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, then a few months later at Valhalla, Woods claimed the PGA Championship. Earlier in 2005, Nicklaus announced it would be his last trip to the Masters as a player and Woods went on to defeat Chris DiMarco in a playoff. In his 13 appearances at the British Open as a professional, Woods has three wins, seven top-10s and one missed cut.

In 2004, for the second consecutive year, an underdog of the biggest proportion captured the title. Todd Hamilton joined 2003 winner Curtis as British Open champions, as he outdueled Els in a playoff to capture the Claret Jug. When Curtis won in 2003, he was the 396th-ranked player in the world. He stunned the planet's best with his final round of 69 and a one-shot win over Thomas Bjorn and Vijay Singh. Curtis, who jumped to 35th in the world after his win, became the first player since Francis Ouimet at the1913 U.S. Open to capture a major in his first major appearance. With his win in 2004, Hamilton became the second consecutive rookie on the PGA Tour to win this event. Prior to winning, Hamilton was ranked 96th in the world and climbed to 16th after the win.

Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor and Gary Player are the only players to win the British Open in three different decades. Henry Cotton set the record for the largest 54-hole lead in British Open history when he took a 10-stroke advantage into the final round at Sandwich in 1934. Cotton carded a final-round 79, but still won by five over Sidney Brews.

The European Tour travels to Austria next week for the Lyoness Open, where Kenneth Ferrie captured the title last year.

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