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Twelve years after the largely
unheralded journeyman Todd
Hamilton snatched the Claret
Jug from the grasp of former
winner Ernie Els, the Open
Championship makes a long-
awaited return to Scotland’s
west coast, and more
specifically, Royal Troon, for
a ninth occasion.
Few would consider the
Ayrshire
links,
which
essentially succeeded nearby
Prestwick on the revered
rotation during the 1920s, as
being their favourite venue,
but it remains an extremely
solid
examination
of
seaside golf, particularly the
formidable back-nine, which
is likely to provide a fearsome
conclusion to the 145
th
Open
if there is any semblance of
breeze in the wearied faces
of those in contention. There
is little to dislike about Troon,
but it lacks the romantic
charm of the other venues.
Unless, you are American.
Since 1962, when Arnold
Palmer, whose appearances
in Britain rejuvenated golf’s
oldest major, successfully
defended the title he had won
12 months previously at Royal
Birkdale, there has been an
inexplicable dominance on
this respected old course by
golfers from the United States.
Troon’s next championship, in
1973, would be remembered
for two reasons; it was the only
major title secured by sweet-
swinging Tom Weiskopf, and
it also saw the great Gene
Sarazen, in his 72
nd
year,
make a farewell hole-in-one
on the famed eighth hole
during the first round.
In 1982, Tom Watson found
success at Troon, clinching
his fourth victory by a
solitary shot from England’s
Royal Troon
Has aHistoryof
American Winners
By
Kieran Clark
NWO Golf Links