Throwback Thursday: Tommy Armour produces incredible comeback to life Claret Jug

The Background

Tommy Armour, nicknamed The Silver Scot, was a three-time Major winner in the 1920s and 1930s. He was born in Edinburgh in 1895 and had a successful amateur and professional career after moving to the United States.

Armour later became a well-respected golf instructor and his name is still used as a brand of golf clubs. He saw action during World War One and permanently lost sight in his left eye after a mustard gas attack.

The Scene

The 1931 Open was the first British championship to be played at Scotland’s Carnoustie Golf Links.

The iconic course has hosted the Open six times since, the last time coming in 2007 when Padraig Harrington claimed his first Open crown in a play-off with Sergio Garcia.

Carnoustie’s reputation for being one of the toughest courses in the UK was evident back in 1931 as competitors failed to break 70. Armour was five strokes behind Argentine Jose Jurado after 54 holes.

The Moment

Armour kept his composure in the final round to overtake Jurado. He shot a solid 36 on the front nine and followed that up with a 41 on the back nine to finish +8 for the tournament.

At the final hole, Jurado laid up short of water, pitched to the green, but missed the putt that would have forced a play-off and handed Armour the £100 cheque.

Armour had produced a stunning comeback, a feat he regularly produced in his career, to add the Claret Jug to his US Open (1927) at Oakmont and PGA Championship (1930) victories.