Quick 9: This is how you celebrate winning a major
Hale Irwin, 1990 US Open
At the age of 45, it would have been reasonable to assume that Hale Irwin’s major-winning days were long behind him at the 1990 US Open. His last major crown – which was also a US Open – came 11 years earlier. Playing well ahead of the leaders on the final day at Medinah, the American fired an impressive 67, including an improbable 45-foot putt on the last which prompted a lap of honour and high-fives with spectators. Overnight leader Mike Donald could only tie with Irwin and it led to a play-off. Irwin again had a battle on his hands – fighting his way back from two behind with three to play to draw level. It led to the first sudden death play-off in US Open history, which Irwin won with a birdie at the par-4 1st to become the oldest winner of the championship.
Ben Crenshaw, 1995 Masters
1984 Masters champion Ben Crenshaw would have been forgiven for missing the 1995 tournament given it came just days after the death of his golf instructor, Harvey Penick. Crenshaw and Tom Kite attended the funeral in Texas on the Wednesday and did not return to Augusta until that night, on the eve of the first round. But Crenshaw produced one of the most controlled displays of his career to pip Davis Love III to the title by one stroke. With his head in his hands on the 18th, claiming his second Masters jacket against the odds was an overwhelming experience.
Phil Mickelson, 2004 Masters
In what was one of the greatest duels in Masters history, Phil Mickelson had to sink 20-foot putt on the last to finally see off the challenge of Ernie Els. The pair exchanged great shot after great shot, birdie after birdie in an epic encounter. But Mickelson would finally claim that elusive first major and his star jump celebration was captured for posterity.
