There have been plenty of bizarre moments at The Open down the years. Here are our favourites…
9. Nick Faldo, 1987 Muirfield
Paul Azinger led going into the final round of the 1987 Open at Muirfield, while Nick Faldo was just a shot adrift alongside David Frost.
In tough misty conditions, Faldo incredibly parred every single hole to get into the clubhouse at five-under.
In the final group, Azinger bogeyed each of the final two holes to see his three-shot lead at the turn disappear and eventually lose by a shot to the consistent Englishman.
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8. Richard Boxall, 1991 Royal Birkdale
Richard Boxall – now a Sky Sports Golf commentator – was well positioned in the 1991 Open at Royal Birkdale, despite complaining of ‘twinges’ in his left leg.
In the third round, the Englishman came to the ninth tee just three shots off the lead. After he hit his 1-iron, he collapsed to the floor after hearing a snap. Sure enough, his left leg had broken and he wouldn’t play golf again for ten months.
Afterwards, he joked: “It’s amazing the extremes you’ll go to not play with Colin Montgomerie.”
7. Ian Woosnam, 2001 Royal Lytham & St Annes
After making a birdie at the first hole in the final round, Ian Woosnam was readying himself for a charge at the title. That was until the second tee when caddie Miles Byrne found out that he had forgot to take out the extra driver that Woosnam was hitting in practice.
As a result, the Welshman had 15 clubs in his bag. An eventual two-shot penalty would cost him outright second place.
Two weeks later, Woosnam sacked Byrne for turning up late to the first tee at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters.
Woosnam said: “You know what the circumstances are going to be this time, I don’t know where he is. I gave him a chance, I don’t ask for much. He had one warning, that was it.”
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6. Tommy Nakajima, 1978 St Andrews
It’s fair to say that Tommy Nakajima isn’t a fan of the infamous Road Hole bunker.
In 1978, he was just one-shot off the lead in the third round when he inexplicably putted into the dreaded bunker on the 17th.
What followed wasn’t pretty…
It took the Japanese four shots to get his ball out, where he would eventually make a quintuple bogey.
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5. Tom Watson, 2009 Turnberry
At 59 years old, Tom Watson was in contention with a chance of becoming the oldest major champion in history.
With five Open Championships already under his belt, Watson led by a stroke after 54 holes and continued his fine play into Sunday. With a birdie at the 17th hole, he made his way to the 18th tee needing only a par to win.
His approach shot took an awkward bounce and rolled off the back of the green, where he was unable to get up-and-down.
Stewart Cink would then go on to beat Watson in a four-hole aggregate playoff by six shots.
4. Ian Baker-Finch, 1995 St Andrews
Is this the worst golf shot ever hit?
The first fairway at the Old Course is one of the easiest fairways to hit in golf. In fact, it’s almost impossible to miss the short grass as it measures over 100 yards wide.
Yet that didn’t stop Ian Baker-Finch from hooking his drive out of bounds at the 1995 Open.
To make matters even worse, a gust of wind blew off his hat to make him look, somehow, even sillier…
3. Doug Sanders, 1970 St Andrews
Doug Sanders stood over a putt of less than three feet at the 18th hole on the Old Course to win his first major.
As he was addressing the ball, he bent down to pick up a piece of dirt (?), re-addressed, and then took what seemed like forever before pulling the trigger. Of course, it missed on the right-hand side.
Have you ever seen a more nervous putt?
The following day, Sanders and Jack Nicklaus came back for the 18-hole playoff, which Nicklaus would go on to win.
2. Hale Irwin, 1983 Royal Birkdale
A whiff, or an air shot? Either way, Hale Irwin was guilty of one of those in 1983 at Royal Birkdale.
In the third round at the 14th hole, Irwin went to tap in a six-inch putt with the back of his putter – but completely missed the ball.
We’ll let Irwin explain: “Went up to backhand a six-incher, missed it, finished second to Watson by one stroke. Careless.”
Ouch…
1. Jean van de Velde, 1999 Carnoustie
Jean van de Velde stood on the 18th tee needing just a double-bogey to win the Open.
What transpired was just downright painful to watch…
If they had shot tracker back in the day, it would’ve looked something a bit like this:
Shot 1 to opposite fairway. Shot 2 to heavy rough. Shot 3 to Barry Burn. Shot 4 penalty. Shot 5 to greenside bunker. Shot 6 to green. Shot 7 in the hole.
Warning: Look away now if squeamish…
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