This Day in Golf--July 9

Four men are one victory shy of Harry Vardon's record six Open Championship victories: J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Tom Watson and Peter Thomson, who is recognized today for winning his fifth and final major at the Open. On this date in 1965, Thomson won by two over Brian Huggett and Christy O'Connor Sr. at Royal Birkdale. The Australian had also won at Birkdale in 1954 to make it the site of his first Open victory. Birkdale was the setting for Watson's fifth Open win in 1983, and it will be the Open site this month on July 20-23.