This Day in Open Ch. History: July 9

Four men were 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. Thomson died in 2018 after suffering from Parkinson's Disease in the last few years. Also, of the many major championships that ended on this date, a few stand out. In 1904, Willie Anderson won his third of four U.S. Opens, at Glen View Golf Club in Golf, Illinois. In 1960, Kel Nagle beat Arnold Palmer by one shot for the Open Championship at the Old Course, as Palmer tried to win the centenary year tournament and take the first three majors of the year. In 1965, Thomson won his fifth Open title, and in 1977, Tom Watson held off Jack Nicklaus to win the Open at Turnberry by one stroke in the famous “Duel in the Sun” when they separated themselves from the rest of the field.