The Senior Open Championship is being competed this weekend at Sunningdale. On this date in 2005, Tom Watson won his second of three titles, at Royal Aberdeen, winning in a playoff with Des Smyth of Ireland.
On this date in 1995, John Daly won the Open Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, easily handling Italian Costantino Rocca by four shots in a four-hole playoff. Daly had 15 strokes on par-4 holes 1, 2, 17, 18 to Rocca’s 19. Two days earlier Arnold Palmer had made his final Open appearance. And this was the lone Open ever attended by website writer Cliff Schrock.
On this date in 1984, the iconic moment in Seve Ballesteros’ career took place at the Open Championship at St. Andrews when he birdied the 18th hole and won the title by two shots over Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer. Watson was trying for a third straight victory but left it out on the greens with an off putting day, and a bogey on the 17th after a good drive dashed his chances.
This date in golf history marks two key events in PGA Championship history. In 1957, Lionel Hebert defeated Dow Finsterwald, 2 and 1, in the last PGA final played at match play, at Miami Valley Golf Club. In 1968, 48 year old Julius Boros won at Pecan Valley, the oldest winner of a major until Phil Mickelson broke it in 2021. If Tom Watson had won the 2009 Open Championship, he would have smashed the age record at 59.
On this date in 1980, Tom Watson won his third Open Championship, a four-stroke victory over Lee Trevino at Muirfield Golf Club.
On this date in 1964, Bobby Nichols won the PGA Championship at Columbus Country Club, winning start to finish and foiling the efforts of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, who finished second by three shots.
Louis Oosthuizen hoped to win The Open today, 11 years after he won on this date at St. Andrews by seven shots. But also on this date in 1982, Tom Watson won his fourth Open Championship, by one shot over a faltering Nick Price and Peter Oosterhuis, at Royal Troon.
On this date in 1983, Tom Watson repeated as Open Championship winner, winning by a shot at Royal Birkdale over Hale Irwin and Andy Bean. It was Watson’s fifth Open but his last, and eighth, major victory; he fell flat at the end the following year at St. Andrews and couldn’t close the deal in several close finishes in majors afterward.
One of the most astounding results in golf history occurred on this date in 1938 when diminutive 1934 winner Paul Runyan beat the mighty Sam Snead, 8 and 7, in the PGA Championship final at Shawnee Country Club.
Arnold Palmer won the first of his two straight Open Championships on this date in 1961 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England. Arnie had lost by a shot in 1960 at St. Andrews, but he was ahead by one this time, with Dai Rees in second.
Tom Weiskopf, who valiantly tried to get an edge on fellow Ohioan Jack Nicklaus in his career, won his only major on this date in 1973 when he led from start to finish at the Open Championship played at Royal Troon.
On this date in 1962, Arnold Palmer won a second consecutive Open Championship, at Royal Troon, in dominating fashion in a six-shot victory over Australian Kel Nagle.
On this date in 1964, the greatest woman player of all time, Mickey Wright, won the U.S. Women's Open at San Diego Country Club for her fourth title, beating Ruth Jessen in a playoff.
On this date in 1976, JoAnne Carner won the U.S. Women’s Open at Rolling Green Golf Club in a playoff with Sandra Palmer.
One of the most lauded performances in Open Championship history concluded on this date in 1953 when Ben Hogan won at Carnoustie in the only Open he played. He won by four shots over four players, including future five-time winner Peter Thomson. Earlier in the year he had won the Masters and U.S. Open.
On this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer, having come to St. Andrews after winning the Masters and U.S. Open earlier in the year, fell one shot short of first place when Kel Nagle of Australia won the Open Championship in the centenary playing of golf’s oldest major. Palmer was bidding to win the Grand Slam of the four majors in one season.
In 1933, Denny Shute won the Open Championship at St. Andrews in a 36-hole playoff, defeating Craig Wood by five shots.
Three-time Open champion Bobby Locke of South Africa, one of golf’s all-time greatest putters, won the 1950 Open on this date at Royal Troon. In second by two shots was Argentinian great Roberto De Vicenzo, who was the 1967 champion.
Peter Thomson, one of four five-time winners of the Open Championship, won his third on this date in 1956 at Royal Liverpool. It was a three-shot victory over Belgian Flory Van Donck.
On this date in 1958, Peter Thomson of Australia won his fourth Open Championship when he defeated Dave Thomas of Wales in a 36-hole playoff at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.