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British Open 2017: 5 best moments in history

By John Buhler

24 JUL 1995: JOHN DALY OF THE USA POSES WITH THE TROPHY ON THE FAMOUS Swilken Bridge ON THE 18TH FAIRWAY ON THE MORNING AFTER WINNING THE 1995 OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE OLD COURSE AT ST. ANDREWS, FIFE, SCOTLAND. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT
24 JUL 1995: JOHN DALY OF THE USA POSES WITH THE TROPHY ON THE FAMOUS Swilken Bridge ON THE 18TH FAIRWAY ON THE MORNING AFTER WINNING THE 1995 OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE OLD COURSE AT ST. ANDREWS, FIFE, SCOTLAND. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT /
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(Original Caption) Turnberry, Scotland: Jack Nicklaus (R) of the USA and Tom Watson (USA) joint leaders with a score of 203 after the 3rd round in the British Open golf championship here.
(Original Caption) Turnberry, Scotland: Jack Nicklaus (R) of the USA and Tom Watson (USA) joint leaders with a score of 203 after the 3rd round in the British Open golf championship here. /

1. The Duel in the Sun -1977

Since World War II, two American golfers dominated The Open Championship in their heyday. Four-time Open Champion Jack Nicklaus and five-time champion Tom Watson. Back in the 1977 British Open, the duo collided to give us the greatest finish in the event’s history. The final round between the pair has come to be known as The Duel in the Sun.

This was the first year that The Open Championship was held at Turnberry. The finish between Nicklaus and Watson was so extravagant that Turnberry’s 18th hole is named Duel in the Sun after that fierce battle on the golf course. They would be in a four-way tie for second at -2 after Friday.

In the third round on Saturday, paired together, Nicklaus and Watson would shoot matching 65s to be seven under through the first three days at Turnberry, three strokes ahead of third place Ben Crenshaw. As the rest of the field faded on the final day, that final pairing of Nicklaus and Watson brought the best out of each other in the 1977 British Open.

Next: Complete List Of PGA Championship Winners

While Nicklaus wouldn’t bogey a hole the entire final round and shot four birdies, it was Watson who would be victorious at Turnberry. After bogeying two on the front nine, Watson would birdie four on the back nine to edge out Nicklaus by one stroke to win his second Claret Jug. Watson was 12 under on the tournament. Nicklaus was 11 under. Hubert Green was the only other player to shoot under that weekend. He finished one under par.

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