Open Championship 2012 – Golf’s Greatest Moments
Open Championship 2012:
Golf’s Greatest Moments
The sport of golf has given us many unforgettable moments as well as the golfers who authored them. Steeped in history and tradition, the sport has built its foundation on the accomplishments of its heroes, past and present. Much like the other sports that thrive in collective consciousness, golf has had its share of defining moments for both the sport itself and those who cherish it. Here are some of the most memorable moments in the history of golf.
Here comes Arnie
On Sunday of the 1960 U.S. Open, Arnold Palmer found himself seven shots off the lead heading into the final round. After a reported commented to Palmer that he was too far back to be considered a contender, Palmer stepped up to his first tee shot and drove the green on the par-4 346-yard first hole. Palmer birdied six of the first seven holes and went on to post an incredible 65, good for a 2-shot victory of Jack Nicklaus.
Dawn of Daly
As the 9th alternate at the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick, John Daly wasn’t even expected to see any action. But as the improbable unfolded, Daly took the last spot, drove the ball crazy long, and dissected the Pete Dye design. After his 3-shot victory, the Paul Bunyan of golf garnered a legion of fans that follow him to this day.
Lopez Arrives
Nancy Lopez, responsible for the rise and popularity of the LPGA, blazing the trail for the likes of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa, had a rookie year for the ages. In 1978, as Lopez drained a 35-foot putt on the last hole at the Bankers Trust Classic, commenced her legacy by winning her fifth straight tournament as a rookie.
Elder Breaks the Barrier
For 41 years, the only non-white men to step onto the hallowed grounds of Augusta National were the ones used to carry a white man’s golf bag around the track. In 1975, that all changed when Lee Elder qualified for the Masters and broke golf’s color barrier for good.
What An Idiot
Truer words were never spoken and Jean Van de Velde wouldn’t disagree. Needing just a double bogey on the last hole at Carnoustie to capture the 1999 Open Championship, Van de Velde had the trophy engraver starting early on his task. However, in what can only be categorized as a brain fart, Van de Velde spurned common sense and tried his luck over the Barry Burn. After dumping his ball into the water hazard twice, Van de Velde carded a triple bogey and never recovered as Paul Lawrie took the title in a three-man playoff.
The Heart of a Champion
In 1949, Ben Hogan, the best golfer in the world at the time, was in a serious car accident that almost took his life. Just five months later, Hogan limped his way through the U.S. Open which, by the way, he won.
Definitely a Player
Gary Player is perhaps one of the most underrated golfers ever. During the final round of the 1978 Masters, Player, at the age of 42, birdied seven of his last ten holes to post an unbelievable 30 on the back 9, a final round 64 and his third green jacket.
Tiger Dominates
The 2000 U.S. Open began with a tribute to the late Payne Steward and ended with the golfing world collectively shaking their heads. Mauling the entire field, Tiger Woods finished at 12-under par, winning by a record 15 strokes and prompted Ernie Els to state, “It’s kind of embarrassing to finish 15 shots behind. We’re not in the same ballpark right now.”
‘Duel in the Sun’
What could be better than Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus squaring off for the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry? The two icons exchanged blow after blow, Watson draining a 60-foot miracle putt to tie the lead and Nicklaus answering with a 35-footer of his own. In the end, Watson’s final two rounds of 65-65 beat Nicklaus by a single stroke. Said runner-up Hubert Green, who finished 11 shots behind, “I won the Open Championship. These guys were playing in another tournament.”
Ryding a Wave
The Ryder Cup is notorious for providing golf with some of its greatest moments. None more so than in 2006 when European team member, Darren Clarke, still reeling from the death of his wife six weeks prior, won all three of his matches and provided the emotional an emotional edge leading the drubbing of the U.S. team.
‘Shot heard round the world’
Gene Sarazen is anything but a one-hit wonder. However, in 1935, trailing by three shots at the Masters, Sarazen hit perhaps the most unbelievable shot ever. Brandishing a 4-wood, Sarazen clobbered it 235-yards, right into the hole, for an albatross on the par-5 15th. Sarazen won the tournament in a playoff.
The Jones Slam
After winning the U.S. Amateur Open, the British Amateur Open, the British Open, and the U.S. Open in 1930, Bobby Jones became the first, and only, golfer to have won all four majors in a single calendar year.
Tiger Breaks the Ice
In 1997, Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters’ champion at the age of 21. He won the tournament by 12 shots, posting an 18-under par score. Not bad for a kid who needed his I.D. to enjoy a celebratory beer.
And That Makes Six
Jack Nicklaus is arguably the best golfer of all time. This title may have been cemented in 1986 when Nicklaus, all 46 years of him, posted a back 9 score of 30 at the Masters to claim his 6th green Jacket. Overcoming a 4-shot deficit, Nicklaus won by a single stroke.
Jack’s Defining Moment
As I argued in the last paragraph, Nicklaus may or may not be the best golfer ever. However, there is no doubting that Nicklaus embodies everything that golf represents in terms of sportsmanship and camaraderie. In the final match of the 1969 Ryder Cup, Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin squared off to decide the fate of each team. On the final hole, Nicklaus nailed his 4-foot putt, picked up his ball and astonishingly picked up Jacklin’s ball marker, only two feet from the hole, conceding Jacklin’s putt and halving the tournament for its only time in history. Ask about it later, Jacklin remarked that it was the greatest gesture of sportsmanship that he had ever seen and that he would remember it for the rest of his life. That is what golf is all about.
Jason James Ferris
http://www.thegolfglove.com
http://www.rdfunlimited.com
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