Every year, the Open throws up storylines that go down in the annals.
From Bobby Jones completing his unique Grand Slam to the “Duel in the Sun,” golf’s original major is synonymous with some of the sport’s most captivating moments.
Here we take a closer look at the key events from the past decade:
It was perhaps fitting that a number of landmarks were reached during the historic 150th staging of the Open.
Cameron Smith became the first “champion golfer” to shoot two scores of 64 or better on his way to lifting the Claret Jug.
The Australian, who signed for a 268, then went on to equal Henrik Stenson’s Open aggregate record of 20-under-par.
Smith came home in just 30 on the Sunday – a remarkable run that included five straight birdies from the 10th – as he fended off 2014 champion Rory McIlroy and eventual runner-up Cameron Young to clinch his maiden major title.
And a new championship attendance record was set as 290,000 fans flocked to the home of golf for Smith’s crowning glory.
Debutant Collin Morikawa posted a blemish-free final-round 66 as he made history at the 149th Open.
He became the first man to win on his first appearance at two different majors, having previously triumphed at the 2020 PGA Championship. The Californian was also the first player since Bobby Jones in 1926 to win two majors in eight or fewer starts.
And if that weren’t enough, Morikawa set a record for the lowest score at Royal St George’s; his 265 strokes beating Greg Norman’s 1993 effort by two.
Meanwhile, the shot of the championship came from Jonathan Thomson – at 6 feet 9 inches, the tallest player in DP World Tour history – who brought the house down with a hole-in-one at the par-3 16th on Friday.
To read more about the past 10 stagings of the Open, click HERE.
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