A Quick Review of the Last 5 British Opens

The British Open is just a few weeks away. It will return to the birthplace of golf, the Old Course at St. Andrews. The last time it was played here in 2005 Tiger Woods won his 3^rd Open Championship in near record fashion. After the best players in the world essentially handed Graeme McDowell the U.S. Open, this British Open is anyone's to claim. There isn't a clear frontrunner. I love the major championships and am as excited for this one as any. Can Tiger reclaim his dominance? Will Phil finally breakthrough and win his first Open? Let's revisit the last 5 Opens to get us psyched for the 2010 version which starts July 15^th.

2005 - Tiger Woods wins at St. Andrews

Tiger won his second of three British Opens back in 2005, at the place where he won his first in 2000. He continued his dominance of the Old Course by shooting under par in all 4 rounds, including a blistering 66 on Thursday and a 67 on Friday. Colin Montgomerie spent most of the tournament mired in second place but pulled within three shots heading into Sunday. Woods shot a somewhat pedestrian 70, but no one chasing him did much better (it was the only round under par among the top 14 on the leader board) and he ended up with a 5 shot victory over Montgomerie. It was the 10^th time Woods entered the final round of a major with the lead without relinquishing it. The 2005 Open is also memorable for the fact that Jack Nicklaus played his last round of professional golf on Friday. As he crossed the bridge on 18, he received a standing ovation that lasted 10 minutes leaving nary a dry eye in the house.

2006 - Tiger Woods wins at Royal Liverpool

Tiger had missed the cut at the previous major, the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, so no one had any idea how he would perform at Royal Liverpool. This was also due to the fact that he was still mourning the death of his father a few months prior. Scoring was easy on Friday and Tiger took advantage carding an impressive 67 that left him one stroke behind leader Graeme McDowell. 67 players were under par including 32 that shot in the 60's, setting a new record for sub 70 rounds on day one at the open. Scoring was equally as good on Friday as Tiger, Ernie Els and Chris DiMarco all shot 65 to place them 1-2-3 atop the leader board. By shooting 71 on Saturday Tiger was unable to increase his one shot lead and a number of big names were within striking distance. However, on Sunday, Tiger was vintage Tiger shooting a 67 to hold of DiMarco who finished two shots back. Tiger immediately collapsed into the arms of his caddie Steve Williams and sobbed uncontrollably as it was obviously an emotional win, the first major he had clinched without his father to witness it. Tiger's ball striking during the week was unparallel as he hit 86 percent of the fairways, all the while only hitting driver once. It was a Tiger Woods performance unlike any had ever seen. He analyzed what the golf course was providing and adapted his game to take advantage.

2007 - Pádraig Harrington wins at Carnoustie

Tiger began his quest for a 3^rd consecutive Open by shooting 69 on Thursday which left him four shots back of Sergio García who posted a splendid 65 giving him a two shot lead after the first round. 18 year-old amateur Rory McIlroy shot a 68 to put himself three shots back. Friday the scoring proved to be brutal with the average score more than three shots over par. García managed to shoot even par to maintain his two shot lead, now held over K.J. Choi. Tiger shot a 74 to put himself seven shots back. Undone by a 77 Phil Mickelson missed the cut. On Saturday García shot another round in the 60's with a 68 giving him a three shot lead over Steve Stricker who tied the course record with a phenomenal 64. Stricker came all the way from +1 to end in second alone. The final round was as wild as anyone can remember as a number of players had a chance to take the championship only to give it away on the closing holes. Andrés Romero had 10 birdies and was in the lead intermittently but closed out his round with a double-bogey and a bogey which would ultimately leave him out of the playoff. Harrington hit two balls in the hazard on 18 to close with a double bogey. García needed only a par on the final hole to claim the Open but failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker to force the playoff. He bogeyed the first playoff hole while Harrington birdied it and never recovered giving Harrington the first Open Championship to Ireland in 60 years. García is best remember for complaining about the golfing gods short changing him and keeping his putt out on the 72^nd hole.

2008 - Pádraig Harrington wins at Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale proved to be the ultimate proving ground as the course provided some of the most testing scoring conditions ever seen at an Open. Tiger Woods was absent after recovering from knee surgery. Scoring was very difficult after round one as only three players were under par and only three other shot even par. Robert Allenby, Graeme McDowell and Rocco Mediate all shot 69 to hold the lead after round one. Defending champion Pádraig Harrington shot 74. Conditions in the morning on Friday were nearly unplayable and as a result only K.J. Choi finished the day under par. Camilo Villegas rocketed up the leader board with a 65 to put him in a tie for 3^rd. Harrington did well to shoot a 68 and finished only three shots back. Conditions on Saturday were even harder as high winds prevented anyone from breaking par. Greg Norman turned back the clock and became the oldest golfer to hold the 54 hole lead after posting a 72 and finishing at two over. He was two clear of Choi and Harrington heading into Sunday. It was the first time in more than 20 years the total score was over par after 54 holes. The pressure was too much to overcome for Norman as he shot 77 on Sunday and finished in a tie for 3^rd. Harrington used a stellar back nine to catapult him to a four shot win over Ian Poulter and a successful defense of his title. Harrington and Woods have won the last four Open Championships.

2009 - Stewart Cink wins at Turnberry

Sublime morning conditions on Thursday proved to be ideal for scoring as many players in the first wave of tee times took advantage and scored accordingly. A birdie on 18 gave Miguel Ángel Jiménez a 64 and a one shot lead over past Open champions Ben Curtis and 59 year-old Tom Watson among others. Tiger Woods couldn't find the fairway and shot a 71. Scoring conditions were horrid on Friday and good scores proved harder to come by. In cold and rainy conditions, Steve Marino managed a 68 which along with Watson's 70 made them co-leaders after two rounds. Tiger Woods made two double bogeys on the back nine and missed the cut for the first time at the Open and only the second time at a major. Conditions were equally as hard on Saturday, but the veteran Watson kept his cool and worked his way around the course to a 71. Only five players were able to shoot under par so Watson's score was admirable and gave him the lead by one shot heading into the final round. He eclipsed the 54 hole age record set by Greg Norman just the year before. The final round was a rollercoaster as a number of players held the lead at some point. Ross Fisher, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood all held the outright or clubhouse lead but it was Stewart Cink and Watson who ended up in the playoff. Watson made birdie at 17 and only needed a par on 18 to become the oldest major champion in history but a tentative stroke pushed his par putt well wide and forced the playoff. The emotion proved to be too much for Watson as he made two bogeys and a double bogey in the four hole playoff to give Cink the title. Watson almost turned back the clock but in the end he gave the fans an Open for the ages.

All data compiled from www.opengolf.com