Golf Central

OK, so there weren’t actually any weapons involved and there was a bit of Scottish mizzle in the air for much of the tournament, but the Duel In The Sun between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson remains one of the most compelling final days in Open Championship history. After three rounds at Turnberry in 1977, both players were tied at ten under and had accelerated nine shots clear of the field.

In what can only be described as an enthralling final round, Watson and Nicklaus matched each other shot for shot all the way to the 72nd hole, where the Kansas Kid creamed a seven-iron to two feet. 'I hit it dead flush. It was one of the best shots I ever hit. It's something I will never forget,' said Watson, who holed the birdie putt to win, finishing 65, 65 to Nicklaus' 65,66.

This day in 1991 saw the reintroduction of South Africa to the Olympic Movement after 30 years of exclusion, but you'll have read that elsewhere, so we're going to tell you about this day in 455 instead. We love a bit of Roman action, and today saw the military commander Avitus declared emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

Bestowed with the title of Master of Soldiers by Emperor Petronius Maximus, he betrayed him by colluding with King Theodoric ll of the Visigoths to seize power, yet got his just desserts when he was forced to flee Rome a year later and died shortly after.

Ignore the Penang curry for a moment and shout Selamat Hari Jadi! as they do in Malaysia to PGA Tour veteran Scott Rachal Verplank (47), pop artist David Hockney (71), O.J. 'not this time' Simpson (61), tainted lover Marc Almond (52), and the average US trio of Courtney Love (44), Jack White (33) and Fred Savage (32).