Golf Central

Gary Player has won three Open Championships in three decades, the first of which came at Muirfield in 1959. His maiden victory marked his emergence as a world-class golfer, and to think that he came back from an eight-shot deficit to win almost beggars belief. He would have to wait nine years until he won again at Carnoustie, with his final title coming at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1974.

Other Winners

Harry Vardon
Nick Faldo

Our favourite Swede's finished inside the top ten four times at The Open from 1994 to '99. Parnevik's best chance of hoisting the Claret Jug came at Turnberry in '94 against Nick Price. Having shot the lights out of Turnberry that week, Jesper was left needing only a par coming down the 72nd hole to win the tournament. He thought he needed a birdie, however, and attacked the pin with his second shot, only to end up with a bogey, handing the title on a plate to Price.

More Losers

Jean Van De Velde
Doug Sanders

Angel Cabrera has a one stroke lead at the Scottish Open after the second day's play. Cabrera carded a 68 to give him a one stroke lead over Damien McGrane, who has sole possession of second place. There's a massive chasing pack of players on seven and six-under that includes Thomas Bjorn, Richard Green, first-round leader Thogchai Jaidee and Simon Khan.

Phil Mickelson kept himself in contention with a hole-in-one on the 14th, but Ian Poulter got himself into a little bit of trouble when, after leaving a putt short,  he said, 'get to the hole you ponce.' We can't see what the fuss is about quite frankly. IGWT pick Ernie Els is still in the mix on four-under, but Colin Montgomerie and Soren Hansen both had to pack their bags and go home.

It was on this day in 1975 that Tom Watson won his first major championship, defeating Australia's Jack Newton in an 18-hole playoff to capture the Open Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland. Watson would go to win five Open Championships and a total of eight major championship in the space of eight years. Which, when you think about it, is pretty bloody good.

45 years earlier in 1930, Bobby Jones captured the third leg of the Grand Slam, winning the U.S. Open at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn. Jones birdies three of his final six holes for a two-stroke victory over Macdonald Smith.

This day in 2007 saw the death of iconic Boston street figure Mr Butch. Known as the 'King of Kenemore Square', Butch was a homeless drifter who became famous for playing his Fender Stratocaster in an open-chord style that invited comparisons with Jimi Hendrix, and he played with various Boston and San Francisco punk bands, including Dropkick Murphys, The Unseen and The Outlets.