Golf Central

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell posted a final round 68 to win The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, finishing at 13-under par, two strokes ahead of South Africa's James Kingston.

McDowell claimed his second European Tour title of 2008, helped by a trio of birdies starting on the 13th and the fact that England's Simon Khan - who started the day tied at the top - suffered somewhat of a breakdown. Khan held his nerve, however, to make an important up and down on the 18th to secure the last spot at Royal Birkdale this week.

Australian Richard Green and Miguel Angel Jimenez finished with rounds of 69 to finish in a tie for third, both of whom may well be worth a few quid for The Open Championship. IGWT tip Ernie Els also carded a final round of 69 to finish tied ninth, but that wasn't good enough to give us any sort of a return...

Brother of legendary women's player Joyce, Roger had a golden opportunity to win The Open at St Andrews in 1921. On walking back from inspecting a green, however, Wethered stepped on his own ball for a one-stroke penalty and finished tied for first with Jock Hutchinson as a result. Roger had to be persuaded to play a 36-hole playoff the following day, despite having to break a promise to play for his local cricket team. His heart clearly wasn't in it, losing the playoff by nine strokes...

Other Losers

Jesper Parnevik
Jean Van De Velde
Doug Sanders

It was on this day in 1974 that Gary Player hit a recovery shot from the clubhouse wall behind the green on the 18th hole at Royal Lytham & St Annes to win The Open Championship. He hit it left-handed to scramble the ball back to the green and still won the title, four shots clear of Peter Oosterhuis with Jack Nicklaus a further stroke behind.

His victory meant he shared the distinction of claiming the title in three separate decades with Harry Vardon. 44 years earlier in 1932, the American Lefthanders Golf Association was founded, with Babe Ruth elected as president.

Born on this day in 100 BC, Julius Caesar is undoubtedly the most recognised of all Roman political figures. Known as the 'perpetual dictator' for his ten-year reign, his assassination by conspirators has been well documented, but he was also a military strategist of some repute. There are various stories as to why the name Caesar became the moniker of Emperors;  that the first Caesar had a thick head of hair (Latin caesaries); that he had bright grey eyes (Latin oculis caesiis); or that he killed an elephant (caesai in Moorish) in battle.

So it's Vsetko najlepsie k narodeninam! as they say in Slovakia to 1971 Masters Champ Charles Coody (71), George Lucas' muse Harrison Ford (66), stoner Cheech Marin (62), ex-Heavyweight champ Michael 'Jinx' Spinks (52), and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop (48).