The Open Championship
Most Memorable Moments in The Open Championship
Understand the stories, structure, and course lessons behind the open championship without getting lost in trivia.
Drama shaped by wind and ground
Open memories often come with a weather report and a patch of uneven turf. Tom Watson’s near-miss at Turnberry in 2009, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson’s duel at Royal Troon in 2016, Tiger Woods plotting his way around Hoylake in 2006, and Shane Lowry’s roar at Royal Portrush in 2019 all felt distinctly tied to place.
The patterns behind the moments
- Great Open rounds usually include a controlled ball flight.
- Winners accept that not every good shot finishes perfectly.
- The best short games use the ground as a friend, not an obstacle.
- A single pot bunker can change a championship if the player compounds the mistake.
Links note: The heroic shot is sometimes a wedge back to the fairway, because the next full swing still gives the player a chance.
A viewer’s takeaway
When a famous Open moment appears, look at the lie, stance, wind, and landing area. Those details explain why a plain-looking punch can be every bit as brilliant as a towering iron.