Little-known American Todd Hamilton beat Ernie Els in a playoff to clinch The Open Championship title at Royal Troon.
The pair tied at 10 under when Hamilton bogeyed the last but he bounced back to win the four-hole playoff by a shot. Masters champion Phil Mickelson was third on nine under, with England’s Lee Westwood fourth at six under after a closing 67. Tiger Woods finished at three under and local hero Colin Montgomerie ended up a disappointing two over after a 76.
The 38-year-old Hamilton won his first Major title after Els pulled his tee shot en route to a bogey at the short 17th, the third extra hole. They shared pars at the first and second holes and Els was unable to force a tying birdie on the 18th.
Hamilton, the overnight leader, began the day at eight under, one clear of playing partner Els in the last group. He slipped back with a bogey on the par-four 2nd but the world No 56 was not overawed by the superstars in the groups in front of him and clawed shots back at the 4th and 5th. He stumbled briefly at the 10th as Mickelson, who had joined him in the lead at the 4th and then again at the 7th, went ahead on his own at nine under.
But Hamilton birdied the 11th and 14th to go two clear as Mickelson fell back at 13 before closing to within one stroke after a birdie at the 16th. Hamilton, though, fended off his more illustrious opponent with a birdie at 16 to reach 11 under, as Els took over the chase and closed to within one at the same hole.
Els, who won The Open at Muirfield in 2002 and was second in 2000 and 1996, began the day at seven under and went out in two under par before a double-bogey at the 10th seemed to have scuppered his chances.
But birdies at 13, 16 and 17 kept him in touch, and when Hamilton bogeyed the last hole via the right and then
left rough, Els was left with an eight-footer for victory, which he missed to set up the playoff.
‘He played wonderful; he kept his nerve when he needed to and I know how much he’s going to enjoy it,’ Els conceded. ‘I always wanted to fight. I obviously made a big mistake on 10 with a double-bogey but I didn’t want to let it go. I didn’t have a great playoff but I had a great week. The golf course was great, the R&A was great and we have a great champion.’
The world No 2 added: ‘I’ve got to give credit to Todd. He obviously had a game plan and he stuck to his guns. He played conservatively and it worked out for him this time. His ball flight is beautiful for this type of golf course and he’s got a great short game. But, I’m going to be thinking about that putt on the 72nd hole for a while.’
– Every month, Compleat Golfer looks back in history to a memorable moment, this replay highlights the Open moment from 18 July 2004
LEADERBOARD
Todd Hamilton (US) 71 67 67 69 274
Ernie Els (SA) 69 69 68 68 274
Phil Mickelson (US) 73 66 68 68 275
Lee Westwood (ENG) 72 71 68 67 278
Thomas Levet (FRA) 66 70 71 72 279
Davis Love III (US) 72 69 71 67 279
Retief Goosen (SA) 69 70 68 73 280
Scott Verplank (US) 69 70 70 71 280
Mike Weir (Can) 71 68 71 71 281
Tiger Woods (US) 70 71 68 72 281
Mark Calcavecchia (US) 72 73 69 68 282
Darren Clarke (NIR) 69 72 73 68 282
Skip Kendall (US) 69 66 75 72 282
Also:
Tjaart van der Walt (SA) 70 73 72 74 289
Trevor Immelman (SA) 69 74 71 76 290
James Kingston (SA) 73 72 74 74 293
Rory Sabbatini (SA) 71 72 73 81 297
Missed the cut: Tim Clark (SA) 146, Grant Muller (SA) 147, Darren Fichardt (SA) 151, Hennie Otto (SA) 151, Louis Oosthuizen (SA) 156
