St. Andrews is incomparable due to its history, but when it comes down to links courses in the British Open rotation, Muirfield is seen as the purest and fairest of them all.
Jack Nicklaus hits from the rough at the 10th hole in the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield Edinburgh, Scotland, in this July 7, 1966 file photo. Nicklaus went on to win his first British Open title in 1966 that gave him the career Grand Slam at age 26. Photo: AP Photo / File
Here is a list of the five best Opens at Muirfield:
5. Jack’s Grand Slam
Jack Nicklaus was stopped short of a calendar Grand Slam at Muirfield in 1972. Not to be overlooked was his first British Open title in 1966 that gave him the career Grand Slam at age 26.
At the time, Nicklaus was the youngest of four players to win all four professional majors, and he achieved it in just 19 majors as a pro.
4. James Braid
James Braid, part of the “Great Triumvirate” along with Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor, arrived at Muirfield in similar context to Ernie Els this year. He not only was the defending champion after winning the previous year at St. Andrews, he won the Open when it was last held at Muirfield.
3. The Black Knight’s first major
No other golfer has traveled the world more than Gary Player of South Africa, and it was at Muirfield in 1959 that he first emerged as one of the game’s greatest players.
The Black Knight went on to complete the Grand Slam in six years, and it started with a claret jug that he thought he had thrown away.
2. Lee Trevino’s win, two others’ losses
Lee Trevino won his second straight British Open in 1972 at Muirfield in a championship equally known for who didn’t win.
Jack Nicklaus had his best chance at the calendar Grand Slam after winning the Masters and U.S. Open, and returning to the links course where he won his first British Open. But he had a sore neck in the early part of the week, and along with conservative play, he went into the final round six shots behind Trevino.
The main challenge for Trevino came from Tony Jacklin, going for his third major. The turning point of the championship came on the par-5 17th hole.
Nicklaus never had another shot at the Grand Slam. It was more devastating to Jacklin, who never contended in another major.
1. Redemption and a major for Faldo
Nick Faldo was an emerging star for England, having won the Order of Merit and played on five Ryder Cup teams. But he didn’t feel his game was good enough, and in a risky move, he rebuilt his swing under David Leadbetter and went some three years without winning.
It all started to come together with a win in Spain, and his game was equipped for a week of bad weather at Muirfield in 1987. Azinger had a 71 on Saturday for a one-shot lead over Faldo and David Frost. Faldo plodded his way through the last round making par after par. Like most of his majors, he needed some help at the end, and Azinger delivered.
It was his first major, the start of Faldo winning four of the next 13 majors and rising to No. 1 in the world. – Associated Press
Related articles
Faldo can’t resist the lure of Muirfield
British Open: Nick Faldo will shake off rust to play at Muirfield
5 best British Opens played at Muirfield
Ten things to know about the British Open
