British Open Champions
July 19, 2009
Once the U.S. Open is in the books, the world’s best golfers turn their attention across the pond for the British Open — or, as the locals know it, simply “The Open.”
In contrast to the U.S. Open, players at the British contend with links courses and coastal conditions that can make each day a new adventure. Like the U.S., it’s an intense test of golf that produces champions both familiar (Tiger Woods, three times in the past nine years) and relatively obscure (Paul Lawrie, Todd Hamilton).
With Woods missing the cut, 59-year-old Tom Watson flirted with history in 2009, coming within an eight-foot putt of winning on the 72nd hole before losing a playoff to Stewart Cink.
Who preceded him? The list of the last 10 winners includes:
2009 — Stewart Cink
2008 — Padraig Harrington
2007 — Padraig Harrington
2006 — Tiger Woods
2005 — Tiger Woods
2004 — Todd Hamilton
2003 — Ben Curtis
2002 — Ernie Els
2001 — David Duval
2000 — Tiger Woods
To see the rest, visit Opengolf.com
