Ranking the Greatest Final Rounds in British Open History

The British Open is golf's premier event.

While many American golf fans point to the Masters and the U.S. Open as superior events, no championship has the history of the British Open.

Many of the greatest players in history recorded British Open championships. Here's a look at 10 of the greatest final rounds in history.

10. Greg Norman, 1986

Greg Norman was known for coming close in major championships but finding a myriad of ways to blow those titles.

That was certainly the case in 1986, when Norman held the lead after three rounds in all four majors. He would find a way to lose those leads in all of the other majors, but not the British Open.

Norman shot a 69 in the final round at Turnberry to secure the first major of his career. Norman set the tone for that tournament with a 63 in the second round, but it was that 69 that clinched the victory and gave him a five-stroke victory over runner-up Gordon Brand.

9. Gary Player, 1959

Gary Player is a three-time champion of the British Open. He took the title in 1959, 1968 and 1974, but it was his triumph in 1959 at Muirfield that was the most memorable.

Player was eight shots behind after two rounds, but he roared home with a 70 in the third round and closed with a memorable 68 in the final round. Player was superb for 17 holes in the final round, but closed it out with a double bogey.

Player was distraught because he thought he would be caught. It never happened, and he had his first Claret Jug.

8. Bobby Locke, 1950

Bobby Locke won the British Open four times in his legendary career. He took home the Claret Jug in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1957.

Locke is one of the game's legendary champions who was known for his outstanding work with the putter. It was his second championship at Troon that saw him come through with a brilliant 68 in the final round.

The South African refused to give the field a chance, as his superb performance with his beloved flat stick assured him of the triumph.

7. Arnold Palmer, 1962

Arnold Palmer was one of the great champions in golf history. He recorded back-to-back British Open titles in 1961 and 1962.

His 1962 triumph at Royal Troon was one of the most legendary triumphs of his career. He shot a 69 in the final round, and his final score of 276 allowed him to beat runner-up Kel Nagle by six strokes. Palmer's power and go-for-broke game was never better than it was in the 1962 British Open, and he proved it in the final round.

6. Jack Nicklaus, 1978

Jack Nicklaus is the all-time leader in major championships, and he had no shortage of success at the British Open. He won in 1966, 1970 and 1978.

His triumph in '78 was his best finish in the British Open. He closed the tournament by shooting by 69-69 in the final two rounds at the Old Course at St. Andrews. His seven-under finish enabled him to triumph over four other golfers who finished at five under.

5. Seve Ballesteros, 1984

Seve Ballesteros won the second of his three British Open championships in 1984 at St. Andrews.

Ballesteros was on top of his game, and he needed to be, because he was trying to hold off Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer. Ballesteros made a 15-foot birdie on the 17th hole that helped him to shoot a 69 and finish 12 under par.

The victory helped raise Ballesteros's status as one of the stars of the game because it made him a multiple British Open winner.

4. Paul Lawrie, 1999

The 1999 British Open is one of the most famous golf tournaments in recent history.

The tournament is basically known for the collapse of French golfer Jean van de Velde at Carnoustie. There's no doubt that van de Velde choked away the title. Not only did he have a five-stroke lead going into the final round, he led by three strokes going into the final hole.

Van de Velde could not handle his lead and collapsed with an eight on the 18th. Meanwhile, Paul Lawrie fired a remarkable 67 in the final round. That allowed Lawrie to tie for the lead after 72 holes, and he went on to beat Justin Leonard and the broken van de Velde in a playoff for the British Open title.

3. Ben Hogan, 1952

Ben Hogan was one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. He might have been golf's best ball-striker, and he was successful in his only trip to the British Open.

When Hogan went to Carnoustie in 1952, he was still recovering from the 1949 automobile accident that almost took his life. Hogan played well throughout, but he got better each round and closed with a 68. That gave him a four-shot triumph over four other golfers.

He was in pain throughout his four rounds, but he managed to put on a memorable show for British golf fans.

2. Tiger Woods, 2000

Tiger Woods was at his peak in 2000. That year, he rolled to a 15-shot victory in the U.S. Open, and a few weeks later he came to the Old Course hoping to win his first British Open title.

Woods was brilliant throughout his four rounds and did not find a single bunker throughout the championship. In the final round, he shot a 69 to give him a 19-under par total of 269. Woods won by eight strokes over Ernie Els and Thomas Bjorn.

1. Tom Watson, 1977

The 1977 British Open was one of the classic major championships of all time.

It featured a brilliant two-man duel between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry. Through three rounds, both men had shot 68-70-65 and they were well ahead of the field. On the final day, the two all-time greats continued to battle, and they were still even through 16 holes.

However, Watson birdied the 17th hole and took a one-stroke lead. On the 18th hole, Nicklaus rolled in a long birdie putt to tie. Watson followed with his own birdie putt and finished with a 65 and one of the most memorable triumphs in British Open history.