97GolfDuel in the Sun
- Date
7/9/1977
- Location
Turnberry | Ayrshire, Scotland
- Moment
The 1977 Open Championship was a two-horse race between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. With just three holes to go, Watson and Nicklaus were tied at -11, ten strokes ahead of the eventual third-place finisher. Watson moved a stroke ahead on the 17th hole, setting up a dramatic finish on 18. Nicklaus hit a 35-foot putt to birdie on 18, forcing Watson to make a dramatic birdie putt of his own to win the Championship.
- Impact
The tournament, known as the “Duel in the Sun,” gave Watson his second consecutive major win after having held off Nicklaus in the Masters a few weeks earlier. The tournament is still considered one of the game’s best shootouts.
