(CNN) -- It was in the majestic surroundings of Muirfield that the original gold-plated superstar of golf secured his first major title. The small town of Gullane to the east of Edinburgh that is all set to welcome the modern titans of the game for the 142nd staging of the British Open played host to a true pioneer back in 1896. Harry Vardon won a total of six British Open titles, a record that still stands, but his achievements in the game stretch far beyond his haul of majors, which was lifted to seven by his 1900 U.S. Open triumph.
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Harry Vardon has won six British Open titles, more than anyone else in history
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Vardon was golf's first worldwide superstar after his popular playing tours of America
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Jersey-native won his first Open title at Muirfield, the scene for the 2014 installment
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Peter Thompson, who won five Open titles, calls him "the God of golf"
Had someone won seven or even six Opens we wouldn't have had @placeholder as a God.
Had someone won seven or even six Opens we wouldn't have had Vardon as a @placeholder.