Carnoustie Golf Links modifications to the course by James Braid in 1926. The winner then was Tommy Armour, from Edinburgh. Later Open winners at Carnoustie include Henry Cotton of England in 1937, Ben Hogan of the USA in 1953, Gary Player of South Africa in 1968, Tom Watson of the USA in 1975, Paul Lawrie of Scotland in 1999, Pádraig Harrington of Ireland in 2007 and Francesco Molinari of Italy in 2018. The 1975, 1999 and 2007 editions were all won in playoffs. The Championship course was modified significantly (but kept its routing used since 1926) prior to the 1999 Open, with all
James Lawrie Northern Ireland B team for a friendly with the Scotland B team on 6 May 2009. Upon announcing the teenagers call-up manager Nigel Worthington stated his belief that Lawrie would earn a full cap in the future. He came on as a 31st minute substitute. Following his senior debut, he continued at youth level in the 2009 Milk Cup, Lawrie scored the under-19's last minute winner over Germany at the Riada Stadium, the game finishing 3–2. Two days later he scored the opener of a 3–0 win over Bulgaria. In the final, the Irish beat Denmark 2–0, Lawrie providing the