The Open Championship Championship in 2008. In 2009, 59-year-old Tom Watson turned in one of the most remarkable performances ever seen at The Open. Leading the tournament through 71 holes and needing just a par on the last hole to become the oldest ever winner of a major championship, Watson bogeyed, setting up a four-hole playoff, which he would lose to Stewart Cink. In 2013, Phil Mickelson won his first Open Championship at Muirfield. His victory meant that he had won 3 of the 4 majors in pursuit of the career grand slam, just needing the U.S. Open, where he has finished runner-up
Timeline of golf history (1851–1945) date. 1912 John Ball wins his eighth British Amateur championship, a record not yet equalled. 1913 Francis Ouimet, age 20, becomes the first amateur to win the U.S. Open, defeating favorites Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a play-off. The first professional international match is played between France and the United States at La Boulie Golf Club, France. 1914 Formation of The Tokyo Club at Komozawa kicks off the Japanese golf boom. Harry Vardon wins his sixth Open Championship, a record to this day (Peter Thomson and Tom Watson have since won five Opens each). 1915 The Open Championship is