The Open Championship has borne witness to some incredible moments throughout the years.
We have seen tears of joy on numerous occasions from winners of The Open but equally, there have been tears of sorrow as well.
The oldest open golf championship in the world dates back to 1860, when the inaugural event was held at Prestwick Golf Club.
And since then, we have seen some of the greatest players to ever grace the game triumph around some of Britain’s most historic links golf courses.
There have been some great stories throughout the years, including David Duval’s Open Championship win at Royal Lytham & St Annes back in 2001.
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It was a joyous occasion for the American, who fulfilled a lifetime dream of winning the Open.
However, one man endured an absolute nightmare in the same event.
The story of Ian Woosnam’s doomed 2001 Open Championship
Ian Woosnam won 52 professional tournaments during his career, including The Masters in 1991.
The Welshman won twice on the PGA Tour, 29 times on the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), and had numerous other victories to his name on a variety of different tours.
He played on eight Ryder Cup teams, and was captain for the Europe’s victory against Team USA in 2006 at The K Club in Ireland.
However, the one tournament that Woosnam will never forget was the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
After a fine tee shot on the par-three opening hole during the final round finished just inches from the pin, Woosnam began with a birdie – one that took him to the top of the leaderboard.
22 Jul 2001: Ian Woosnam of Wales throws his club away after being told by PGA tour official John Paramor that he has too many clubs in his bag and be given a two shot penalty during the fourth round of the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, England. DIGITAL IMAGE….
However, just minutes later, his world fell apart. On the second tee, Woosnam’s caddie Myles Byrne informed his boss that he had two drivers in the bag, meaning that he was carrying 15 clubs – one more than the legal limit.
The now 67-year-old swiftly threw one of his drivers into the bushes to the right of the second tee, and received a two-shot penalty for his infraction of the rules.
It was a devastating blow for him. His opening birdie quickly turned into a bogey, and he went on to shoot a round of level-par 71, finishing four shots adrift of the eventual winner, David Duval.
Had he not had that extra club in the bag, who knows what he may have gone on to shoot on the final day at Royal Lytham.
Ian Woosnam’s grim major record after 2001 Open pain
After his extra club fiasco at The Open in 2001, the best finish Woosnam could muster in a major was a tie for 37th the following year at Muirfield.
He played 24 major championships after that fateful day at Royal Lytham & St Annes 24 years ago.
The Welshman missed 21 cuts during that period, with a T-37th, a 44th and a T-51st in the three tournaments where he made the weekend.
The demons from 2001 clearly haunted him for the remainder of his playing days.
While Woosnam enjoyed an incredibly successful career, he will always look back at The Open in 2001 and think to himself, ‘what might have been’?