It was a long journey for Todd Hamilton win his one and only major – The Open Championship no less!
Having turned pro in 1987 the American played internationally after initially struggling to earn a place on the PGA tour, making a couple of appearances at The Open in 1992 and 1996.
It wasn’t until 2003 when he gained his tour card that he really started to be a major championship regular. After disappointment in 2003, Hamilton went to Royal Troon in 2004, for the 133rd Open Championship.
It was at this event that a new name would be lifting the Claret Jug. There were many previous Open Champions competing in 2004, including the likes of Ernie Els, Sir Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods and defending champion Ben Curtis, so predicting a winner beforehand was an impossible task.
After an uncertain first day, Hamilton scored back-to-back rounds of 67 to place him at the top of the leader board heading into day three. Ernie Els was in second place, one shot back on the scorecard. At the end of a hard fought final round Hamilton and Els were tied for the lead on -10.
This called for a four hole aggregate playoff between the two contenders. It was the American who would hold his nerve and see off the challenge of the former champion to write his name in the history books, becoming a major winner for the only time in his career.
Here is every shot of Hamilton’s victorious round and playoff.