The 8th of December is the day you can channel your inner Doc Brown as it is National Pretend to be a Time Traveller Day.
There are so many iconic golfing moments throughout history that we would have loved to witness. So strap in, as we take you on a trip down memory lane to some of the most memorable moments that we wish we could travel back to see!
Seve wins the 1984 Open Championship at St Andrews
Seve Ballesteros gave us one of the most iconic golfing images of all time when he famously fist pumped as he sunk a Birdie on the 18th hole at St Andrews. The watching gallery went into raptures seeing their hero lift his second Claret Jug on a day where he pipped Bernhard Langer and the great Tom Watson to the title. The famous silhouette went on to become an emotional image that spurred The Miracle of Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup.
The Miracle of Medinah
The 2012 Ryder Cup was looking like it was going to be one of the most one-sided competitions we had ever seen. At the close of play on Saturday evening, Team USA led Team Europe 10-4 in what looked like an insurmountable lead. However, as morning broke on Sunday, Europe, led by the likes of Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy, spurred on by the legend of the recently deceased Seve Ballesteros, mounted a spirited comeback. It was Martin Kaymer who eventually sunk the all important putt to mean Europe retained the Ryder Cup they had won at Celtic Manor in 2010 against all the odds.
Tom Watson misses the chance to rewrite history
The 2009 Open Championship was held at Turnberry. Tom Watson, the 1977 winner at the same course gave us one of the most thrilling ends to an Open we have ever seen. Every person in the gallery and watching at home that Sunday had one thing on their mind. Could Tom Watson become the oldest player at 59 to ever lift a Major Championship. The golfing hero had an 8-foot putt on the last to win the tournament outright but missed and settled for a play off against fellow American Stewart Cink. Cink eventually prevailed in the play off but what Tom Watson did that day pulled on the heartstrings of everyone who remembered the glory days and the “Duel in the Sun” where Watson faced off against Jack Nicklaus for the Claret Jug. Watson walked down the 18th in contention and the smile on his face as the crowds welcomed him was a picture. Many who were there that day said it was the greatest atmosphere they have ever witnessed at a golf tournament.
Duel in the Sun
Turnberry once again played host to one of the most famous Open Championships of all time. The 1977 tournament later dubbed “The Duel in the Sun,” saw Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus battle it out for the title. The pair were nip and tuck until the 18th hole where after a wayward drive by Nicklaus, Watson looked certain to claim the Claret Jug. But Jack produced one of the greatest up and downs ever for birdie, meaning Watson needed a birdie of his own to win. He did so with ease and the great rivals shared a warm embrace as they left the green hugging each other to provide us with one of the most emotional and iconic moments in golf history. What better moment to go back to than seeing two of the greatest players of all time battle it out.
Tiger Wins Again
When Augusta National opened its doors to The Masters again in 2019, few people though Tiger Woods would be wearing the green jacket come Sunday. Woods had undergone back fusion surgery the year before and many thought he would never reach the dizzying heights he once did. The new guard with the likes of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka were the favourites for the tournament but Tiger with all his Augusta experience and know how rallied late on to see of them all to win a 5 Masters and 15th Major. Many never thought they would see Woods play again let alone win, so the emotion from fans all over the world was high, but the love those watching showed Tiger that day was beautiful to see. We hope that Tiger can go to the well and win again, just one more time.
Which of these great moments would you love to travel back in time to witness? Or are there any other memories that you would want to go back to? Maybe you would go the other way and hop forward a few years to see who wins the upcoming majors and make yourself a fortune!
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