How it unfolded
The first Open at Turnberry arrived during an unseasonal heatwave on Scotland's west coast. Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus posted identical cards of 68, 70 and 65 through three rounds to reach the final day tied at 200 and paired together. Nicklaus led by three at the turn, but Watson came back. At the 15th he missed the green and holed a 60-foot putt from the fringe for birdie to level. He birdied the par-5 17th to lead by one, and at the 18th Nicklaus hit an 8-iron from right rough to 30-plus feet and made birdie. Watson answered with a 7-iron to two feet and sank the putt to win. Watson's 65 for 268 beat Nicklaus's 66 for 269; Hubert Green was third at 279, eleven strokes behind.
Why it still matters
Watson's 268 shattered the previous Open record of 276 by eight shots, and an eleven-stroke gap to third showed this was effectively a separate contest between two men. Power shifted from Nicklaus to Watson, who went on to win five Opens. The image of them arm-in-arm walking off the 18th green still symbolises competitive respect in golf.