I was there on Saturday and Sunday. The video skipped over a key hole for Calcavecchia - the 11th, playing as a par 5 in 1989. He drove it in the right rough, barely moved his 2nd shot, then yanked his 3rd well left. It bounced off my shoulder where it fell in well trod gallery area rather than the much higher rough where it was headed. From there he hit a 9 iron on the green and drained a 40 footer for a most unusual par. I like to think that I helped him win his one and only major championship. It was a memorable day for Calcavecchia and for me!
I was working at the Open that year and am in the video at the 20:55 mark wearing a straw hat and carrying an umbrella. Still got the umbrella as I got it autographed by as many players as I could. 😊
Many thanks to the Open Channel for putting this up. I thouroghly enjoyed it. Normans amazing start on the final day, 6 birdies in the first 6 holes, huge charge, calcaveccia's shot on 18 in regulation, knocked it close for a birdie, grady was steady all day until 17, it was his undoing those bunkers. I love troon and the courses that surround the area, the open course being amazing, 3 way playoff and to think greg norman was -2 after 2 holes, but calcaveccia would not let go, his putt on the 2 nd playoff hole to go -1 was huge. 17 again undone wayne grady in the playoff, and norman just maybe saw the trophy with that pitch that went 15 feet by. 18 drama, norman must still rue that bunker but its golf and mark did not wait for greg at all, again just like regulation he knocked it close for a birdie, norman was left scrambling and amazingly would have probably finished 3rd if placings were still in effect in the playoff. I remember watching this open on tv when i was 10 years old. Mark calcaveccia i think got £80,000 for winning this open, if not it was £90,000. It would have been alot back then as oppose to now. But its that beautiful claret jug that is history, I also noticed mark calcaveccia played with ping eye 2 berrillium copper irons, there is a nice feel to hitting berrillium copper irons. I also would like to mention Payne Stuart who was a brilliant player, very steely nerve. Who was sadly lossed to an accident some years after this. Great player. Really enjoyed this Open as i did when i was young. This video does bring back memories. Thankyou.
I was there for the last day. Was on 18th when MC won it. Have some great photos and a pretty full autograph book plus Paul Azinger's tee from the 18th.
I played high school golf with Mark. He was great then. Won the county amateur twice & the FL.ST. amateur as well. He should have won the Masters in 1988, but got beat by Sandy Lyle's great fairway bunker shot on #18 & then he made the putt for birdie, to win by one.
Nice bloke too. Did he always hit it left to right back then too? 88 was a great Masters. Always wondered why Mark hit a 4 wood into the 15th in the final round. A long iron would have been plenty.
There as a 12 yr old buzzing to be told i was going to the open just down the road the night before. A blistering hot sunday and remember every young kids golfer was 'the shark' norman. Memories for a lifetime. Remember peter alliss bumping into me as he made his way into the commentary box tower for the final stages "sorry young man" memories to last a lifetime. What a final day it was. 🏌♂️⛳☀️
He was the best of the era. He did it to himself on 18. He should have taken that bunker out of play. He could have laid up his second and made a par. Would have made calcs putt quite difficult
Tom watson 1.35 thought he could still win it ,he nearly did 20 years after this ! What a ride that week was ! I felt for the winner as everyone rooting for tom
Poor Grady. I'm glad he still won a major in his career, if not this one. He was not long enough to cope with the length of the 17th at Troon & it cost him.
On such a hard and fast-running course it was no surprise to see a couple of Aussies doing so well. What was weird that year was the complete flop of all the top British & European players.
This is why I'm here, owned Ping Eye2 Becu Wedges for 12 years and never played them, kept in cellar as looked ugly compared to my Clevelands. I now plan to game them, next time I can get out.
Yes, bought a second hand set 12 years ago, took one look at the shape of the wedges and put them away in storage. Had a few chips in the garden to try them out, very heavy but very solid feeling, shame it'll be a few weeks before I can get out on the course again.
Two shots…this and his shot from the rough at the Honda classic that backed up. The eye 2 was not banned though. Ping sued the Usga and pga and they settled giving Ping 100m in restitution and a lifetime exemption for the eye 2 made prior to 1990. Testing showed the ping had no spin advantage.
Sometimes, but not always. One of my favourite players, but he had a deserved reputation for cockiness and wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. He matured greatly towards the end of his career, and was certainly a class act at his final Ryder Cup.
Not sure why Norman hit driver on 18 in the playoff after almost doing the same on the 72nd. It's only 307 to reach that bunker. Another fluke shot was his undoing yet again. 30:15
