• Replay: When Todd took down Ernie in 2004

    Ernie Els loses at Royal Troon
    14 years ago on this day

    Little-known American Todd Hamilton beat Ernie Els in a playoff to clinch The Open Championship title at Royal Troon.

    The pair tied at 10 under when Hamilton bogeyed the last but he bounced back to win the four-hole playoff by a shot. Masters champion Phil Mickelson was third on nine under, with England’s Lee Westwood fourth at six under after a closing 67. Tiger Woods finished at three under and local hero Colin Montgomerie ended up a disappointing two over after a 76.

    The 38-year-old Hamilton won his first Major title after Els pulled his tee shot en route to a bogey at the short 17th, the third extra hole. They shared pars at the first and second holes and Els was unable to force a tying birdie on the 18th.

    Hamilton, the overnight leader, began the day at eight under, one clear of playing partner Els in the last group. He slipped back with a bogey on the par-four 2nd but the world No 56 was not overawed by the superstars in the groups in front of him and clawed shots back at the 4th and 5th. He stumbled briefly at the 10th as Mickelson, who had joined him in the lead at the 4th and then again at the 7th, went ahead on his own at nine under.

    But Hamilton birdied the 11th and 14th to go two clear as Mickelson fell back at 13 before closing to within one stroke after a birdie at the 16th. Hamilton, though, fended off his more illustrious opponent with a birdie at 16 to reach 11 under, as Els took over the chase and closed to within one at the same hole.

    Els, who won The Open at Muirfield in 2002 and was second in 2000 and 1996, began the day at seven under and went out in two under par before a double-bogey at the 10th seemed to have scuppered his chances.

    But birdies at 13, 16 and 17 kept him in touch, and when Hamilton bogeyed the last hole via the right and then
    left rough, Els was left with an eight-footer for victory, which he missed to set up the playoff.

    ‘He played wonderful; he kept his nerve when he needed to and I know how much he’s going to enjoy it,’ Els conceded. ‘I always wanted to fight. I obviously made a big mistake on 10 with a double-bogey but I didn’t want to let it go. I didn’t have a great playoff but I had a great week. The golf course was great, the R&A was great and we have a great champion.’

    The world No 2 added: ‘I’ve got to give credit to Todd. He obviously had a game plan and he stuck to his guns. He played conservatively and it worked out for him this time. His ball flight is beautiful for this type of golf course and he’s got a great short game. But, I’m going to be thinking about that putt on the 72nd hole for a while.’

    – Every month, Compleat Golfer looks back in history to a memorable moment, this replay highlights the Open moment from 18 July 2004

    LEADERBOARD

    Todd Hamilton (US) 71 67 67 69 274

    Ernie Els (SA) 69 69 68 68 274

    Phil Mickelson (US) 73 66 68 68 275

    Lee Westwood (ENG) 72 71 68 67 278

    Thomas Levet (FRA) 66 70 71 72 279

    Davis Love III (US) 72 69 71 67 279

    Retief Goosen (SA) 69 70 68 73 280

    Scott Verplank (US) 69 70 70 71 280

    Mike Weir (Can) 71 68 71 71 281

    Tiger Woods (US) 70 71 68 72 281

    Mark Calcavecchia (US) 72 73 69 68 282

    Darren Clarke (NIR) 69 72 73 68 282

    Skip Kendall (US) 69 66 75 72 282

    Also:

    Tjaart van der Walt (SA) 70 73 72 74 289

    Trevor Immelman (SA) 69 74 71 76 290

    James Kingston (SA) 73 72 74 74 293

    Rory Sabbatini (SA) 71 72 73 81 297

    Missed the cut: Tim Clark (SA) 146, Grant Muller (SA) 147, Darren Fichardt (SA) 151, Hennie Otto (SA) 151, Louis Oosthuizen (SA) 156

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