Seven years later, it was left to a pair of Australians and an American to decide who would win the first-ever four-hole play-off to be used in the Open Championship.
Ahead of the final round, Waynbe Grady led by one from Tom Watson but ahead of them the picture was changing. Greg Norman began the final round with six successive birdies in a trademark charge. His closing 64 was not quite good enough to beat Mark Calcavecchia and Grady, with the latter left to rue a costly bogey at the short 17th.
In the play-off, Norman began with two birdies – one clear of Calcavecchia. He made bogey at the 17th leaving the two men tied. After Calcavecchia had found the rough, Norman unleashed a drive that reached a bunker he considered out of play. The American hit the shot of his life with a 5-iron to seven feet while Norman was only able to hit from one bunker to another.
Calcavecchia was the champion and he said afterwards: “I will remember Royal Troon in 1989 as the place and the time when the course, the weather and my game all came together for one glorious week.”
