Remembering The 2015 Open at St Andrews

THE most recent Open Championship to be played at St Andrews featured a dramatic conclusion, fitting for such an iconic venue.

The 2015 tournament began with former champions Peter Thomson and Arnold Palmer starring in the Champion Golfers’ Challenge on the eve of the event.

And there was incredible tension as the action unfolded on the final day. 

Dustin Johnson took the lead with a 65 on the first day. The second round was notable for dramatic weather, with flooding on Friday closing the Old Course and gales on Saturday stopping play.

The second round also saw emotional farewells from Sir Nick Faldo - donning the sweater from his 1987 victory - and five-time champion Tom Watson, for whom thousands lined the final fairway as darkness descended.

Irish amateur Paul Dunne shared the 54-hole lead before Monday’s absorbing finale - only the second Monday finish in the history of The Open.

Zach Johnson and Marc Leishman made superb charges before 2010 winner Louis Oosthuizen also joined a play-off that Jordan Spieth - the Masters and US Open Champion in pursuit of a Grand Slam - and Jason Day only just missed.

Johnson birdied the first two extra holes and finished one ahead of Oosthuizen to become the sixth former Masters champion to win at St Andrews – joining Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

The 39-year-old from Iowa said afterwards: "I'm grateful. I'm humbled and I'm honoured. This is the birthplace of the game and that jug means so much in sports."