The Open Championship is familiar with playoffs to decide the Championship – but only once has the deciding playoff involved four players.
In 2002, Muirfield hosted The 131st Open Championship, and nobody could predict just how incredibly competitive it was going to be.
Ernie Els, Thomas Levet, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington had all played themselves into contention to win the Claret after four rounds. So a four-man four-hole playoff was needed.
The foursome replayed the 1st, 16th, 17th and 18th holes under immense pressure and expectation. While shots were gained and dropped, Els and Levet remained level after the four holes, while Appleby and Elkington fell away.
The drama and excitement increased as the final two players entered a sudden-death playoff. They would play and replay the 18th until there was a clear winner.
This was history in the making.
Els would emerge triumphant after one sudden-death hole, lifting the Claret Jug for the first time in his career following this extraordinary Championship finale.
Here is the first four-man playoff in The Open’s history as it happened for you to enjoy.
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3 Comments
Is this the greatest-ever Open Championship Playoff?
showed my friends this and now they are obsessed with it
3 of the sweetest swings there, 2 of them Aussies. Great to see them hitting 2,4 irons into greens