1977 British Open: The Duel In the Sun
Winner: Tom Watson, 268
Where it was played: Ailsa Course at Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire, Scotland
Tournament dates: July 6-9, 1977
Leader after first round: John Schroeder, 66
Leader after second round: Roger Maltbie, 137
Leader after third round: Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, 203
Notable Notes: This Open is the place where Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson engaged in one of the great duels in golf history, going toe to toe over the final two rounds until Watson emerged with a one-shot victory. Their battle here is chronicled in the book Duel in the Sun.
Roger Maltbie was the midway leader, Nicklaus and Watson tied in second place, one stroke behind. So the two giants were paired for the third round, and they didn't disappoint, each shooting 65. That moved them into the lead, three shots clear of the field.
In the final round, paired again, they traded the lead as they traded shots, eventually Watson finishing with another 65 and Nicklaus with a 66. Watson had the one-shot victory. It wasn't secure until the final green, however, where Nicklaus rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt, forcing Watson to sink a short putt for the win.
Final Scores
| Tom Watson | 68-70-65-65—268 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 68-70-65-66—269 |
| Hubert Green | 72-66-74-67—279 |
| Lee Trevino | 68-70-72-70—280 |
| George Burns III | 70-70-72-69—281 |
| Ben Crenshaw | 71-69-66-75—281 |
| Arnold Palmer | 73-73-67-69—282 |
| Raymond Floyd | 70-73-68-72—283 |
| Tommy Horton | 70-74-65-75—284 |
| Mark Hayes | 76-63-72-73—284 |
| John Schroeder | 66-74-73-71—284 |
| Johnny Miller | 69-74-67-74—284 |
| Peter Thomson | 74-72-67-73—286 |
| Howard Clark | 72-68-72-74—286 |
| Bobby Cole | 72-71-71-73—287 |
| Seve Ballesteros | 69-71-73-74—287 |
| Peter Butler | 71-68-75-73—287 |
| Bob Shearer | 72-69-72-74—287 |
| Graham Marsh | 73-69-71-74—287 |
| Guy Hunt | 73-71-71-72—287 |
| Jerry Pate | 74-70-70-73—287 |
| Gary Player | 71-74-74-69—288 |
| John Fourie | 74-69-70-75—288 |
| Tom Weiskopf | 74-71-71-72—288 |
| Peter Dawson | 74-68-73-73—288 |
| Gaylord Burrows | 69-72-68-80—289 |
| Norio Suzuki | 74-71-69-75—289 |
| Rik Massengale | 73-71-74-71—289 |
| Roger Maltbie | 71-66-72-80—289 |
| Angel Gallardo | 78-65-72-74—289 |
| Martin Foster | 67-74-75-73—289 |
| John O'Leary | 74-73-68-74—289 |
| David Ingram | 73-74-70-72—289 |
| Eamonn Darcy | 74-71-74-71—290 |
| Ken Brown | 74-73-71-72—290 |
| Baldovino Dassu | 72-74-72-73—291 |
| Brian Barnes | 79-69-69-74—291 |
| John Morgan | 72-71-71-77—291 |
| Min Nan Hsieh | 72-73-73-73—291 |
| Manuel Pinero | 74-75-71-71—291 |
| David Vaughan | 71-74-73-74—292 |
| Neil Coles | 74-74-71-73—292 |
| Bob Charles | 73-72-70-78—293 |
| Jaime Gonzalez | 78-72-71-72—293 |
| Tony Jacklin | 72-70-74-77—293 |
| Stewart Ginn | 75-72-72-75—294 |
| Hale Irwin | 70-71-73-80—294 |
| Brian Huggett | 72-77-72-74—295 |
| Vicente Fernandez | 75-73-73-74—295 |
| Michael King | 73-75-72-75—295 |
| Roberto De Vicenzo | 76-71-70-78—295 |
| Rodger Davis | 77-70-70-79—296 |
| Brian Waites | 78-70-69-79—296 |
| Christy O'Connor Jr. | 75-73-71-77—296 |
| Jim Farmer | 72-74-72-78—296 |
| Vincent Tshabalala | 71-73-72-81—297 |
| Maurice Bembridge | 76-69-75-77—297 |
| Hsu Chi San | 70-70-77-81—298 |
| Ian Mosey | 75-73-73-77—298 |
| David Jones | 73-74-73-78—298 |
| Gary Jacobsen | 74-73-70-81—298 |
| Nick Faldo | 71-76-74-78—299 |
| Vince Baker | 77-70-73-79—299 |
