The British Open: A quiz

Runners-up

A. VanderVelde, of course, then Vijay Singh, then Ernie Els

VanderVelde, the Frenchman whose final-hole collapse at Carnoustie paved the way for Lawrie’s playoff victory, became the poster child for playing carefully. Leading by three strokes coming to the final tee, he barely scraped out a triple bogey 7 and was lucky to even make the playoff.

In truth, Justin Leonard shared runner-up honors, also reaching the playoff and losing to Lawrie.

A 300-to-1 bet by the British bookies, Curtis shocked the world in 2003, coming from off the professional grid to beat Singh (and Thomas Bjorn) by one stroke. In the memorable final round, he played the first 11 holes in six-under to take a two-stroke lead, then dropped four strokes in quick succession, then sank a 10-foot putt on the final hole to win.

One year later, Hamilton – a mid 30s 2003 Q-School graduate who had played mostly in Japan – shot back-to-back second and third round 67s at Troon to take a one-stroke lead over Els. The pair wound up in a four-hole playoff that was only set when Hamilton bogeyed the 72nd hole.

In the four-hole aggregate playoff, Els overshot the par three 3rd hole and bogeyed. On the final playoff hole, Hamilton made a three-foot knee-knocker to win.

Question 10. In 2019, Shane Lowry famously won at Royal Portrush. In so doing, he became the first Irishman to win the Brit since …you tell me.

Rory McIlroy

Padraig Harrington

Darren Clarke