1987 The Story of the Open Championship...

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CHEERING

Well, well, well!

Bunker shots, made to look easy.

Gullane Bay, Scotland, lies on the Firth of Forth.

Gently lapping waves deceive

as to the underlying wildness of the climate.

Close at hand is Muirfield golf course,

home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers,

one of the oldest and most venerated in the land.

A renowned links course surrounded by quiet, unassuming countryside

that exudes a tranquillity redolent of calmer, less frenetic days.

But, today, Thursday 16 July,

this procession of cars celebrates the present and not the past.

The start of the 116th Open.

Excitement and anticipation run deep,

especially for the 153 golfers waiting, hoping, praying

and dreaming that this year might, just might be their year.

I had prepared myself well.

'I'd been thinking about it for a couple of months prior.

'But then you are a bit apprehensive because you really don't know

'what's in store with golf. Sometimes you feel great and play lousy.'

You are always a little apprehensive.

You know, I had the strange feeling that maybe

something was going to happen.

But, for that something to happen,

Nick Faldo has to make the leap from good to great

because only the greatest win at Muirfield

as the last four winners, all of whom are back this year, show.

Gary Player in 1959. And now...

..nearly 30 years later, showing the brilliant talent

and competitiveness that stays for ever young.

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

From 1966, Jack Nicklaus, his first Open victory,

an emotionally charged moment.

Do you mind if I enjoy it for a minute, if I don't say anything?

LAUGHTER

The years pass but the man remains the same,

with a burning determination to win that age can never diminish.

1972 belonged to Lee Trevino, the master magician

exultantly conjuring shots from anywhere, and everywhere.

Now, perhaps a touch less exuberant,

but the magic still works.

Undiluted by time or self-doubt.

And, most recently in 1980, Tom Watson.

Of the four, he has the best chance. Five times an Open champion,

he desperately seeks a record-equalling sixth.

In 1987, back to top form,

and with something to prove to the doubters who have written him off.

In 1980, Watson totalled 271,

the second lowest Open-winning score ever.

But, this year, that score will be tough to match,

on a distinctive links course regarded by all

as one of the toughest, yet fairest, courses in golf.

It's a good, fair test. There's no tricks out there.

It's one of the great layouts, because it rolls along.

They're all great holes out there, really,

especially when the wind starts changing.

Mark those words well for, by the end of the Championship,

Muirfield will have revealed such conditions

as to test every golfer to the full.

But, as the Championship begins, the weather is set fair.

The early starters take advantage of Muirfield's largesse,

and plunder the course.

Rodger Davis of Australia sets the pace.

-COMMENTATOR:

-And what a great round Rodger Davis is having today.

He's had birdies on seven holes, he's just dropped one stroke

and now this putt for yet another birdie.

And he loves it!

Beautiful putt, a new course record, a 64.

And, I can tell you, that'll take some beating.

That proves so as the weather deteriorates

and Muirfield reveals its claws.

The wind blows, the rain falls, and scores rise.

Englishman Nick Faldo is one of those

facing the worst of the weather, and taking the brunt of its anger.

It was quite tough, and the wind got up.

And it went very cold for a while.

So, the end of the day, shooting three under,

I was very pleased with that - it's a very good, solid start.

And then, day two, in that rain and drizzle

and what have you all day long. That's actually very tiring.

So, I played very well. I was very pleased with that.

I hit the ball very solid that day.

-COMMENTATOR:

-This second day really has been rather brutish.

Here's Nick Faldo, playing his second shot to the 18th.

Then there's a lovely iron shot, into the front half of the green

and gives him an outside chance of a birdie three.

The leaderboard tells us that Faldo is just two strokes behind and,

with this birdie putt...

..if he can get it, it will be his second 68.

And...no, just dribbles away,

and just that two-footer or so for a round of 69.

That makes him five under for the Championship at the halfway stage.

By the end of the day, three more will join Faldo on five under.

Rodger Davis, overnight leader, falls back with a 73.

While Gerard Taylor, his compatriot, a qualifier no less,

joins him on that mark, as does Payne Stewart of America

whose 66 equals the day's best round.

But, ahead of them all is Paul Azinger,

a new star on the US circuit,

carding a second 68, to go six under.

But, if he looks at the leaderboard,

behind him lies a wealth of talent and experience.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

As day three breaks, a storm rages.

Driving rain and a north-east gale lash Muirfield.

The early starters are numbed.

Even the greatest suffer.

Spain's Seve Ballesteros inveighs his way to a 77,

his Championship over.

Defending champion Greg Norman despairs with a 74,

and sees the game's oldest trophy slip from his grasp.

While Jack Nicklaus stumbles, beaten to an 81.

But, in front of him, one man is playing

one of the greatest foul weather runs

in the history of the Championship, Sandy Lyle.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Sandy Lyle at the 18th,

needs this short putt for a birdie three, and a level par round of 71.

CHEERING

Well, that's a great round of golf.

And, as he finishes his round, the leaders go out.

Here's Bernhard Langer, one of the favourites.

Started the day at four under, dropped a stroke at the first.

Here's his second to the second, a little pitch in.

CHEERING

But that's a certain birdie, and will put him back to four under par.

He is playing today with the South African David Frost,

who's also three under.

He too dropped a stroke at the first hole.

Can he match Langer's? He certainly can.

And that should take him back to four under.

Meanwhile, the crowd gather at the first to see the final pair.

Paul Azinger, the overnight leader, has found the bunker. Awkward shot.

Look how far he's laying the blade of this bunker club open.

He's trying to chop it out.

Good shot, but it doesn't grab.

You can see it runs, oh, ten feet past.

Playing in the final pairing with Nick Faldo.

He's on in two, but quite a long way from the hole.

And nicely judged.

Now, Azinger.

And, no, a stroke dropped.

So, back into the pack at five under.

Faldo tapped his little putt in for his opening par four.

On to the third hole. Here's David Frost, his second shot. Four iron.

Punches it in low, into the wind and the scuddy rain.

Oh, and he's played a superb shot, no more than five feet away.

And Frost sinks that putt to go five under,

and then a monster 30-footer at the next makes him six under,

and outright leader.

But others struggle.

A double bogey knocks Watson back.

Stewart falters and slips one shot to four under,

as does Australian Rodger Davis.

But his playing partner Gerard Taylor

grasps his chance for fame.

-COMMENTATOR:

-Taylor, at the fourth, this for a birdie two.

CHEERING

And that takes Gerard Taylor jointly into the lead at six under par.

Behind him, we find Nick Faldo on the third.

It is his birthday today

and what a day to be out in this sort of weather.

This hole, 379 yards, a par four.

Swinging well.

It looks a nice shot.

Safely on, just spun away, you can see, from the hole.

Faldo playing with Paul Azinger, his first Open Championship.

Now Faldo. This to go six under par.

CHEERING

Beautifully holed.

A share of the lead but I wonder for how long.

We go forward to the 7th.

David Frost having a great round so far.

It's a five iron shot.

And another lovely iron shot,

struck into the heart of the green.

Bernhard Langer, playing with David Frost, bogied the 4th

to go back to three under.

He is on the green here at the short 7th.

The very back of the green.

And that looks pretty good but it's not going to quite make it.

APPLAUSE

Langer will just tap that one in...

..and leave the stage clear for David Frost.

This to go seven under.

And, yes, just topples in.

What a run he's having.

Seven under par now and leading the championship all by himself.

Off he goes to the 8th

and we will drop back to the 5th, where we find Paul Azinger.

Now, this hole, 559 yards, has been shortened today to 506 yards

because of the strength and severity of the wind.

He hit a reasonable drive.

He carved away a one iron but he has been lucky to find

a reasonable lie.

And he has played a good one.

Well, he might still get a birdie four.

It's that sort of day - coats on, coats off.

But it does seem to be improving a little bit.

Now Azinger. This for a birdie four.

Oh, what a good putt. Six under now.

Just one behind the leader David Frost.

But one name has dropped right off the leaderboard -

West German Bernhard Langer.

After a disastrous triple bogey at the 8th,

taking three shots to emerge from a bunker,

he is now level par and effectively out of the tournament.

The 7th hole, though, 185 yards, par three.

And it's Faldo who is one behind the leader at six under par.

And a bit fiery. Well, stops reasonably well.

A long putt down the green.

Now Paul Azinger. Five under now. Dropped a stroke at the last hole.

-WOMAN:

-Happy birthday.

Nice shot from Azinger.

Just one stroke in it.

Faldo lines up this long putt.

Will it start to turn?

Will it have enough legs?

Now, Azinger.

Hands spread down the grip.

Short backswing.

Six under.

So the final pair are level as they go to the eighth tee.

At 8, Azinger's hot putting streak continues

as he downs an 18-footer.

Another birdie at 9 and the lead is his.

But then comes hole 10, a savage intractable 430-yard par four,

the rock upon which many a hope is dashed.

First, Stewart comes to grief, now three under.

Another shot gone.

Rodger Davis tries, but can find no answer.

Only a bunker.

And falls back to minus three.

His partner, Taylor, stumbles too, slipping back one to four under.

And Faldo has this just to bogey.

Five under.

Even Azinger's hot streak cools.

Now seven under and equal with Frost,

who ironically, having escaped hole 10's pitfalls,

faces deep problems at 13.

Frost in perhaps the most difficult bunker,

almost a vertical bank in front of him.

Can he get...yes, gets it out.

But you can see that's the best he could do

from such a difficult position.

Now he's got to hole this long putt for his par

to keep a share of the lead.

Just ran out of steam.

So, a shot gone.

And when Frost drops another at the next, he falls back to 5 under.

But Azinger's two-shot lead soon evaporates

when Faldo birdies 11 and Azinger bogeys 12.

And they stand on the 13th all square at six under

and leading the tournament.

Faldo's tee shot.

And he's a bit twitchy. Has he pulled it left?

And he has, but, oh, has it stayed up? Has it fallen in?

It stays up.

Now, Azinger.

See that strong left-hand grip.

And a lovely stroke.

He's hanging on very well indeed.

Remember, this is his first championship in Britain.

And what trying conditions he's facing.

Trying conditions here too for Master Faldo.

Awkward little stance.

Just bumps it up.

Eases it down the hill.

That was a sweet little chip shot and a good three.

Now, Azinger.

For a birdie.

Keep up, keep up!

No.

So, two par threes for Faldo and Azinger.

The struggle between the leaders appears an intense,

almost private battle.

But in front, others make significant moves.

Craig Stadler birdies two of the last three holes for a fine 71

and finishes on 209, four under for the championship.

But Gerard Taylor's dream turns to a nightmare.

His game disintegrates and he slumps to one under

and disappears from the race.

Rodger Davis fares little better -

minus two for the championship, a pale reminder of day one's heroics.

But David Frost's challenge lives on

as he reaches the 18th at five under par.

And David Frost has this putt at the 18th, a long putt.

My word, how he's stuck to his guns today.

And that's a lovely touch.

Has this little putt, 14 or 15 inches.

For a round of 70, that equals the best score of the day

and puts him the leader in the clubhouse

at five under par, a total of 208.

Back down the fairway, playing his second, Payne Stewart.

And a majestic stroke.

He is one over par so that putt for a 71.

Now, Tom Watson. He's had a quiet, almost anonymous round today.

He is now three under, a five iron to the last hole.

And a super shot.

Nice to see Tom back smiling and striking the ball so well

and holding a few putts.

And what a great scene.

Back at the 16th.

The last of the short holes, the final pair,

and they've dropped a long, long way behind the pair in front.

188 yards. The longest of the par threes here at Muirfield.

Could have done with one extra bounce, but nicely on the green.

Azinger, a two iron.

And that's a beauty. Oh, superb shot!

Now back to the 18th. Payne Stewart.

This for a three and a round of 71.

And...again just short of pace.

But a good score today, 72.

And very much in the hunt.

Now, Tom Watson.

One of the most popular figures in golf ever to visit our shores.

This for a three.

Great stuff indeed!

Home in 33 and a total of 209, that's four under par,

and looking very good for tomorrow.

They loved it and so did Tom.

Now back to the 16th.

Faldo for a two.

This to take the lead.

Oh, no.

And that's another safe par for Faldo.

Now, Azinger for a two.

A beauty. He's putted like a dream today.

Seven under and takes the lead.

So, as a cold, raw, hostile Saturday draws to a close

amid gathering gloom, Paul Azinger,

Open novice, once more takes the lead and the score remains thus

as the last pair come to the 18th.

Faldo's second with a two iron.

Strong wind, left to right.

It's gone. Drifting on the wind, away to the right.

Oh, no. Well, there...

it landed on that little island.

Back down the fairway, Azinger has found

one of the big, cavernous bunkers.

And he's got to play out sideways. He daren't risk going forwards.

Just whacks it out into the middle of the fairway.

He is there for two and still, well,

a three or a four iron from the green.

Oh, no - hit the ground behind the ball, carves it away to the right.

Faldo then in the little island of grass in the middle of the bunker.

Paul Azinger playing his fourth shot for this final hole.

Nips it up.

And it checks a little bit too quickly for him.

So what a battle to only drop one stroke.

Now Faldo. Looks to be sitting nicely

and looks a comparatively simple shot.

Oh, has he driven it? He appeared...

to catch it a little bit too sharply.

And both of them...facing the prospect of dropping shots here.

Maybe two in Azinger's case.

Oh, he has done it again.

Well, the magic wand has worked for young Paul Azinger today.

It's kept him right at the top of the leaderboard. What a five!

Now Faldo with this putt to go into the clubhouse as joint leader

at six under par.

No, no. That was a tentative one. A disappointing final hole.

But an excellent round. Both men score level par 71s.

And so, round three ends as it began

with Paul Azinger a one-shot leader.

But the pack gathers, snapping at his heels.

For tomorrow, only one can win.

Sunday, July 19, the final day.

The leading players gather on the practice putting green,

superficially calm.

Underneath, the build-up of pressure and tension stretches raw emotions

tighter and tighter, and sometimes those nerves show.

We're not on, are we?

What time are you?

The clock relentlessly moves forward and each player must dig

deep into their private resources to find their own motivation.

-FALDO:

-'I was giving myself a pep talk, saying to myself,

'"You've got a great chance, let's take it.

'"There's absolutely no reason why you can't

'"and you're just really boosting your confidence."

'But you get responses back from your inside and it seemed good.

'I think that's why you felt this is a great chance to take.'

Moments later, on the tee,

theoretical flights of fancy are banished, as cold reality,

hole one, day four of the Open, reasserts itself.

Drifting a little bit to the right.

Just goes off the fairway and that could be OK.

Off they go into the mist.

Better conditions than yesterday.

There's Faldo's companion for the afternoon, the mighty Craig Stadler.

Faldo's second shot.

He's been in the wilderness for the last two, maybe three years,

working on his new swing.

That looked a nice rhythm.

And...safely on.

Stadler's ball already on the green. APPLAUSE

Faldo, safely on the green then, as back at the tee,

the final pair start the most important round of their lives.

South African David Frost, five under.

And the leader, American Paul Azinger, six under.

Will today belong to him, or perhaps to Nick Faldo,

putting ahead on the first?

Faldo's long putt. His third shot.

He's five under.

That'll be near enough for a certain four for Faldo

and a good solid start.

Also five under and in the final pair, David Frost.

447 yards this opening hole.

And he's across almost where Nick Faldo was,

perhaps a little further away.

Frost playing with Paul Azinger, the championship leader,

who is just off the fairway.

He's got a good line into the flag.

And he's just pulled it

and it will run in.

So the leader immediately in a spot of bother.

Tucked up under the bank.

Oh, I wouldn't fancy that one myself.

Now, you see how this stance is a little bit awkward.

And he's nipped it out nicely and given him

a chance to get his par four.

A good shot.

Now Frost.

Down in two, he'll be happy.

And, well, left himself a bit.

Now, Azinger.

This for a par four to stay in the lead.

And he starts where he left off yesterday.

APPLAUSE

Frost makes his par,

but ahead, other more distinguished names are struggling.

Watson, the sentimental favourite, slumps,

bogeying the second and the third.

His partner, Stewart, is erratic and unable to advance.

Faldo's tee shot at the 4th.

Going along very nicely.

Come on.

APPLAUSE

And unlucky.

Did you see the way that ball looked as if it was going to stop

and then spun on. A lovely shot though from Nick Faldo.

Stadler in trouble.

This putt to share the lead.

This to go six under and he's... No.

Oh, what a good try.

He stays at five under.

Stadler in trouble here at the short hole. This to save his par.

And...no.

So now back to three under and dropping out of contention.

And behind them on the tee, Paul Azinger.

Very difficult short hole this,

particularly when there is any breeze about from any direction.

Elevated green, bunkers left and right.

Oh, yes. Come on.

Talks to it. And the ball doesn't listen.

Stops a bit too quickly. But nicely on the green.

David Frost from South Africa,

now plays much of his golf in the United States.

And what a good player he is, he dropped a stroke at the second,

he's now -4.

Azinger, though, to putt for a two.

This to go seven under par.

CHEERING

Well, if he continues to putt like this,

it'd be a brave man

who would bet against him winning this championship.

Seventh tee, Payne Stewart. Still four under.

And a lovely shot from Stewart, a certain two.

And that'll take him to five under par

and jointly into second place with Britain's Nick Faldo.

Back to the fifth.

Playing its full length today with the wind abating.

Third shot from David Frost.

A pretty good one.

Azinger's third shot.

And from this range, so many of these great players now pepper the flag.

Drives right down on the ball, attacking the pin.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And a lovely stroke.

And Frost three behind Azinger.

A vital putt for David Frost.

This for a birdie. Big swing on this putt.

Turn, turn.

And that fooled him. He's got still a little testy putt coming back.

But, first, Azinger.

Another putt for a birdie.

CHEERING

My word, he's one-putting every green.

Puts him three ahead of the field. Putting like a demon.

David Frost with this little putt for his par.

And he hits it too hard

and it spins out. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear!

Three putts. Azinger three ahead.

David Frost taps in but now five behind and virtually out of things.

But one man still in with a great chance is Nick Faldo at the 7th.

Here's his tee shot.

Murmurs, murmurs, murmurs from the crowd. Heading towards trouble.

And it's found the bunker.

I think he's far enough back from the bank to be able to play.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Oh, and that's a little gem.

Good shot from Faldo. A testy four, four-and-a-half footer though.

Stadler looks on. He's dropped another stroke

and is now just two under.

Faldo for a par.

Yes, well done. Good save!

Five under. But still trails the leader, Paul Azinger.

At the 6th. In a spot of trouble here.

Tough par four this 6th hole.

And it runs on.

If it gets the down slope, it could work its way into trouble. Yes.

That could well cost him a stroke.

Now, Faldo. The 8th.

Difficult lie in the rough.

Oh, no! No contact. No contact!

And...he's found more trouble.

He's found a bunker.

And he's left himself one of the most awkward shots in golf.

Sort of 40, 50-yard bunker shot.

Now, Faldo.

With this...

He's hit it nicely.

APPLAUSE

That is just a superb shot.

A short putt for his par four.

He's keeping his run of pars going.

Sadly, Mr Stadler isn't.

Faldo's putt...

Right in the middle.

Well done indeed.

Now, Azinger.

And a good shot.

And a chance to go back to eight under

and keep that three shot lead.

Surely, he can't hole another putt?!

All of 18 feet.

CROWD: Yes!

Quite incredible.

Eight under now and three shots clear of the field,

Azinger appears uncatchable but others still live in hope.

Payne Stewart for one refuses to give up the chase.

A double bogey at eight and his chances look gone.

But playing nine, this magnificent iron fired

right into the heart of the green, gives him an eagle chance and hope.

And that hope is realised when, moments later,

he makes a confident putt. The line is perfect. Dead centre.

Five under and back in the hunt.

Rodger Davis also makes a charge.

Birdies at 8, 9 and 11

take him to five under.

And he seems to be on his way.

But hopes are quickly raised, are equally quickly dashed.

Stewart's roller-coaster round crashes.

He slips at ten and the anguish

and disappointment are writ large across his face.

Davis's charge falters

and runs out of steam as luck deserts him.

And he can't quite land that killer blow.

Only one man seems to show the consistency needed

to threaten Azinger's brilliance - Faldo's great run of par continues.

No hazard can hold him.

Another great recovery and he stays five under but can that be enough?

Azinger is still three ahead as he plays the 10th.

475 yards, a par four.

And that's going right and flies into a bunker. Sacre bleu!

Well, in fact, he's not all that bad.

He's fairly near the front of the bunker

but he's got to hack this one up in the air.

It stopped quickly enough.

But, as you can see, five or six yards short.

And we've just heard from the 18th

that Ben Crenshaw has got a short putt

for a round of 68, which would put him to three under par

and a total of 281.

And this man is eight under par. This to stay eight under.

It's turning. It...

Oh, I say!

But that's a shot dropped.

It's all to the 17th and Rodger Davis.

He needs to hole that putt and get a three at the last

if he's going to set a target for the others to chase.

The 14th, and Nick Faldo's second shot.

He's still five under par and playing very smooth,

confident golf indeed.

The swing he's worked on so religiously and so hard

for the last two or three years standing the strain very well.

And... Well, just... Will it stay on? Yes, it will.

Safely on for two.

And we've just heard

that Paul Azinger's dropped a stroke at the 11th.

So hope for Faldo. And certainly for this man - Rodger Davis.

If he can hole this for a birdie four,

that will take him to minus four - two off the lead.

What a good putt! Sweetly done. Four under par.

And off to the 18th with hopes high.

Now, Faldo at the 14th.

A long putt for a three.

And, once more - right to the hole side.

He stays at five under.

As Faldo pars, Stewart's hopes take another, perhaps, final blow.

A shot dropped at 16 and he now slides to three under -

one behind Davis, who's in a good position at the 18th.

Now, will he play safe, or will he have a real fly at it?

Oh, no. That was a nervy, edgy one. He's let it go.

Heading towards the bunker.

And, although it's lying pretty well, that's an awkward spot.

Can Rodger Davis get down in two?

Bite, bite! Oh, yes, nicely played!

WHISTLING AND APPLAUSE

He has a putt for a 69.

APPLAUSE

A 69 it is, and a total of 280.

And that's a very good target,

but now he must wait and see what the others do.

After four days, the final climax is in sight,

as Muirfield lies enshrouded by a mysterious,

swirling blanket of mist.

The Championship balances delicately between two men.

But first, the stage must be clear.

It's Payne Stewart from the United States, three under par.

Strange round he's had today.

He's had eagles, birdies, bogeys, double bogeys, the lot.

But now, only a birdie will do, and what a splendid second shot.

That putt for a round of 71.

APPLAUSE

Tom Watson, a sad day for him, on his way to a 74.

Promised much, but in the end, never quite got there.

Now, all still, for Payne Stewart.

CROWD GASPS

APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING

A 72, he doesn't tie with Rodger Davis,

so just two contenders left out on the course.

Moments later, Faldo makes his 17th straight par.

But, brave as it is, will it be enough?

A glance at the leaderboard will tell him

that Azinger still leads by one, as he comes to the 17th tee.

Bunkers at the left-hand side, and he's hit it left.

There's sand lurking there, and he's found the deep bunker.

And that, indeed, could be very costly...

as Faldo drives at the 18th.

Oh, a lovely swing.

He splits the middle of the fairway.

And, just a little bit more to the right, we'll find Faldo's ball

absolutely dead centre.

What a fine shot.

17th, Azinger, just got to pitch out sideways from this bunker.

Out of the bunker, yes.

But, out of trouble? No.

Azinger is in deep danger of dropping a shot, and the pendulum

slowly swings towards Faldo, who, on 18, faces his greatest test.

One more good, clean, straight hit.

Oh, it's going dead straight.

CROWD SHOUTS ENCOURAGEMENT

RAPTUROUS CHEERING

And a lovely shot from Faldo.

Well, he was asked the ultimate question

as to whether his swing would stand up and, my word,

how it has stood up to the tremendous pressures.

Terrific applause.

Faldo has no idea how this man is doing behind.

He's now playing his fourth shot...

..to the 71st hole.

And a pretty good one.

But what tension now, as these two battle it out.

The 18th green, Faldo for a three.

CROWD SHOUTS

Oh, no, that's too wide.

And he's left himself

one of those horrid length putts in front of about 40,000 eyes.

Azinger at the 17th, Faldo at the 18th.

Azinger, who's wielded a magic putter all week.

CROWD SHOUTS ENCOURAGEMENT THEN GASPS

What a good effort, but that's a six.

Faldo at the 18th.

If he can get this, Azinger needs a four to tie.

CROWD: Yes!

Oh, a smooth stroke!

And the relief on his face.

SUSTAINED CHEERING

The crowd now see that Azinger has dropped a stroke, and they're level.

Azinger, back on the tee, this time using a one iron.

An iron for safety and position down the final hole.

And what a moment for this young man from America,

who's made such a wonderful impression here this week.

The crowd round the 18th, waiting to see what happens to his second shot.

A four to tie, a birdie three to win.

The wind from the left, he's kept it too far left,

he's going to catch trouble.

CHEERING THEN GROANING

And some cheers and groans, a mixed reception there.

APPLAUSE

He's found an awkward spot in the bunker.

This is by no means a doddle to get down in two from here.

Look at that stance.

Flips it up...

..and not quite far enough.

And still the drama goes on.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

Now, this to tie.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

And he's...for once, left it short.

So Azinger finishes six, five.

For Azinger, the final two holes

shatter his dreams into a thousand pieces.

But, for Faldo, it's the moment when a dream comes true.

After four days of intense struggle

in some of the most appalling weather imaginable,

Nick Faldo has triumphed against the finest golfers in the world,

and the greatest prize in golf is his.

Azinger can only look on and think of what might have been.

But Faldo knows that his name goes down in history

and joins the roll call of past Muirfield Open winners -

Watson, Nicklaus, Trevino, Player.

-FALDO:

-If you go even further back, you've got Vardon and Braid,

and Cotton, and Taylor, I think, Walter Hagen.

You look at those names and add Faldo to the back of it.

I look a little different -

like a sore thumb sitting there at the moment!

But it is those very names

that confirm Faldo's first step along the path

to greatness, as the winner of the 116th Open Championship.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd