Welcome Back
British Open 2024: Former champ comes out of Open hibernation, promptly shanks one in pot bunker
As a former Open Champion, Todd Hamilton is exempt into the event until he turns 60. Yet the 2004 winner has not used that privilege since the 2018 British Open at Carnoustie. In fact, Hamilton has not even played in an official PGA Tour event since the 2019 Puerto Rico Open, though he has played senior majors.
But this year, the Open returned to Royal Troon, site of Hamilton's lone major triumph and the last of his two PGA Tour victories, which both came in 2004. That week, Hamilton surged to the top of the leader board with consecutive 67s in the second and third rounds, then shot a final-round 69 to get into a playoff with Ernie Els which he won by one stroke.
In 14 Open appearances since, Hamilton has missed 11 cuts, including the last time it was at Royal Troon in 2016. Following his MC at Carnoustie, he took five years off from playing the Open before returning in 2024 when he had a "welcome back to the Open" moment in the early hours of Thursday morning's first round.
The pot bunkers show no mercy, not even to the former champs.
Hamilton, smartly, went out sideways with his next, then proceeded to make a triple-bogey 7 that put his chances of making the cut 20 years after his Open victory at Troon in doubt. The 58-year-old finished with an 11-over 82, which was highlighted by a birdie 2 at the par-3 14th. Hopefully, Hamilton gets some better weather on Friday and a nice little send-off coming down 18 from the Royal Troon faithful.
MORE GOLF DIGEST BRITISH OPEN COVERAGE
British Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the British Open on TV and streaming
Tee times for Rounds 1 and 2 at Troon
Power Rankings: Every player in the field at Royal Troon
Video: Every hole at Royal Troon
How hard can the 123-yard Postage Stamp hole really be? Our deep-dive explantion
Tiger Woods and when enough is enough
History of the claret jug: 152 years of triumphs, dents and lots of drinking
How Brian Harman (aka ‘The butcher of Hoylake’) beat the British tabloids
Rory McIlroy’s media blowoff reignites debate about obligation in the face of frustration
Links golf interactive: What shots you should play on a links course