Todd Hamilton

Even as the course at Royal Troon changes, the memories remain the same for 2004 Champion Golfer Todd Hamilton.

The 58-year-old is back at the venue where he won the Claret Jug 20 years ago for his final Open appearance.

He arrived in Scotland in 2004 unheralded but now is warmly welcomed back as a member of an exclusive club.

“It’s very special. 20 years ago, I had a chance to play here and get a bucket-list dream of mine finished,” the Illinois native said.

“Although everything changes from year to year or tournament to tournament, there are always somethings that don’t change and those are the memories that I have.

“The range is new from what I remember. After winning in ‘04, I came back in 2016 and I couldn’t remember where the driving range was, believe it or not.

“And then this year it looks like it is different from 2016 even.

“Things change but there are still some things that stay the same and those are the things you want to remember.

“I love this place, I love this style of golf, and it is nice to be back over here.”

Hamilton had only won a place on the PGA Tour in 2003, doing so on his eighth attempt and at the age of 38.

He had previously had great success on the Japan Golf Tour, winning 11 times and came to Royal Troon in 2004 a PGA Tour winner after claiming the Honda Classic that March.

On just his fourth Open appearance, Hamilton posted 10-under-par to take part in a four-hole play-off.

There, he beat 2002 Champion Golfer Ernie Els by a stroke, with Phil Mickelson, who went on to win in 2013, in third place.

The victory at Royal Troon was Hamilton’s last worldwide and the American has not played The Open since 2018 at Carnoustie.

He credits his family’s attendance back in 2004 for helping him to secure his victory and he will have family by his side again this year.

Hamilton added: “My family travelled with me, and it was nice to have them here to see me win 20 years ago.

“My son is caddying for me this week, not everybody is here, but my son is.

“I think the style of golf, I love this kind of golf. We get so used to in the States, if we miss a green, we instinctively pull out our lob wedge and sand wedge and it is just one shot.

“But over here, it could be five different clubs to use for one shot, especially around the greens, and you’ve got to be very patient over here with the golf because you get some crazy bounces. 

“Of course, the weather can dictate outcomes of shots and you’ve really got to think your way around the golf course here which a lot of times you don’t have to do back in the States.”

Hamilton’s scrambling style of play was key to his victory in 2004, using a hybrid club back then.

And while he has left the hybrid back home in Texas, he is expecting to still be up to his usual tricks.

But for the other players at The 152nd Open hoping to emulate his success, his advice is to avoid having to get themselves out of jail like he did.

“Any time you are playing a Championship event, first of all you have got to drive the ball well,” Hamilton explained.

“If you drive it into the heavy rough or the bunker out here, you are behind the 8-ball from the start. So, first things first, drive it on to the fairway.

“Give what the course takes, the course is not going to give you birdie chances on every hole, just pick your places to succeed.

“From what I remember, the front nine is mostly down wind, if you get the traditional wind and the back nine is the tougher part of the golf course.

“So don’t force it, get on the fairway first, hopefully you have a good week putting and see where the chips fall at the end of the week.”