Costantino Rocca

Costantino Rocca walked so that Francesco Molinari could run.

Prior to Molinari’s success at The Open in 2018, Rocca stood out as Italy’s greatest-ever golfer and his finest moment came in pursuit of the Claret Jug.

In fact, in 1995, Rocca produced a shot that ranks alongside any other in the history of The Open.

Having duffed a pitch into the Valley of Sin at St Andrews when going for an eagle to win the tournament, Rocca found himself facing a 65-foot putt to force a play-off.

From the worst shot of his four rounds, Rocca then produced the best, under the greatest pressure of all.

His reaction, falling to his knees and thumping the ground in front of him, remains indelibly marked in the memories of anyone watching that day.

That John Daly, who he pegged back with that stunning shot, went onto win the four-hole play-off, is perhaps the only reason Rocca’s effort is not a unanimous answer when counting down the greatest shots in Open history.

The likable Italian never did win a major, but as he said in the aftermath of his loss: “I'm the most famous runner-up in the world.” 

More than two decades on, that might still be true.