This Day in Golf History--July 17

On this date in 1983, Tom Watson won his fifth Open Championship, at Royal Birkdale, one shot ahead of Hale Irwin and Andy Bean. Watson blistered a 2-iron to the final green and two-putted for par. At age 33, and with five victories in eight years, it seemed a foregone conclusion Watson would catch and perhaps pass Harry Vardon’s record of six. But in every following chance for victory, something went wrong and a sixth title was never clinched.