Tony Jacklin reflects on his memorable Open victory at Royal Lytham in 1969
Tuesday 12 July 2016 20:46, UK
How many Englishman have won The Open, in England, since the Second World War? The answer is surprising ... one - Tony Jacklin's two-shot win at Royal Lytham in 1969.
Jacklin fulfulled his rich promise on the biggest stage of all in his seventh appearance in the tournament, upstaging the likes of five-time winner Peter Thomson, Jack Nicklaus and defending champion Gary Player to claim his maiden major title.
In the second part of our series, Jacklin recalls the emotion and the drama of leading The Open coming down the stretch with the weight of a nation's expectations on his shoulders - there had not been an English winner of the title since Max Faulkner's triumph at Royal Portrush in 1951.
Armed with a two-shot lead after 54 holes, Jacklin held his nerve playing alongside 1963 winner Bob Charles in the final group and matched the New Zealander's one-over 72 in tough conditions on the final day.
It would be another 18 years before and Englishman lifted the Claret Jug when Nick Faldo triumphed at Muirfield in 1987, but Jacklin remains the only post-war victory on home soil - a record of which he is immensely proud.
Watch the video above to see Tony Jacklin recalling his Open victory in 1969, and don't miss all our coverage from Royal Troon this week on Sky Sports - the proud new home of The Open.
