Todd Hamilton returns to scene of his greatest triumph

Troon has thrown up a few surprise American winners down the years and, if it is to do the same this year, the signs might already be there only to become obvious after the event.

Todd Hamilton celebrates his Open victory at Royal Troon in 2004 with his caddie, Ron Levin. Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Todd Hamilton followed in the footsteps of compatriots Tom Weiskopf, Mark Calcavecchia and Justin Leonard in enjoying the defining moment of his career on the Ayrshire course and, returning for the first time since that 2004 play-off win, recalled yesterday the “odd” series of events which, with hindsight, suggested his name was on the Claret Jug.

During a practice round ahead of the event which would end with him beating Ernie Els, pictured below, in a play-off, Hamilton’s eyes were drawn to the scoreboard, which was being tested, and his name was at the top of the leaderboard. Then, while dining with caddie Ron “Bambi” Levin in Cecchini’s Italian restaurant ahead of the tournament, they joked to the owner that they’d bring the Jug back with them on Sunday night – a promise they were destined to keep.

He recalled: “Looking back, obviously, when you see that stuff before your eyes, before the event happens, I guess those are the people that read the cards and tell you what your life’s going to end up being.

“But, looking back, there were a lot of odd things that had happened. The scoreboard, the restaurant and, on the flight over, my wife sat by a priest, I think he was from South or North Dakota, and my wife mentioned that we were coming over to play golf. He ended up praying for us.

“So there were a lot of odd things that happened. Obviously, looking back, you can put the pieces together and fill out the puzzle, but you would never see those pieces individually, put them together and think that you were going to win.”

Hamilton was 38 then and nothing in his career, which is now plied on the seniors circuit in America, would come close. Now 50, he’s back at the scene of his greatest triumph.

“Yesterday was the first time I’d been back since 2004, so I noticed the clubhouse was redone inside,” he said. “I couldn’t even remember how to get to the driving range, it’s been such a long time ago. Had to get pointed in the right direction for that.

“I have good memories here. I don’t remember everything that happened, but I remember enough to make it a very memorable and cherished event. I’d like to have some other good memories this year. Doesn’t have to be a victory, but at least have some good golf and play some good golf.”

Hamilton reckons the fact the win came while he was in his late 30s after enjoying a successful career in Japan meant becoming Open champion was not a life changing event – although the cheque came in handy with a house move later that year. It did see him become the biggest thing to come out of Oquwaka, Illinois, although a dead elephant called Norma Jean still rivals him for that honour.

The beast was struck by lightning when the circus came to town in the early 1970s and was buried in the central square and immortalised by a memorial.

“Still no statue, no,” chuckled Hamilton, who now lives in Texas. “I assume I would be more famous than the elephant, although somewhere underneath the ground she’s still there.”

There is talk that the Welcome To Oquwaka sign now says Birthplace of 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton, though he is yet to see it for himself.

“I was actually there not too long ago,” he said. “Drove through, saw my father, was on my way to a Champions event in Iowa driving from Michigan. So we passed through. The side of town we went into, they hadn’t changed the sign, but the other side they may have.”

Hamilton intends to soak in the nostalgia at Troon this week, though won’t be able to revisit the scene of the 2004 after party.

“It’s not there anymore,” he said of the Italian restaurant. “I heard he’s got one in Prestwick and another town. But the one we went to is no longer there.

“I believe it was on the Tuesday before the Open, might have been the Wednesday. As we were being served, the guy who was the owner asked what we were doing in town, are we here for the golf? Bambi piped up, ‘We’ll bring you the Jug back Sunday night when we win’.

“Well, lo and behold, come Sunday night we had the Jug. We probably were there till, gosh, three maybe four in the morning. We filled it up with champagne. It was a pretty cool night. Understatement.”