Ballesteros was neither in top form nor the favourite at St Andrews but produced one of sport’s most iconic moments
By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog
Seve Ballesteros was not having a great year in 1984. By the time the Open began in July, he had failed to win a tournament all season. He had even gone to the Masters as the defending champion and missed the cut. As a record crowd flocked to St Andrews, many golf fans wondered if the 27-year-old would be able to reverse his fortunes at the Home of Golf.
Nick Faldo was hoping to end Great Britain’s 15-year wait for an Open champion and Greg Norman – who had been runner-up at the US Open a month earlier – was attracting attention. Yet it was hard to look beyond Tom Watson, who was aiming to win his third Open in a row and equal Harry Vardon’s record of six titles. Watson was top of the US money list for the season and, at 5/1, the overwhelming favourite.
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