Royal St George's in Kent, the scene of the most spectacular scoring in British Open history seven years ago, is to host the championship again in 2003.
Nick Faldo and Payne Stewart equalled the lowest rounds ever in the British Open by covering the famous Sandwich course in 63, while Ernie Els became the first player to shoot four rounds in the 60s. Victory, though, went to Greg Norman.
The Australian, whose only other Major triumph came at Turnberry in 1986, began with a double-bogey six but still scored 66 and followed that with 68, 69 and then a closing 64 which playing partner Bernhard Langer described as the greatest golf he had ever witnessed.
Norman won by two from Faldo, and his 13-under-par aggregate of 267 lowered by one the record total for any Major, set by Tom Watson at Turnberry in 1977.
It has since been equalled by Steve Elkington and Colin Montgomerie in the 1995 US PGA Championship at Riviera five years ago. It was also the first occasion a six-figure cheque had been handed to a winner. That had leapt to £350,000 when Paul Lawrie won at Turnberry. "We are delighted that the British Open championship will be returning to Royal St George's," said Peter Dawson, secretary of the Royal and Ancient Club which runs the event.
"The links have been strengthened by the addition of several new championship tees and by the remodelling of the 14th hole. It will provide an excellent test of golf and produce a worthy champion." This year's Open is at St Andrews (July 20-23); next year it goes to Royal Lytham, and in 2002 the setting is Muirfield.
