Seventy-five years after the incomparable Bobby Jones had shown Americans the way here at Royal Lytham, David Duval captured top prize of £600,000 sterling in the 130th British Open Championship. But after so much promise over the preceding days, the Irish challenge faded disappointingly when Darren Clarke was forced to accept a share of third place.

Yet the Tyroneman, now top of the Ryder Cup table, felt he had much to be pleased about. "I proved to myself that I can handle the pressure of the back nine of a major on a Sunday afternoon," he said. "I was very much in control until I got a couple of bad breaks on the 17th (he ran up a double bogey). But that's links golf."

It was also a memorable occasion for Des Smyth who, with a closing 71, realised his target of getting into the top 15, so securing an exemption for Muirfield next year - his final season before moving into senior ranks. In fact he was tied 13th, along with such notables as Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh.

With only a stroke separating the leading 13 players overnight, estimates varied as to how many would be involved in the inevitable play-off. Instead, we had a performance which gave a new dimension to the notion of come-back kids, as Duval swept three strokes clear for an emphatic triumph.

Down the 72nd, he was almost engulfed by the gallery. "Even with police and the R and A around me, I got banged about a bit, but it was worth it," he said afterwards. "It was an unbelievable scene at the end of a pressure-packed round. Any minor mistake on this course is magnified, so I'm really pleased to have won here."

Only 12 months ago, this gifted performer of serious intent was also in the last two-ball of the final day - with Tiger Woods - only to crash down the leaderboard after a closing 75 which included a wretched eight at the infamous 17th. "I probably shouldn't have played the final round last year because of my back," he said.

Duval went on: "Today I played real well. I made putts. I did everything I needed to do. I worked really hard heading into the US Open last month and didn't make anything. But before coming here, I didn't hit a golf ball. I went fishing, mountain biking, riding and working out. This championship is different from the other majors. There is the history; the names on the trophies. And there is added pleasure in doing it on a golf course like this."

He added: "It's still a silly old game. All I tried to do today was hit it solid, move it forward and make some putts. There have been times when I've made it a lot bigger than it is. But not today. Maybe that's why I felt so good."

Apart from the misfortune to Ian Woosnam, home supporters were understandably deflated by the muted performance of Montgomerie who, at 38, seemed set for an overdue major breakthrough. "I just wasn't good enough on the greens," he said. "But the crowds have been superb, and I look forward to more of the same at Muirfield next year."

Meanwhile, this championship will be remembered as a triumph for a strategically superb layout over modern, hi-tech equipment. "This is the ultimate test," said a vanquished Padraig Harrington. "It combats technology. You are offered choices off every tee and if you decide to be brave, you'd better be straight."

When the Open first came to Lytham in 1926, it established golf as one of the great competitive sports. The manner in which the Royal and Ancient presented this championship, ensured the future of the game is in safe hands.