On July 8 in golf history — 1939: Dick Burton wins the last pre-war Open, plus 5 more moments from 1939–1983.
Englishman Dick Burton won the 1939 Open Championship at St Andrews, the final Open played before World War II suspended the championship for six years.
Richard BurtonPeter Thomson won the 1954 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the first of his five Claret Jugs, launching one of the great Open careers.
Peter ThomsonAustralia's Kel Nagle won the 1960 Centenary Open Championship at St Andrews, edging Arnold Palmer by one stroke in Palmer's first Open appearance.
Kel NagleJack Nicklaus won the 1966 Open Championship at Muirfield, completing the career Grand Slam at age 26 with a one-stroke win over Doug Sanders and Dave Thomas.
Jack NicklausAt Turnberry in 1977, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus separated from the field, setting up the legendary final-day 'Duel in the Sun' that would decide the Open Championship.
Tom WatsonBy early July 1983 Tom Watson was chasing his fifth Open title, which he would win at Royal Birkdale, his last and a record-tying fifth Claret Jug of the modern era.
Tom Watson