DALY vs ROCCA | Showdown at St Andrews (1995 Playoff)

The 25th Open to be staged at St Andrews was a wild one and not just for the weather. John Daly was called the “Wild Thing” but if his victory in the 1991 PGA Championship as an unknown was a shock, his win in the 1995 Open was not as far-fetched as it seemed.

Despite the windy conditions the 29-year-old closed with a 71 to finish one ahead of Michael Campbell, the third-round leader, Mark Brooks and English journeyman Stephen Bottomley, who had the day’s best score with a 69.

But the real drama came from Costantino Rocca, who needed a birdie at the last to tie Daly. When he duffed his pitch into the Valley of Sin, all hope seemed lost.

Yet using a putter from 65 feet, Rocca knocked his ball up the steep slope and then into the hole. He sank to his knees and slammed the ground with his fists in sheer jubilation. “I had no putt, but it went in,” said the Italian.

What followed was the four-hole playoff, which saw a firm crowd favourite be crowned The 124th Open champion.

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