Dustin Johnson, who was joint runner-up at The 140th Open in 2011, found form on the final day at Royal Birkdale himself with a score of 64. And the same number was managed by Aaron Baddeley, with the Australian matching countryman Ian Baker-Finch’s third-round total at the same venue 26 years earlier.
Incidentally, the 64 recorded by Baker-Finch en route to his Open triumph in 1991 was a course record at the time – before being beaten by Jodie Mudd’s 63 the following day.
Amidst the drama, and the thrilling golf served up across a venue where every inch of it has to be earned, it was Spieth who left Southport with silverware that week.
His 12-under-par total was achieved in no small part thanks to two rounds of 65. One came in Thursday’s opening day, and the other as Grace was setting Championship records on Saturday.
This put the Texan in pole position heading into a final day where he produced a now legendary back nine to claim the Claret Jug.
An incredible recovery from the practice ground on 13 followed by a near-ace on 14 and a birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie sequence down the stretch.
Royal Birkdale has a habit of conjuring up this magic.