Troon Champions: Arnold Palmer

Arnie won the sixth of his seven Majors when he defended at Troon

Did the massive Troon crowds drive and spur you on?
I always seemed to draw encouragement from the crowds when I was playing. I wanted to hit shots that they enjoyed seeing played. And the gallery in Scotland was always so supportive of me. They had as much to do with my success as the shots.

How did you deal with the pressure of being the defending champion?
I have been the defending champion at a lot of events, but it is particularly challenging at a Major and particularly the Open when there are such high expectations. I tried to put the fact that I was defending behind me and just focus on the four rounds.

What was the main reason you won?
Despite having some back issues that week, I felt very good. Troon is an amazingly difficult course, particularly when the wind is blowing. The course suited my game and the low shots I was able to hit.

Was there a key moment during the week?
During the third round, I hit two of the best shots on number 12 that I’d hit all week. My second to the green ran over the back and I was in some thick rough. I hit a good chip to get up and down and that par led to a string of birdies to close the round. Had I not parred that hole, who knows how it would have affected my round.

What does it take to win an Open?
Being prepared is the best way to come into the event. I was playing well and felt comfortable when I arrived at Troon. I felt I had a good chance of winning that week.

Where would your Troon win rank?
I’ve said this about other Major Championships, but had I not won so decisively (by six shots), I may have won more Open Championships. At the time, I did not think about this, but looking back, I won with a comfortable lead which is what I always wanted to do. Perhaps, having accomplished my goal, I inadvertently lost a bit of my competitive edge. That second Open victory is one of my fondest.