10. 1860, Prestwick and won by Willie Park Senior. The first. If this one hadn't been staged in the middle of the 19th century the excitement at Carnoustie in the 21st century might not have happened.

9. 1970, St Andrews. Doug Sanders missing a two-foot putt and then losing to Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. Unforgettable. It was St Andrews, the home of golf, and Jack Nicklaus at the peak of his powers. An unbeatable combination.

8. 1937, Carnoustie. Henry Cotton's victory over a strong field emphasized that Europe had world-class golfers as well as the US.

7. 1960, St Andrews. The centenary Open and St Andrews was en fete. Wonderful historical occasion with an unexpected winner in Australian Kel Nagle beating the world's best and most popular golfer Arnold Palmer.

6. 1977, Turnberry. Titanic duel in the sun between Tom Watson, who won eventually, and Nicklaus. The two of them were ten shots clear of the field at the end.

5. 1969, Royal Lytham. Tony Jacklin's victory was as important for European golf as Cotton's in 1937. It was the first by a Briton for 18 years and laid the foundations for current European performances.

4. 1953, Carnoustie. Ben Hogan's third victory in a major championship in four months brought fame and notoriety to the Angus links. There was a love-in between Ben Hogan and Valerie, his wife, on their first and only visit to Britain and the Scottish people. An early demonstration of the Great Britain and American axis politicians like to talk about now.

3. 1926, Royal Lytham. Because of Bobby Jones's seminal stroke from the sandy waste on the 71st hole to set up victory. One of the great strokes in the game's history at one of the greatest Opens.

2. 2006, Hoylake. Tiger Woods's second Open in succession marked a wonderful return to the Open rota for Hoylake, a noble links. Liverpool wit, glorious unending sunshine, a worthy champion. What more could an Open ask for?

1. 2007, Carnoustie. Padraig Harrington's victory ends an eight-year wait for victory in a major championship by a European. More than that, the drama unfolding at the conclusion made for thrilling viewing for those in the crowd and those watching on television around the world.