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Breaking down the British Open A look at the contenders for the season's third major. NBCSports.com

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updated 9:08 p.m. ET July 10, 2009

Year: 1977
Winner: Tom Watson
Score: 268
Margin: One shot
Runner-up: Jack Nicklaus
Prize: 10,000 pounds

Summary: In what famously became known as the "Duel in the Sun," Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus had identical scores over the opening three rounds, matching 65s in the third round to leave everyone else in their wake. Nicklaus had a one-shot lead on the back nine until Watson holed a 60-foot birdie from just off the 15th green. It turned on the par-5 17th, when Nicklaus came up short of the green and chipped to 4 feet. Watson two-putted from 20 feet for birdie, and Nicklaus missed his short birdie putt. Nicklaus drove into a gorse bush on the 18th, and played a remarkable shot to 40 feet. Watson, however, stuffed his 7-iron to within 2 feet of the cup. Providing one more thrill, Nicklaus holed his birdie putt, but could only watch as Watson tapped in for the victory.

Year: 1986
Winner: Greg Norman
Score: 280
Margin: Five shots
Runner-up: Gordon Brand Jr.
Prize: 70,000 pounds

Summary: In a year known for Greg Norman winning the "Saturday Slam," this was the only major he won, and there was no doubt about it. Norman needed to make a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in the second round for a 61. Instead he three-putted to settle for a 63 to tie the major championship record. He had a one-shot lead over Tommy Nakajima going into the final round and closed with a 69 to win by five shots over Gordon Brand Jr.

Year: 1994
Winner: Nick Price
Score: 268
Margin: One shot
Runner-up: Jesper Parnevik
Prize: 110,000 pounds

Summary: Tom Watson had the lead through 36 holes, while Fuzzy Zoeller and Brad Faxon shared it going into the final round. They all faltered on Sunday, and it became a two-man race on the back nine between Jesper Parnevik and Nick Price. The Swede built a three-shot lead with a birdie on the 17th, but he never looked at a leaderboard and assumed he needed a birdie on the 18th. Behind him, Price made birdie on the 16th and holed a 50-foot eagle putt on the 17th. Parnevik went at the flag on the 18th and came up short, making bogey. Price knew he needed only a par to win, played a 3-iron off the tee and closed with a 66 for a one-shot victory.