Golf Clubs � History of the Open Championship Continues - 2006

Tiger Woods picked up his golf clubs once more to play his way to the top, reaffirming his legendary status as he shapes golfing history.

Tiger Woods won the 135 th Open Championship in 2006. The history of the Open, the world's oldest golf championship, reveals the evolution of the game - from better technology in its golf clubs and golf balls to the increasing celebrity of its players.

The first Open

History was made on October 17, 1860 when the first player picked up his golf clubs for the Open Championship at Prestwick Golf club, Scotland .

Eight professionals played at the golf club, making history as they completed three rounds of the 12-hole course in one day.

Willie Park Senior won the prize of an ornate Challenge Belt with a score of 174, becoming the first golfer in history to swing his golf clubs to victory.

The next century

By 1902, at the 42 nd Open Championship, local hero Sandy Herd won using new-styled balls, welcoming a new era of golfing history at the golf club. The balls were rubber-cored and helped the drive go further. Herd was born in St Andrews , the spiritual home of golf, rich in history and now a place of pilgrimage for anyone with a set of golf clubs.

The Golden Bear arrives

1966 is another moment for the history books as Jack Nicklaus stepped onto the course with his golf clubs for the 95 th Open Championship.

He won the first of three Open wins, and has been runner-up seven times.

Nicklaus changed history over his career achieving four US Opens, five USPGA and six Master titles; nobody has matched the skill he has displayed with his golf clubs � yet.

2006 � A new era in golf history?

At the 135 th Open Championship, the huge media star and sporting celebrity Tiger Woods won his third Open title, closely followed by Chris DiMarco who came second.

It was an emotional experience for the two men and a day that will resound in their personal histories as well as golfing history - both players picked up their golf clubs despite close bereavement. Tiger Woods had lost his father and DiMarco his mother, Norma, two weeks before.

�I know there's divine intervention,� DiMarco told the press. �My mom's name is Norma, and I got on the first tee, and the scorer's name is Norma. And I've probably only met about five Norma's in my life. It was weird. I got goosebumps and told my caddie, �She's right up there with us'. So I've got somebody up there that's going to be looking over me.�

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