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  • Age
  • Turned Pro
    1973
  • Previous Opens
    5

Ben Crenshaw

Nicknamed ‘Gentle Ben’, the genial Texan is widely regarded as one of the finest putters the game has seen.

Nicknamed ‘Gentle Ben’, the genial Texan is widely regarded as one of the finest putters the game has seen.

His touch on the Augusta greens helped him triumph twice at the Masters, in 1984 and 1995, the latter being won without a single three-putt across the four days.

Those successes came after five second-place finishes at majors, two of which came at The Open in consecutive years.

In 1978, Crenshaw held a share of the lead at the halfway stage, sitting on -5 at St Andrews, but ended in a share for second two shots adrift of Jack Nicklaus.

Twelve months later, the American didn’t break par across the Championship but kept himself in contention as a string of challengers faded.

A level-par 71 in the last Open to finish on a Saturday wasn’t quite enough, however, and he finished three shots behind Seve Ballesteros as the Spaniard lifted the Claret Jug for the first time.

A fortnight later, Crenshaw recorded another runner-up finish in a major after missing out to David Graham in a play-off for the PGA Championship.

Crenshaw captained the USA Ryder Cup team as they came from behind to defeat Europe in ‘The Battle of Brookline’ in 1999.

Venue
Finish
R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
Par
Royal Birkdale 1998
M/C
76
78
-
-
-
M/C
Royal Lytham & St Annes 1996
27
73
68
71
70
282
-
St Andrews 1995
15
67
72
76
72
287
-
Turnberry 1994
77
70
73
73
73
289
-
Royal St George's 1993
M/C
70
75
-
-
-
M/C
Royal Birkdale 1991
80
71
75
72
71
289
-
St Andrews 1990
31
74
69
68
73
284
-
Royal Troon 1989
52
73
73
74
71
291
-
Royal Lytham & St Annes 1988
16
73
73
68
72
286
-
Muirfield 1987
4
73
68
72
68
281
-
Turnberry 1986
21
77
69
75
73
294
-
Royal St George's 1985
35
73
75
70
73
291
-
St Andrews 1984
22
72
75
70
69
286
-
Royal Birkdale 1983
M/C
74
75
-
-
-
M/C
Royal Troon 1982
15
74
75
72
70
291
-
Royal St George's 1981
8
72
67
76
71
286
-
Muirfield 1980
3
70
70
68
69
277
-
Royal Lytham & St Annes 1979
2
72
71
72
71
286
-
St Andrews 1978
2
70
69
73
71
283
-
Turnberry 1977
5
71
69
66
75
281
-
Royal Lytham & St Annes 1974
28
74
80
76
70
300
-

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