Gary Evans

Few players can claim to have been part of a more remarkable storyline at The Open than Gary Evans in 2002.

The Englishman started his final round on +1 but flew to the top of the leaderboard with a remarkable run of eight birdies in his first 10 holes.

He stood on the 17th tee still two clear, albeit with plenty of the chasing pack still early in their rounds, and went on to play perhaps the most dramatic hole of the Championship.

A pulled second shot resulted in a lost ball, Evans not managing to identify his despite five loose balls being found during the search and being sent 250 yards back down the fairway.

Showing extraordinary character, he found the green with his second attempt and sunk his 50-foot putt to save the most remarkable of pars – but the drama would take its toll.

A scrambled bogey on 18 left Evans in the clubhouse lead on -5 but it wouldn’t be enough as he missed out on a place in the play-off by a single shot.

Evans tied for 10th the following year, and in 2004 became just the seventh golfer in Championship history to record an albatross when he did so on the seventh at Royal Troon.