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The British Open: 1970s Trivia Quiz

The world's oldest golfing Major has been held since 1860. This quiz focuses on the decade of the 1970s.

A multiple-choice quiz by Dizart. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Dizart

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
299,995

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
593

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1970, Jack Nicklaus triumphed at St. Andrews after a playoff. Who was his unlucky opponent who missed a 30 inch putt to win on the 72nd hole of regulation? Hint

Tony Jacklin

Doug Sanders

Harold Henning

Neil Coles

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In 1971, Lee Trevino added the British Open to his US Open title from a few weeks earlier. Which Asian player finished second by a single stroke at Royal Birkdale? Hint

King Seung Hak

Isao Aoki

Liang Huan Lu

Toru Nakamura

3. At Muirfield in 1972, Lee Trevino became the first player since Arnold Palmer ten years earlier to retain the trophy. Which British player agonisingly three-putted the 71st hole to virtually hand the title to the American? Hint

Tony Jacklin

Brian Barnes

Peter Oosterhuis

Tommy Horton

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which player won the only major of his career at the 1973 British Open? Hint

Harold Henning

Bruce Devlin

Tom Weiskopf

Christy O'Conner Jnr

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1974, at Royal Lytham and St Annes, which player joined Harry Vardon as the only player to win a British Open in three separate decades? Hint

Arnold Palmer

Bob Charles

Peter Thomson

Gary Player

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Question 6 of 10

6. The 1975 British Open at Carnoustie, saw the first title for Tom Watson. Which player did he defeat in an 18-hole playoff?
Hint

Jack Newton

Graham Marsh

Bobby Cole

John Mahaffey

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1976 at Royal Birkdale, a 19-year old Seve Ballesteros made the headlines with his unexpected challenge for the title, but the eventual winner was which American player? Hint

Lanny Wadkins

Jack Nicklaus

Tom Kite

Johnny Miller

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The 1977 British Open is remembered for the famous "Duel in the Sun" between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Which course making its Open Championship debut, was the venue for this classic match-up? Hint

Portrush

Sandwich

Turnberry

Hoylake

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The British Open returned to the Old Course in St Andrews in 1978, and Jack Nicklaus repeated his triumph at the venue from eight years earlier. Which unheralded Antipodean was his closest challenger? Hint

Stewart Ginn

Simon Owen

Terry Gale

Bob Shearer

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. The final British Open of the 1970s took place at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, and ended in a first Major for which European golfer? Hint

Sandy Lyle

Bernhard Langer

Seve Ballesteros

Nick Faldo

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1970, Jack Nicklaus triumphed at St. Andrews after a playoff. Who was his unlucky opponent who missed a 30 inch putt to win on the 72nd hole of regulation?

Answer: Doug Sanders

Sanders would have won his first major if he hadn't three-putted the 18th green at the Old Course that afternoon in July, 1970. Nicklaus took ample opportunity of his reprieve by winning an 18-hole playoff the following day to take possession of his second claret jug, having previously won the tournament at Muirfield in 1966.

2. In 1971, Lee Trevino added the British Open to his US Open title from a few weeks earlier. Which Asian player finished second by a single stroke at Royal Birkdale?

Answer: Liang Huan Lu

Known to British golf fans as Mr Lu, Liang Huan Lu was paired with Trevino in the final round at Birkdale, and, with Trevino holding a one-shot lead after 71 holes, both players birdied the final hole to give 'Supermex' his first claret jug.

Answer: Tony Jacklin

Trevino, Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus were involved in a three-way battle for the title on the final day, with Nicklaus shooting a 66 to set the target for the final pairing. Jacklin appeared to have the title within his grasp when Trevino looked likely to drop a shot on the par 5 17th, but the American holed out from off the green for a par, and Jacklin then three-putted to hand Trevino the advantage.

4. Which player won the only major of his career at the 1973 British Open?

Answer: Tom Weiskopf

At Royal Troon, Weiskopf, a four-time runner-up in the US Masters, led the field from start to finish to take the claret jug by three strokes from Neil Coles and Johnny Miller.

5. In 1974, at Royal Lytham and St Annes, which player joined Harry Vardon as the only player to win a British Open in three separate decades?

Answer: Gary Player

Player, who had won previously at Muirfield, in 1959 and Carnoustie in 1968, dominated the 1974 tournament, finishing four shots ahead of Peter Oosterhuis.

6. The 1975 British Open at Carnoustie, saw the first title for Tom Watson. Which player did he defeat in an 18-hole playoff?

Answer: Jack Newton

Watson won the playoff by a single stroke after Newton found the greenside bunker at the 18th hole. Newton's career was cut short in 1983 when he walked into an aeroplane propeller, losing an arm and an eye.

7. In 1976 at Royal Birkdale, a 19-year old Seve Ballesteros made the headlines with his unexpected challenge for the title, but the eventual winner was which American player?

Answer: Johnny Miller

Miller added the 1976 British Open to his 1973 US Open title, finishing six strokes ahead of Ballesteros and Nicklaus.

Answer: Turnberry

Turnberry in Ayrshire, hosted its first-ever British Open in 1977, and the crowds who enjoyed the hot July weather were treated to one of the greatest head-to-head battles in golfing history. Nicklaus and Watson, paired together in the third round, matched each other shot for shot to go into the final day tied for the lead three shots ahead of Ben Crenshaw.

In the final round, the pair continued their battle all the way to the 72nd hole, with Watson going up the last enjoying a single stroke lead. Nicklaus' 40-foot birdie putt was to no avail, as Watson holed out from three feet to clinch his second claret jug.

Answer: Simon Owen

New Zealander Owen led Nicklaus by a single shot after 15 holes of the final round, but a two-shot swing at the 16th gave Nicklaus the advantage, and he held on to lift his third claret jug. Owen never came as close again to lifting a Major.

10. The final British Open of the 1970s took place at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, and ended in a first Major for which European golfer?

Answer: Seve Ballesteros

Labeled a "Car Park Champion" by some members of the media because of his wayward driving, Ballesteros nevertheless thrilled the galleries at Lytham in 1979 with his swashbuckling golf, becoming the first European winner since Tony Jacklin at the same course a decade earlier.

Source: Author Dizart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series British Open by Decade:

A set of quizzes on the (British) Open Championship, the oldest golf major in the world.

  1. The British Open : 1960s Average
  2. The British Open: 1970s Average
  3. The British Open: 1980s Average
  4. The British Open : 1990s Average
  5. The British Open: 2000s Easier
  6. The British Open : 1950s Average
  7. The British Open : 2010s Average

Referenced Topics

Sports History World Golf Weather Golfers Masters Tournament Green British Open US Open New Zealanders: Famous & Historical The Sun Jack Nicklaus

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