Greg Norman finished the day with an impressive 68

Norman, the last man to win the Open at Sandwich in 1993, shot a superb three-under-par 68, with five times British Open winner Watson a shot further back.

The pair finished tied at six over for the championship, two ahead of Masters champion Mike Weir who grabbed a second successive 71 and 1994 Open winner Nick Price.

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The Canadian had looked poised to enter the final day among the leaders until three quick bogeys on Saturday left him back at one over.

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And he experienced a similar story on Sunday when a dismal six and two successive bogeys on the backward nine cancelled out four early birdies.

Tom Lehman, 1996 Open winner, could sympathise, after finishing 11-over-par with a final round 73, thanks to three consecutive bogeys on the 15th, 16th and 17th.

Mark O'Meara managed his best round of the championship with a level par 71, but the 1998 Open and US Masters champion had given himself too much to do after starting the day 14 over.

John Daly continued to struggle and picked up five bogeys and two double bogeys in a final round 80 to lie five shots further back on 19-over-par.