By Mike Burnett

Taylor won the title in 1894 Sandwich winners in photos

Host to 12 previous Open championships, Royal St George's richly deserves its status among the noblest of links courses.

The idea for a course just outside Sandwich in Kent originated more than a century ago when Dr Laidlaw Purves 'spied the land with a golfer's eye' from the tower of the local church.

Before long, a syndicate was formed and a club was established in 1887.

Just seven years later, the venue hosted its first Open championship, which was also the first time the tournament was held south of the Scottish border.

The field included a list of golf legends, such as Willy Park Jr and the 'Great Triumvirate' of Harry Vardon, James Braid and John Henry Taylor, and was eventually won by Taylor who finished five shots ahead of Douglas Rolland with 326.

ROYAL ST GEORGE'S CHAMPIONS Greg Norman (1993) Sandy Lyle (1985) Bill Rogers (1981) Bobby Locke (1949) RA Whitcombe (1938) Henry Cotton (1934) Walter Hagen (1928) Walter Hagen (1922) Harry Vardon (1911) Jack White (1904) Harry Vardon (1899) John H Taylor (1894)

The championship returned to Sandwich in 1899, and yet again one of the 'Big Three' triumphed - Vardon pulverising the rest of the field with two opening rounds of 76 on the way to 310.

In 1904, Jack White broke up the trio's domination, clinching the title with a thrilling last round of 69 - although Taylor's 68 on the same day was to stand as an Open record for the next quarter of a century.

Vardon grabbed his fifth Open title in 1911 in what was to be the last championship at Royal St George's before the Great War, overwhelming Arnaud Massey in a play-off.

It was 11 years before the tournament returned and Walter Hagen, who won the American Open in 1914 and 1919, marked the new era by capturing his first British Open title with a total of 300.

He won again at Royal St George's in 1928, beating fellow American Gene Sarazen by two shots to seal his third Open title, which was also the seventh time in eight years the championship had been won by a player from across the pond.

The event was held next there in 1934 and this time the home crowd had something to cheer about.

Henry Cotton not only won but also equalled the championship record of 283 set by Sarazen two years earlier and hit a new low score for an Open round of 65.

In 1938, Reg Whitcombe overcame howling gales to win by two shots in a tournament marked by the professional debut of a young South African named Bobby Locke.

Lyle had close encounters of The Open kind

The four-time winner finished 10 shots behind Whitcombe, but 11 years later sealed victory in a play-off against Harry Bradshaw.

After the 1949 championship, Royal St George's had to wait for 32 years for the tournament to return, but when it did, Texan Bill Rogers overcame a tough field including Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus to take the honours in windy conditions.

More bad weather prevailed in 1985 as British star Sandy Lyle emerged from the pack in the final round with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and held on for a total of 282 to win by the narrowest of margins.

The most recent Open championship at St George's until now was in 1993 and proved to be one of the greats.

Consistent low scoring led to a thrilling last day as several of the big names, such as Payne Stewart, Greg Norman and Paul Lawrie remained in the running.

Norman eventually won, producing a final round of 64, the best ever final round to win an Open championship, and matching Ernie Els' achievement of playing all four rounds under 70.