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The Open Championship has a lot of traditions. One that has become a favorite of mine is “Inside The Open”, a behind-the-scenes video series that runs each day of tournament week. Posted to the R&A’s YouTube channel, the series has no host or commentary, letting the visuals and access do the talking. It takes you behind the scenes, showing a range of interesting and emotional moments that don’t even make it to the television broadcast.
I watch it anxiously each evening of Open week. Here’s the 18 best moments from the final episode on Sunday night.
1. Rory’s Trackman
Not sure how often Rory McIlroy misplaces his Trackman but there’s no chance of confusing devices with anyone else in the field at The Open. The Masters champion has a nametag on it, from Augusta National of course, with his name “Rors” on it.
2. Rahm chipping over Kazuma Kobori
If you ever go to a professional event and spend time at the short-game area, you’ll no doubt be amazed at the control the best player’s in the world have with a wedge in their hands. That explains this moment. Jon Rahm warming up for his final round with his airpods in chipping balls over Kazuma Kobori in the bunker. While the Spaniard is locked in, Kobori seems less sure this is a good idea.
Spoiler: Rahm does hit the shot and, of course, flies it over the Kiwi and onto the green.
3. Harry Maguire in the players’ clubhouse
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was on-site during Sunday’s final round. In addition to making a couple of TV appearances and watching Tommy Fleetwood, the 33-year-old got a tour of the players’ clubhouse at Royal Birkdale. In this moment, he takes note of the fact the players have their own barber shop within the locker room.
4. Tommy and his coach
I think the best moments in “Inside The Open” are the intimate ones. This is a great example. Just before he walks out in front of the crowd to begin preparing for the final round of The Open, in his hometown, Fleetwood walks arm-in-arm with his short game coach, Graham Walker.
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It was undoubtedly a memorable and emotional week for Fleetwood. The Englishman grew up steps from Royal Birkdale and was a clear crowd favourite all week. Dealing with that level of support, pressure and expectation isn’t easy. Fleetwood spoke to the media about it several times. In Sunday’s “Inside The Open”, a camera picked up this moment as he sat with his thoughts moments before walking through the tunnel to the first tee.
6. Time for a couple more swings
Seconds before being announced onto the first tee, Fleetwood stood on the bridge from the clubhouse, swinging a club in order to get a couple of last minute swings and feels. His caddie, Iain Finnis, sat looking out to the first tee before the pair got their final round underway.
7. The Fox
One of the first times we see eventual winner Ryan Fox in Sunday’s episode is on the first tee. One of the great aspects of the series is the considered and artistic angles they are able to capture. Here, Fox tees off in the final group as his “fox” headcover rests on his bag. Tip of the cap to the cameraman here.
8. One last look
I followed Cameron Young throughout his final round. It was very nearly one of the best rounds in Open history. On a challenging day, he was seven under par for his round standing on the 18th tee tied for the lead. He would go on to bogey the hole and this was the moment he walked off the green and turned to take one last look.
Was he thinking what could have been? Was he just taking in the final moment of another close call at a major championship? We’ll never know, but seeing the moment live and then again in the “Inside The Open” video really stuck with me.
9. The waiting game
After signing his card and talking to media, Young returned to the players’ clubhouse and began the waiting game to see if his score would be good enough for a playoff. Here, cameras picked him up watching the coverage in the company of Mike Thomas, Justin’s father. While Thomas senior enjoyed a pint, Young was hydrating with water only as he waited nearly two hours for the final groups to finish.
10. Young hits on an empty range
The driving range at The Open is one of the best spots to see players hit and interact. Thousands of fans lined this range throughout the week to see players prepare. However, when Young returned late on Sunday night, preparing in case there was a playoffp, there wasn’t a single fan there. Again, a great moment captured by the R&A’s video team.
11. The winning moment
Fox’s winning birdie will go down as one of the best final holes in major history. From 12 feet, he rolled in just the fifth birdie of the day on the challenging closing hole, winning The Open by one shot. While the broadcast cameras picked up several angles of the putt, I loved this one captured over the shoulders of the photographers and with thousands of fans in the background joining in Fox’s celebration.
12. “What have you done?”
An Open Championship is a memorable moment for any player. Also, for their caddie. Dean Smith has been on Fox’s bag for five years and shared in many highs and lows with the 39-year-old. After leaving the scoring area on Sunday, Fox met with family and his caddie once again. Smith patting Fox on the back side and saying to him “what have you done?” A great moment, to which Fox replied “I don’t know Deano.”
13. Two bottles of wine
When a player wins a major, there’s a lot they have to do in the aftermath: trophy presentations, scoring protocol, television interviews, questions from media, sponsor meet and greets. At this moment, R&A staff greet Fox before going through the extensive process of what comes from winning an Open.
Fox explains to one official that the moment hasn’t sunk in yet. The official puts his hand on Fox’s shoulder and says “I think it might sink in after a couple of glasses of red.” Fox puts his head in his hand and jokes “a couple of bottles maybe!” Then adding “can’t think of a better thing to drink it out of either,” referring of course to the claret jug.
14. Can I touch it?
After getting the claret jug in his hands for the first time, Fox walked off the 18th green and was met by his team. His caddie locked eyes on the trophy and asks Fox “Can I touch it?” Foxobliges, and the pair share in a moment of seeing their week etched on the game’s most coveted silverware.
15. Nearly forgetting the media team
As Fox is led through the procession of obligations after his winning birdie, there are a lot of people waiting to congratulate him. In this moment, Fox nearly walked right past two of the R&A’s media team that worked with Fox throughout the week, who were waiting by the media center. Foxeventually notices them and gave each a hug.
16. The first drink
Soon after leaving the 18th green ceremony, Fox is escorted to the player’s clubhouse by R&A CEO Mark Darbon. He’s led upstairs to the restaurant area where he is greeted by staff, fellow players, caddies, managers and a waiting standing with a tray of two drinks: a beer for his caddie and a well-earned glass of red wine for the Champion Golfer of the Year.
17. Min Woo Lee
One of the players waiting for Fox was his friend, Min Woo Lee. Upon seeing that Fox is holding both a glass of red wine and the claret jug, the Australian says “you’ve got to drink it out of it,” pointing at the trophy. Fox would later admit to Golf Channel that he did fill it up here but had to pour out the red wine before taking more official photos with the claret jug.
18. The pin flag
Another admirable aspect of The Open Championship is how much they value and look after caddies. They have their own area of the players’ clubhouse, physios, rehab and relaxation areas. In this moment, R&A captain Dennis Watson presents Smith with the actual pin flag from the 18th hole.
You can watch the full episode of “Inside The Open” here at the R&A’s YouTube page. There are seven episodes in total from Royal Birkdale. I thoroughly recommend watching them all.
