On This Day: July 20th Justin Leonard won The Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club (the host venue of this year's event) in 1997. In the Final Round, Leonard made 8 birdies in total (6 on the front 9 alone and 2 on the back) for a 65 (−6) to win. The next closest competitors were Darren Clarke and Jesper Parnevik who finished 3 behind. He is also a competitor in the field this year at the course he won at in 1997.