Ahead of the British Open, which begins on Thursday, here is a look back at the previous winners of the tournament during the past five times it took place on the Muirfield course in Scotland: <strong>Ernie Els (2002) </strong>Tiger Woods's bid for a calendar Grand Slam was ended by a two-hour spell of bad weather in the third round. Ernie Els ended up in a record four-man play-off with Thomas Levet, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington. Els saved par from a bunker on the 18th – the fifth play-off hole – to beat Levet. It was a bit up and down for Nick Faldo in 1992. Denis Paquin / AP Photo <strong>Nick Faldo (1992) </strong>Despite a blistering start, a four-shot lead after 54 holes and the same lead with nine holes to play, Faldo had to rally to win his third Open. Faldo made three bogeys and American John Cook was two shots ahead. Faldo then played four of his best holes in a major and Cook bogeyed the 18th, leaving Faldo needing par to win, which he converted. Nick Faldo overhauled his swing, which proved instrumental in 1987. Peter Kemp / AP Photo <strong>Nick Faldo (1987) </strong>Faldo spent two years overhauling his swing and it paid off with his first major championship at Muirfield. But like most of his six majors, he needed some help. Paul Azinger had a one-shot lead when he took a bogey on the 17th, and then found a bunker and closed with another bogey for a 73 to finish one shot behind the Englishman. Tom Watson won his third Claret Jug in six years in 1980. Staff Harris / AP Photo <strong>Tom Watson (1980) </strong>Tom Watson made it three Claret Jugs in six years, all on different links in Scotland. Lee Trevino made a gallant bid at winning again at Muirfield by opening with rounds of 68-67 for a three-shot lead. Watson, however, pulled away with a 64 in the third round to go four shots clear of Trevino, and there was little drama in the final round. Lee Trevino won his second straight British Open title in 1972. AP Photo <strong>Lee Trevino (1972) </strong>Jack Nicklaus won the Masters and US Open, and returned to Muirfield with hopes of a Grand Slam, but he fell six shots behind after three rounds, and it appeared to be a two-man race between Trevino and Tony Jacklin. The pair were tied with two holes to play, with Jacklin having the edge. But he three-putted from 20 feet and Trevino took advantage to win his second straight Open.
