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Like almost every other professional golfer on the planet, the event I would most like to have won over the course of my career is the Open Championship. It is one of my greatest disappointments that I only occasionally played well in the game’s most important tournament. In 28 appearances since my debut in 1972, my best finish was a tie for fifth in ’81.

Which is not to say that I haven’t enjoyed my involvement in the Open. In fact, it is my favourite week of the season. And I’ll be there again this year at Royal Birkdale as part of the BBC commentating team.

Here are my five favourite Opens:

1) 1977 at Turnberry – The Duel in the Sun
This championship had everything. The two best players in the world at the time went head-to-head down the stretch, with it all coming down to the final hole. I’ll never forget the scene when Jack Nicklaus holed from 40 feet across the 18th green to leave Tom Watson with a two-footer for victory. It was television that couldn’t be missed. And the magnificent backdrop provided by the Ailsa course didn’t hurt either.

2) 1995 at St. Andrews – Rocca’s Rollercoaster
I must admit I still see this championship as Costantino Rocca’s rather than John Daly’s, even if the American did eventually win in a four-hole play-off. The most memorable moment came from my Italian Ryder Cup teammate on the 72nd hole. After duffing his chip into the Valley of Sin, he holed from all of 50 feet to take Daly into extra holes. It was a special moment made even more special by the location. There is nowhere in golf quite like the Old Course at St. Andrews.

3) 2000 at St. Andrews – Tiger’s First of Many
This was Tiger Woods’ first victory in the Open and it was a display worthy of the world’s best player over the world’s most famous course. Tiger won by eight shots and it was never in doubt from day one. His play was exemplary. For him to play 72 holes at St. Andrews without once going into a bunker is unbelievable and hugely impressive. Of course, there isn’t much about Tiger that isn’t hugely impressive.

4) 1984 at St. Andrews – Seve’s Celebration
This was Seve Ballesteros’ second Open win and his celebration on the last green will live forever in my memory. It was great theatre and as good as golf gets really. I have to think he willed his 15-foot putt into the cup. When it was about a foot short of the hole it looked as if he had allowed too much borrow. But in it went anyway. A great putt from a great player.

5) 1985 at Royal St. Georges - Sandy Ends the Wait
I have to choose this one if only because Sandy Lyle became the first Scot to lift the Claret Jug since Tommy Armour in 1931. That’s a long time to wait! I actually almost felt sorry for Sandy as I watched him finish up on the 18th green. At that moment he had no idea whether he had won or not and so could not fully enjoy the moment. I was so happy to see him win the Masters three years later with a birdie on the last hole. That was a proper celebration of a Scottish win at a major championship.