One of golf’s greatest players and a leading figure for two decades during the 1970s and 80s, Tom Watson, 67 today, boasts eight majors as well as being a five-time The Open Championship winner.

Several of Watson’s major triumphs came at the expense of fellow compatriot Jack Nicklaus. Though their rivalry was intense, their friendly competitiveness served to increase golf’s popularity.

Watson also won two Masters titles and one US Open, with the PGA Championship the one major to elude him.

Aged 59 and 26 years after his last major, Watson defied age in 2009 to lead the second and third rounds of the Open before eventually losing a four-hole playoff to compatriot Stewart Cink.

Watson also played on four Ryder Cup teams and captained the American side to victory in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry.

More sports celebrities born on this day:

1955: Alastair Hignall, ex-Bristol and England rugby union full-back who also played cricket for Gloucestershire (61).

1971: Lance Klusener, South African ex-cricketer. ‘Zulu’ was an all-rounder known for his aggressive batting (45).

1974: Sirly Tiik, multi-skilled Estonian paralympian who won javelin gold at 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney (42).

1993: Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, Belgian footballer with eight caps, plays club football for Atletico Madrid (23).