As the 138th Open Championship swings into action this week, we take a look at some memorable moments in the tournament's history...

Jean Van de Velde's final hole disaster - Carnoustie 1999

Frenchman Van de Velde was bidding to win his first major title and reached the 18th hole with a three-shot lead - needing just a double-bogey six to win the famous claret jug.

His tee shot was lucky not to go out of bounds and his subsequent approach to the green struck the grandstand and landed in deep rough.

More drama was to follow as a bewildered looking Van de Velde then lobbed a dismal third shot into the water of Barry Burn'.

As the mass ranks of photographers gathered round to watch the player take his socks and shoes off and study the ball in the water, a small degree of common sense finally came into play and he took a drop.

Unfortunately, Van de Velde played his next shot into the greenside bunker before scrambling up and down for a triple-bogey seven.

When he probably wanted the ground to swallow him up, he had to take part in a play-off from which Paul Lawrie eventually took Open victory.

Watch Jean Van de Velde's Open nightmare

Justin Rose comes fourth as amateur - Royal Birkdale 1998

At just 17-years-old, Rose announced his arrival on the world stage with a remarkable performance to finish fourth when still an amateur.

He ended his debut major in spectacular fashion when his pitch-wedge to the par-4 18th dropped straight in for a birdie to the raucous cheers of a potential star being born.

Rose's breakthrough display quickly saw him go professional (he switched the following week), but he struggled initially and missed his first 21 cuts.

However, now 28, the Englishman could be among the leading European challengers seeking to emulate Padraig Harrington's success last year.

Costantino Rocca's putt - St Andrews 1995

John Daly won the title in 1995 but most will remember the final day's play for Costantino Rocca's monster putt that took the action into a play-off.

Needing a birdie to go level with the American, Rocca's hopes looked all but over as he miss-hit his approach and landed 65 feet away just off the front of the green.

The amazing putt raced into the hole leaving Rocca so stunned he fell face down in disbelief and began beating the turf in delight. The St Andrews crowd loved it and so did the Italian commentators.

Watch video of Rocca's monster putt

Ian Woosnam's caddy blunder - Lytham & St Annes 2001

Woosnam's presence at the top of the Open leaderboard in 2001 was somewhat of a surprise and but for an error by his caddy Miles Byrne, he could have added to his first and only major win - the 1991 Masters.

On the second tee, the Welshman spotted that he was carrying 15 clubs instead of the permitted 14. The blunder cost him a two-stroke penalty and he finished in a tie for third place, behind winner David Duval.

Despite venting his anger by throwing the extra club to the ground, Woosnam chose not to sack Byrne, saying: "I suppose I should have checked (the bag), but that's what you pay a caddy for. I am surmising that he is feeling as sick as a parrot."

Nick Faldo's par round - Muirfield 1987

Sir Nick's career saw many highlights, not least his completely spotless final round at Muirfield.

Faldo began the day a shot off the lead held by Paul Azinger and went on to produce the ultimate example of solid golf to par every single hole.

The unlucky Azinger required pars at the remaining two holes to take victory, but lost out when he bogeyed them and finished tied for second with Brian Davis.

Any golfer who achieves a par round is now lauded for 'doing a Faldo'.