Brad, I don't think I can agree this was the third bast Open ever, but it was really exciting, amazing, and it overachieved on a lot of levels. I'd have to agree that '82 was better and 2004 - even though it was a collapse in was historic and grand theatre, so was snead taking an 8 to blow the open that one time, just because it isn't a happy ending doesn't mean it wasn't epic in its own way.
Over all time? Well I missed quite a few back in the day
but 1913, 1930, 1954 (withered hand!), 1960, 1966, 1963, 1981, 1973, 1983 are all vintage years. Those are just from memory, if I had a list in front of me I could be more thorough.
I also like the 18-hole playoff. What's good for TV is often bad for golf. Moreover, they underestimate how dramtic a playoff can be. one writer called it "pistols at dawn" and that's cool. What other sport does that? TV should embrace it and build it up.