The third major of the year is upon us and for the seventh time the Open Championship is heading to Carnoustie. The famous Scottish links is acknowledged as the oldest course in the world, eclipsing even St Andrews, with the first recorded golf played there in 1527. It is eight years since the oldest major last visited with Paul Lawrie emerging triumphant back in 1999 - Europe's last major success. Ahead of what promises to be another eventful week, we take a look back at the six previous Open Championships to be held at Carnoustie, including that now infamous climax back in 1999.

1931 - Tommy Armour:

The first Open Championship to be played at Carnoustie was fittingly won by a Scot, albeit an expatriate Scot, Tommy Armour. Born and educated in Edinburgh, Armour - who was blinded in his left eye during World War One - emigrated to America where he turned professional in 1925. Back on British soil in 1931, Armour claimed his third major triumph (following his wins at the US Open in 1927 and the US PGA in 1930), but his first at the Open Championship. At the halfway stage he was one shot back of the lead, held by Henry Cotton and Argentine Jose Jurado on 147. He looked to have dropped out of contention when he shot a third round 77 with Jurado coming home with a 73 to open a three-shot lead over the field and a five-shot advantage over Armour. However, the naturalised American saved his best for last and produced a course record-equalling 71 to post a clubhouse target of 296. By the time he reached the 17th tee, a struggling Jurado needed a pair of fives on his last two holes to equal Armour's score, but his hopes went up in smoke at 17 as he drove into the Barry Burn. The South American ended up taking six and thus required a four down the last. He made a good fist of it leaving himself a ten-foot putt to match Armour, but it slid by leaving the Scottish-born American as champion by one stroke.

1937 - Henry Cotton:

Henry Cotton emerged triumphant at Carnoustie in 1937, clinching the second of his three Open Championship titles. Cotton's iron-play was acknowledged as the base for his success with the Englishman taming the Scottish links' testing long par-fours with some fine stroke-play. He opened with a 74 and followed it up with a 73 to keep himself in contention. Wind and rain meant the 36 holes played on the final day were a test of character and perseverance as much as skill and it is reported that the canny Cotton attached a hot-water bottle to his umbrella to ensure his hands remained warm throughout. A third-round 72 meant that he started the final 18 holes some three shots adrift of leader, and fellow Englishman Reg Whitcombe. What followed from Cotton is widely-regarded as one of the finest closing rounds in Open history as he defied the elements, producing a superb 71 to seal victory. Keeping at bay the likes of Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Horton Smith, members of the revered American Ryder Cup team of the time, Cotton ultimately won by two shots from Whitcombe, although Whitcombe was to get revenge the following year as he claimed the title at Royal St George's.

1953 - Ben Hogan:

On its third visit to Carnoustie, the 1953 Open Championship threw up a memorable, if perhaps unsurprising, winner as the great Ben Hogan won on his first and only appearance in the tournament. Having already taken the US Open and Masters titles that year, the American was persuaded to try his luck at Carnoustie despite still suffering from the effects of a near-fatal car crash. Having arrived two weeks early to acclimatise to links golf, he was swamped with interest, even during his practice rounds. His presence attracted huge galleries with one train even making an unscheduled stop so that passengers could witness Hogan striking his first competitive shot on British soil. The American - nicknamed 'wee ice mon' by locals - opened with a first-round 73, despite problems with his putter, to sit three shots back of the lead held by compatriot Frank Stranahan. He improved with a 71 in the second and then wowed the galleries with a 70 in the third which would have been even better if he had not found sand at the 16th which eventually cost him a six. Tied for the lead after 54 holes with Argentine Roberto de Vicenzo, Hogan demonstrated just why so many had come to see him play with a course record 68 in the last to pull clear. Having chipped in from the lip of the bunker at five for birdie and picked up another shot at six the American was always in control as closest rivals De Vicenzo and Tony Cerda faltered on the back nine. He closed out victory in style with a birdie at 18 to win by four shots, although was unable to complete a clean sweep of the majors as the US PGA in Michigan was already underway.

1968 - Gary Player:

By the time the Open Championship returned to Carnoustie for a fourth time in 1968, the Scottish links had gained a reputation as the tournament's most difficult venue given its status as the longest and most northerly. That year saw the first visit of the game's newest and arguably biggest star Jack Nicklaus to the course. High winds ensured conditions on day one were particularly testing with only four men breaking par - Nicklaus could do no better than 76 after an off-day with the putter while great rival of the time, Gary Player, came home with a 74. The duo were tied on 145 by the end of the second, but that was still some five shots back of leader Billy Casper who took the championship by storm with a wonderful second round of 68. After 54 holes the tournament was still wide open, Casper's 74 meant he retained the lead, but Player was now only two shots back with Nicklaus a further two adrift of the South African. The final round was an exciting affair as other contenders fell by the wayside to leave a back-nine shoot-out between playing partners Nicklaus and Player. The latter always had his nose in front, and the defining moment of the dual came at the par-five 14th. From the fairway rough the American bullied his second into the heart of the green to set up an eagle putt and seemed well set to close his rival's one-shot lead. However, Player responded with a magnificent three-wood that flew over the 'Spectacles' bunkers before pulling up just a couple of feet short of the hole. While Nicklaus could only manage birdie, Player tapped in for eagle and opened a two-shot advantage that, despite the best efforts of the 'Golden Bear', was not to be close over the remaining four holes. It was Player's second Open triumph and he went on to add a third in 1974.

1975 - Tom Watson:

Renowned for its strong winds and unfriendly conditions, the 1975 Open headed to a Carnoustie that had been firmed up by a dry summer with the course's trademark rough not so prevalent as a result. It was to prove a landmark few days for Tom Watson with the American making his major breakthrough in Scotland. Watson had earned, rather unfairly, a reputation as a major 'choker' having blown final round leads in both the 1974 and 1975 US Opens, but he put the record straight in dramatic style at Carnoustie. The American posted a first-round 71 to sit three back of young English hopeful Peter Oosterhuis. Overnight rain ensured more good scoring followed in the second with Scot David Huish - roared on by the partisan home galleries - eventually opening up a two-shot lead after a fine 67. Watson matched that 67 to remain just two back of the lead. However, Huish was to fall off the pace with a third-round 76 and it was Bobby Cole (66) who ensured he would be heading into the final round in front with Watson in fourth and Jack Nicklaus and Jack Newton also in contention. High winds resulted in a more tricky final round with scores rising as a consequence. Watson came good at just the right time with a birdie on 18 to post the clubhouse lead on 279 with only Newton and Cole behind. Newton needed a par to match Watson, while Cole would have to find a birdie three if he was force his way into a play-off. Newton secured his par, but Cole could not claim birdie and so Newton and Watson went to extra holes. The latter quickly secured a two-shot lead, only to see it vanish with Newton moving ahead by the 12th. Watson hit back again with eagle at 14, but by the time the pair reached the 18th tee, the see-saw encounter was once again level. With Watson having made a regulation par, Newton - who had found sand with his second - was left with a par putt of ten feet to stay on terms. It narrowly slid by and Watson had his first Open Championship success, consigning the 'choker' jibes to history in the process.

1999 - Paul Lawrie:

Carnoustie had endured a lengthy 24-year wait before the Open Championship returned in 1999, but that year's tournament turned out to be one of, if not, the most remarkable since its inception in 1860. Local boy Paul Lawrie eventually won the Claret Jug after a play-off, but that tells barely a fraction of the story. Lawrie's victory was the first time a Scot had emerged victorious on home soil since Tommy Armour's success in 1931 and has subsequently proved to be the last by a European golfer. However, the event will forever be remembered for the meltdown of Frenchman Jean Van de Velde who ended up, at one point, with socks off in the Barry Burn on 18 as his chances of victory evaporated. Typically stiff winds on day one resulted in only one man being able to shoot a score of level-par, Australian Rod Pampling. Indeed, the course's unforgiving nature, which only got more penal as the week progressed, ensured it was to be dubbed 'Carnasty'. The second round was played in better conditions and it was Van de Velde who grabbed the halfway lead as a terrific 68 moved him to one-over. The Frenchman seemed to be the only man to truly come to terms with the unforgiving Scottish links and by the end of the third round he had opened up a five-shot lead on the field at level-par, although Australian Craig Parry did card a heroic 67 to propel himself into joint second with American Justin Leonard. Going into the final round, Lawrie stood some ten shots back of the Frenchman and seemed out of the running - even a closing 67, which took him to a clubhouse total of six-over, seemed unlikely to threaten Van de Velde. Parry had briefly flirted with the lead after an early charge but dropped back following a triple-bogey at 12and by the time Van de Velde stood on the 18th tee he was the owner of a three-shot lead and needed no better than a double-bogey six to be crowned champion. What followed has gone down in Open folklore as the Frenchman blew his chances in quite unbelievable fashion. Having driven wildly right, Van de Velde proceeded to clatter his second into the grandstand and pulled his third from thick rough into the Barry Burn that protects the green. The sight of him with socks off contemplating whether to play from the water is now one of the most iconic in Open history, although having taken a penalty drop and contrived to find the greenside bunker, few remember just how well he did to get up and down to force a play-off with Lawrie and Leonard given the circumstances. Although he continued to smile, Van de Velde broke down in the scorer's tent before the play-off and was the recipient of a pep talk from his wife. The smile had returned by the time the play-off got underway, but an opening double-bogey suggested his composure had gone for good. In the end it was two wonderful long irons from Lawrie that settled the three-way battle as he birdied both 17 and 18 to walk away victorious in what was a truly extraordinary sporting encounter. The question is, will a return to Carnoustie in 2007 produce another European winner after an eight-year wait?