Great Britain

For the first time In 32 years the Open returns to Royal St. Georges, Sandwich, in the south of England. Winners on this historic course have included names like J.H. Taylor, Harry Vardon, America's Walter Hagan, Henry Cotton... and James Bond! Of course 007 never won the Open, but when author Ian Fleming wrote "Goldfinger" he placed the famous golf match between Bond and Goldfinger here at Royal St. Georges where he was a member. It is apt, then, that this film is narrated by Sean Connery, who played Bond in "Goldfinger", and includes brief extracts from that famous feature-film sequence. All this sets the scene, but the emphasis is on the 1981 Championship. Commentator Peter Alliss joins Connery and TWI's top golf cameramen in presenting a faithful and dramatic portrayal of the event. There are three holes-in-one; surprisingly high scores and brilliant low ones; Nicklaus blows up with an 83 in the first round; an outsider sets a course record; Britain's Nick Job is a surprise first-round leader and remains in contention until the final day, when men like Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd, Mark James and Ben Crenshaw see their challenges fade - setting the platform for a struggle between America's Bill Rogers and the new German sensation, Bernhard Langer. The tremendous achievement of Rogers in winning his first major championship is excitingly chronicled: not least the agonising moments in the middle of his final round when it looks as though he may crack under the pressure around him.