TROON, Scotland (AP) -- Turnberry had the bigger stars. Troon had the better golf.
That, along with 20 miles of Ayrshire coastline, might be all that separates two of the most compelling duels in 156 years of the British Open.
To compare anything with the 1977 British Open used to be sacrosanct. For the last four decades, the ''Duel in the Sun'' was the gold standard for head-to-head battles in a major championship, which are rare. Jack Nicklaus was the best in golf with 14 majors, nearing the end of his prime at 37. Tom Watson was the emerging star, 10 years younger, who won his second major earlier that year by holding off Nicklaus to win the Masters.