Todd Hamilton explains how his hybrid helped him win the 2004 Open Championship

It’s been 22 years since Todd Hamilton claimed the Open Championship at Royal Troon to become the 2004 Champion Golfer of the Year, but the 60-year-old still remembers just about every detail of his week in Scotland. On this week’s episode of Subpar, Hamilton — who says he doesn’t play much golf anymore in his home of Norman, Okla., and instead spends his time helping out his local high school golf team — reminisced with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz about the definitive achievement of his professional career. Hamilton said that even he was surprised by the caliber of his play at Royal Troon, and gave plenty of credit to his Sonartec hybrid, a club he wielded with masterful precision throughout the week, even on short shots around the green. On the final hole of his aggregate four-hole playoff against Ernie Els, Hamilton stroked his hybrid to three feet, setting up a magnificent up and down — and ultimately, the win. “I did not use that shot, growing up as a kid,” Hamilton said. “I probably started using it early in 2004. I was never a big fan of 3-woods, and that Sonartec you just referenced was actually my 3-wood. It was a 17-degree club that one of the manufacturers bent down to 14 degrees, so I used that as my 3-wood.

“Technically it was a hybrid, but it wasn’t a hybrid the way you would think that they’re used these days,” he continued. “Again, I didn’t start using that shot until early in the year, and it’s not really a shot that works real well over here in the States because the grass is kind of thatchy and grainy, but the ground over there, as you know, Colt, the ground’s very firm, grass is cut down pretty tight. It’s basically a slower putting green.” Hamilton said he practiced playing bump-and-runs with the Sonartec every day at Royal Troon that week. “It was a shot I kind of relied on a lot,” he said. “I don’t know how many times I used it during the week. I’m going to guess about 12 to 14 times that I used it as a chip-slash-putt, and I think only one time did I not get up and down with it, and that was because I missed about a 5- or 6-foot putt, and that was in the final round on the 10th hole, so obviously it was a shot that served me well. “Used the club a lot off the tee,” Hamilton continued. “But, more or less, it was a shot that, around the greens, really helped me achieve what I went over there to achieve, and that was to win the Open Championship.” Hamilton’s victory at the 2004 Open Championship remains one of the most unexpected in the tournament’s modern history. The American golfer, ranked 206th in the world entering the event, outperformed stars like Ernie Els, Thomas Bjorn, and Miguel Angel Jimenez. His success was attributed not only to his superb play but also to his unconventional approach to equipment selection and tactics. The Sonartec club, which Hamilton used as a modified-loft 3-wood, proved to be a revelation. Its versatility allowed him to perform effectively in various situations, from long tee shots to delicate chips around the green. It was particularly valuable on courses with firm, short-grass conditions typical of British links, where traditional chips could be less predictable. “I remember practicing that shot a lot before the tournament,” Hamilton shared. “I knew there would be moments at Royal Troon where a standard chip would be risky. The hybrid allowed me to control the height and bounce of the ball, making it an ideal tool for holding the green. It felt like putting from a distance, but with greater control.” The decisive moment on the 18th hole in the playoff against Ernie Els was the culmination of his use of this club. The shot to three feet from the hole with his hybrid demonstrated not only Hamilton’s skill but also his confidence in his chosen equipment. This up-and-down became a symbol of his victory and a testament to how unconventional solutions can lead to great achievements. Hamilton’s win at The Open Championship earned him not only a prestigious title but also a place in golf history. His story serves as an inspiration to many players, reminding them of the importance of adaptation, experimentation, and self-belief, even when going against prevailing trends. In an increasingly technological era of golf, Todd Hamilton’s case highlights that the human element, intuition, and an unconventional approach still play a decisive role. For more from Hamilton, including the specific swing thought that helped him at Royal Troon in 2004, check out the full episode of Subpar below.