It may not be easier the second time around, but after his US Masters triumph three months ago, Mark O'Meara knew it was possible. So it was that the 41-year-old American had the courage, authority and quiet artistry to capture the 127th British Open here yesterday, after a play-off with compatriot Brian Watts.

Seven years ago at this venue, O'Meara had to settle for third place while his playing partner, Ian Baker-Finch, took the coveted title. Now, he had secured a two-stroke winning margin during the four play-off holes to become the first winner of this particular "major" double since Nick Faldo in 1990.

And for Watts, there was the considerable consolation of a cheque for £188,000 which will automatically guarantee the US Tour card which eluded him in all but one out of five attempts. He had twice lost the lead to O'Meara during the final round, but surprised many by his composure and tenacity.

All this happened in circumstances of breathtaking drama, the like of which has not been witnessed in this event for many years. And the failure of Watts, who plies his craft on the Japanese Tour, lent further emphasis to a telling statistic. Since Kel Nagle's victory in 1960, nobody has won the Open without first winning a tournament in the US.

"I love this championship so dearly that to come out on top is a wonderful moment for me," said O'Meara. "This is the most special championship there is, but I took a little bit from my Masters victory when dealing with the pressure. I was proud of the way I hung in there."

After three days of extraordinary weather, ranging from the benign to the brutal, one was forced to conclude that the Almighty had a golfer in charge of meteorological matters as the championship drew to a climax. It certainly made a welcome change from Saturday's conditions, which the inhabitants of Lahinch would have described as weather strictly for ground hurling.

Meanwhile, teenage girls, who were gathered outside the entrance to the media centre in late afternoon, had found themselves a new idol. I am not privy to the singing talents of Justin Rose, but he showed himself to have a wonderful golf game when finishing in a share of fourth place on two over par.

Events leading up to the third play-off under the current system were the stuff of wild imaginings. Almost inevitably, Tiger Woods started it all by covering the last four holes in three under par to set a decidedly interesting clubhouse target of one over.

Two woods set up a two-putt birdie for him at the long 15th, and he then had the audacity to chip in for another birdie four at the long 17th. But even these efforts paled when set against an astonishing coup de grace from the 22-year-old.

It seems to be granted to great players that they can make wonderful things happen. Which is what Woods did on the 18th, where he hit a four-iron approach to 30 feet and then proceeded to hole the putt for a closing birdie - as we somehow sensed he would. But afterwards, he claimed that he was aware it wasn't enough. "Even-par was my target," he said.

Woods added: "Honestly, I didn't wish that Mark (O'Meara) would make a mistake."

Indeed from their close relationship and his observations at Augusta, he was acutely aware of O'Meara's steadiness under pressure, as was proved by the cool manner in which he stroked home a three-foot par putt on the 72nd hole.

When it was all over, we knew that one of the finest bunker-shots in the history of the championship was effectively for second place. And though one wouldn't expect him to admit as much, there was the suspicion that Watts saw things that way, given his look of relief when a play-off place had been secured.

He battled through the tie holes with far more conviction than Costantino Rocca did against John Daly at St Andrews in 1995. Yet O'Meara seemed to have established a clear edge at the first tie hole, the long 15th. That was where he holed a birdie-putt of six feet which gave him a crucial, one-stroke lead after Watts missed from a foot closer in.

They then parred the 16th and 17th, which meant O'Meara carried a crucial, one-stroke lead down the last. After they had both driven in the fairway, Watts was first to hit into the green and, with cruel irony, his iron shot came up short, into another bunker.

Eventually, O'Meara had three putts from off the back edge for victory. He needed only two, despite an over-zealous first effort which sent the ball three feet past. A smile flickered across his warm, open face. The tidying-up would be no problem. Nor was it.

Jesper Parnevik earned a share of fourth third place, but he always seemed close to crisis.

Watts proved a patient, purposeful performer, whose bunker shot at the 72nd will live long in the memory. Having adopted an awkward, precarious stance, with his right foot outside the trap, he had to chop down on the ball on the back downslope.

Miraculously, he got it to within a foot of the hole for a tap-in par and a place in the third four-hole play-off since that format was introduced at Royal Troon in 1989. Among those who warmly applauded the effort was O'Meara, hunched with his family beside the 18th green.

It was the sort of sporting response one would have expected from this fine craftsman whose final round of 68 contained six birdies. Ben Hogan (1953) and Jack Nicklaus (1980) were both 40 when winning more than one major in the same season. Which makes O'Meara special - a point nobody would dispute.