It was the second Open at Turnberry, the first was in 1977, the famous "Duel in the Sun" between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. The winning score that year was a record-breaking 268 (−12), twelve strokes lower than Norman's even-par 280 in 1986.
Introduced in 1968, the second cut (at 54 holes) was discontinued after 1985. Also changed in 1986 was the playoff format, to a four-hole aggregate immediately following the final round, rather than 18 holes the following day (and 36 holes prior to 1964). The new playoff was first used three years later in 1989.[1]