The Open Championship has produced some of golf‘s greatest moments.

The legendary ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977, Jean van de Velde’s astonishing collapse at Carnoustie in 1999 to hand the title to Paul Lawrie, and Phil Mickelson‘s sensational comeback in 2013 to win the penultimate Major of his glittering career.

Yet, for every iconic chapter, there is another that serves as a stark reminder that not every moment in golf is worth celebrating.

David Robertson’s cheating scandal in 1985 occupies a place in golfing infamy all of its own.

Long before this week’s edition at Royal Birkdale captured the sporting spotlight, the tournament descended into chaos as it became the backdrop of one of golf’s most infamous controversies, culminating in one of the harshest punishments the game has ever handed out.

David Robertson’s Open Championship Scandal

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At 28 years of age, the 1985 Open should have represented Robertson’s opportunity to prove he was still a force to be reckoned with in the golfing world.

A former British youth champion, the Scotsman had first announced himself on the national stage in 1974, defeating Sandy Stephen by three strokes to become the first Scottish winner of the title in 11 years.

Over a decade on, however, Robertson had failed to build on that breakthrough. He had featured in just two Major qualifying campaigns—both for The Open in 1978 and 1980—and had slipped from 122nd to 264th in the world rankings.

The 1985 Open qualifiers offered what could have been the magnum opus of an unflattering career, as he sought to reach the Championship for the first time. Instead, it marked the beginning of the end.

Carl Recine via Reuters

At just 28, Robertson found himself at the centre of a scandal that sent shockwaves throughout golf.

The allegations centred on the claims that he had repeatedly improved the position of his ball during qualifying, allegedly moving it to a more favourable lie on at least five occasions.

Reports suggested he had relocated the ball by as much as 10 feet in a bid to improve his chances of reaching The Open.

Yet the allegation that carried the greatest weight came from far closer to home. Rather than a fellow competitor or a spectator, it was Robertson’s own caddie who would provide the most damaging account of the day. Paul Connolly took the remarkable decision to walk away after just nine holes, unable to continue watching what was unfolding before him. He handed Robertson’s bag to a replacement caddie before departing from the course.

Carl Recine via Reuters

“I walked off because I couldn’t stand what I was seeing,” Connolly said.

Robertson’s day came to an abrupt end when he was disqualified on the 14th hole of the final qualifying round, marking the fourth disqualification of his career.

Previous incidents had already seen him accused of incorrectly marking his ball on the green and submitting inaccurate scorecards.

What Was Said About Scandal at the Time

When explaining the severity of the punishment, the then-European Tour executive director Ken Schofield stressed that protecting the integrity of golf had to remain a priority.

REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

“It’s a sad day for golf,” Schofield said. “The decision was taken with a view to protect the integrity of the game and as a warning to everybody.

The fallout proved catastrophic. Robertson was fined £5,219—just £300 shy of his entire career earnings—and handed a record 20-year suspension, a punishment that effectively brought his professional career to an unceremonious end.

Although Robertson challenged the decision and later regained his amateur status seven years on from the scandal, his reputation never truly recovered.

Despite protesting his innocence over the past four decades, his name is still synonymous with one of the darkest scandals the sport has ever witnessed.

The United States was taken over by the FIFA World Cup in the summer of 2026. ‘Soccer’ was abandoned and the football fever across North America has been incredible, with brilliant scenes of fan celebrations across the US, Mexico and Canada.

It has all been leading up to the final on July 19, in what is the biggest single sporting event on the planet. For some reason, that statement seems to irk a small portion of American Football fans who champion the Super Bowl final.

In the spirit of friendly debate, GiveMeSport has decided to break down which event is bigger: the Superbowl final or the World Cup final?

The Fundamental Difference

When you look at the two events, the striking difference in format is very clear. The Super Bowl is a single, 60-minute contest, whilst the World Cup final is the culmination of a month-long tournament.

For the NFL, the Super Bowl is a domestic championship. You are not seen as the world champions because it is the sole American league, contested by American franchises.

In contrast, the name of the biggest global football tournament gives it away: it brings together 48 nations to see who is the best country in the world following a lengthy qualification process.

It is a simple case of domestic versus international. That distinction is what follows in many of the arguments that US fans have against FIFA’s grand show.

Viewership

Whilst the Super Bowl has a global appeal, the viewership difference is insurmountable. Over 120–130 million people tune in for the NFL showpiece in what is a wholly domestic audience.

For FIFA, the cumulative global audience sits at around six billion across the month of matches that drags in eyeballs from countless countries around the world.

Looking at actual figures is a clear way to see the differences. For the 2022 final between Argentina and France, FIFA’s official report showed an average live audience of 571 million with around 1.4 billion watching at least a minute.

Whereas the highest-ever Super Bowl figures in the 2025 clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, saw an average viewership of 127 million across Fox, Fox Deportes, Telemundo and Tubi.

Prize Money

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

For FIFA, the prize money aspect is far different. Whilst it has a premium payout for winning countries — a reported $50 million for the winner — the money goes to the national federations, not directly to players.

Players do receive a 20–30 percent payout depending on their federation’s agreement.

Given that the NFL is a team/franchise-based setup, the bonuses go straight to the players, with the 2026 winners of Super Bowl LX collecting $178,000 on top of their regular salaries.

Even the losing team’s players receive over $100,000. This shows the World Cup offers more total prize money, but the Super Bowl puts a guaranteed cheque directly into players’ hands.

How the finals compare

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Both are very different occasions, but one is becoming more like the other — let us explain.

The Super Bowl final is the event. Everything that surrounds the one match is almost as culturally significant as the sporting event taking place.

With the halftime show and some of the most expensive advertising slots on earth, all the noise surrounding it combines with football to create this unique, premium sporting occasion.

On the other hand, the World Cup final is the climax of over a month of intense action, drama and spectacle and 104 matches — all leading to one 90-minute winner-takes-all.

However, FIFA is taking a leaf out of the Super Bowl’s book. The 2026 final will have a halftime show featuring the likes of Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS and Madonna. It builds on the FIFA Club World Cup which had its first iteration of the tournament last summer in the US.

Interestingly, the BBC is not planning to broadcast the show, which reflects the general British unease when it comes to the “Americanisation” of football.

Which is bigger?

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By reach, scale and international stakes, the World Cup is the clear winner and will always be by nature of its global appeal.

But the Super Bowl holds a unique place in global sporting events due to its cultural significance, the glitz and glamour and halftime show that thrust it into the mainstream.

Manchester United have ‘put the brakes’ on midfield recruitment following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, but know that one transfer target is desperate to make the move to Old Trafford.

It’s been an impressive start to the window for the Red Devils, with around £85million already invested in the centre of the park following the departure of veteran Casemiro.

Carrick now has Santos and Tielemans joining Kobbie Mainoo as he builds a midfield around star man Bruno Fernandes, with Mason Mount also an option, should he remain at Old Trafford. However, Man Utd are expected to add one more player into the mix in order to compete on Premier League and Champions League fronts next season.

Carlos Baleba ‘only wants’ Man Utd

That player could well be Brighton star Carlos Baleba. The 22-year-old signed for the Seagulls from Lille for £23million in 2023 and has gone on to impress over his 92 Premier League appearances to date.

Speaking to the United Stand, GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs has provided the latest on the player. He said: “If they’re prepared to meet the asking price, they could again do it relatively quickly because he is in a scenario like Youri Tielemans, where he said last summer he only wants Manchester United, and the player’s perspective hasn’t changed. So if they come calling, personal terms will not be a problem.

“They could get the player buy-in, which means that they could get that singular negotiation with Brighton instead of a bidding war. But we’re just not at that stage yet because it’s Manchester United that have put the brakes on as they assess who this third midfielder is going to be.”

Brighton want £100m for midfield star

Baleba’s progress hit some turbulence last season as he regularly cut a frustrated figure at the Amex Stadium. The player may not have been helped by a summer of rife transfer speculation 12 months ago, when he had agreed personal terms with Man Utd.

Ultimately, that move did not happen, with no official bid from the club, despite reportedly being willing to pay £75million for the Cameroonian. Brighton could now ask for closer to £100million for a midfielder contracted until 2028, even after falling off the pace last term.

Carrick and chiefs at the Theatre of Dreams will have to weigh up that Seagulls asking price, but are in the privileged place of being afforded time to do so, with Baleba’s heart set on Man Utd.