List of The Open Championship champions

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Harry Vardon, six-time Open Champion in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914, which is a record

The Open Championship is an annual golf competition held in the United Kingdom that was established in 1860.[1] It is played on the weekend of the third Friday in July, and is the last of the four major championships to be played each year.[2] In addition, this championship is conducted by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A). The championship was not held in 1871 due to a disagreement over a new trophy,[3] from 1915 to 1919 and from 1940 to 1945 due to the First and Second World Wars respectively, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

The reigning champion of the competition is automatically invited to play in the other three majors (Masters, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship) for the next five years. The prize of the tournament is the Golf Champion Trophy, commonly known as the Claret Jug, and the champion personally keeps the trophy until the next competition the following year. The champion also receives a gold medal, which they are allowed to keep permanently. Until 1870 the champion received the Challenge Belt, however when Tom Morris Jr. (more commonly known as Young Tom Morris) won the Open Championship three times in a row he won the belt outright, necessitating the need for a new trophy.[3]

Harry Vardon holds the record for the most Open Championship victories, winning six times during his career.[5] The oldest winner of the Open Championship is Tom Morris Sr. (or Old Tom Morris) who was 46 years and 102 days old when he won in 1867. His son, Tom Morris Jr., is the youngest winner of the championship, he was 17 years and 156 days old when he won the 1868 Open Championship. He also won the most consecutive times with four victories (1868–1872). Henrik Stenson and Cameron Smith hold the distinction of being both the most strokes under par for 72 holes (−20),[a] which they achieved in 2016 and 2022 respectively.[6] Stenson also recorded the lowest total score (264) when he won in 2016.[7] Brian Harman is the current champion, winning the 2023 Open.[8]

Champions[edit]

Key
(n/a) Information not available
Tournament won in a playoff
* Tournament won by an amateur

By year[edit]

James Braid, five-time Open Champion in 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, and 1910
John Henry Taylor, five-time Open Champion in 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913
Tom Watson, five-time Open Champion in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983
Tom Morris Sr., four-time Open Champion in 1861, 1862, 1864, and 1867.
Tom Morris Jr., four-time Open Champion in 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1872.
Willie Park Sr., four-time Open Champion in 1860, 1863, 1866, and 1875
Walter Hagen, four-time Open Champion in 1922, 1924, 1928, and 1929
Bob Ferguson, three-time Open Champion in 1880, 1881, 1882
Bobby Jones, three-time Open Champion in 1926, 1927, and 1930. He is one of six champions to win wire-to-wire after 72-holes played with his victory in 1927.
Henry Cotton, three-time Open Champion in 1934, 1937, and 1948. He is one of six champions to win wire-to-wire after 72-holes played with his victory in 1934.
Gary Player, three-time Open Champion in 1959, 1968, and 1974.
Jack Nicklaus, three-time Open Champion in 1966, 1970, and 1978
Seve Ballesteros, three-time Open Champion in 1979, 1984, and 1988
Nick Faldo, three-time Open Champion in 1987, 1990, and 1992
Tiger Woods, three-time Open Champion in 2000, 2005, and 2006. He is one of six champions to win wire-to-wire after 72-holes played with his victory in 2005.
The Open Championship champions[9][10][11]
Year Country Champion Course Location Total score To par[b]
1860  Scotland Willie Park Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 174 n/a
1861  Scotland Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 163 n/a
1862  Scotland Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 163 n/a
1863  Scotland Willie Park Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 168 n/a
1864  Scotland Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 167 n/a
1865  Scotland Andrew Strath Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 162 n/a
1866  Scotland Willie Park Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 169 n/a
1867  Scotland Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 170 n/a
1868  Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 154 n/a
1869  Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 157 n/a
1870  Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 149 n/a
1871 None[c]
1872  Scotland Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 166 n/a
1873  Scotland Tom Kidd St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 179 n/a
1874  Scotland Mungo Park Musselburgh Links Musselburgh, Scotland 159 n/a
1875  Scotland Willie Park Sr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 166 n/a
1876  Scotland Bob Martin[d] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 176 n/a
1877  Scotland Jamie Anderson Musselburgh Links Musselburgh, Scotland 160 n/a
1878  Scotland Jamie Anderson Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 157 n/a
1879  Scotland Jamie Anderson St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 169 n/a
1880  Scotland Bob Ferguson Musselburgh Links Musselburgh, Scotland 162 n/a
1881  Scotland Bob Ferguson Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 170 n/a
1882  Scotland Bob Ferguson St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 171 n/a
1883  Scotland Willie Fernie[e] Musselburgh Links Musselburgh, Scotland 159 n/a
1884  Scotland Jack Simpson Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 160 n/a
1885  Scotland Bob Martin St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 171 n/a
1886  Scotland David Brown Musselburgh Links Musselburgh, Scotland 157 n/a
1887  Scotland Willie Park Jr. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 161 n/a
1888  Scotland Jack Burns St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 171 n/a
1889  Scotland Willie Park Jr.[f] Musselburgh Links Musselburgh, Scotland 155 n/a
1890  England John Ball*[g] Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 162 n/a
1891  Scotland Hugh Kirkaldy St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 166 n/a
1892  England Harold Hilton*[h] Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 305 n/a
1893  Scotland William Auchterlonie Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 322 n/a
1894  England John Henry Taylor Royal St George's Sandwich, England 326 n/a
1895  England John Henry Taylor St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 332 n/a
1896  Jersey Harry Vardon[i] Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 316 n/a
1897  England Harold Hilton*[h] Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 314 n/a
1898  Jersey Harry Vardon Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 307 n/a
1899  Jersey Harry Vardon Royal St George's Sandwich, England 310 n/a
1900  England John Henry Taylor St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 309 n/a
1901  Scotland James Braid Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 309 n/a
1902  Scotland Sandy Herd Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 307 n/a
1903  Jersey Harry Vardon Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 300 n/a
1904  Scotland Jack White Royal St George's Sandwich, England 296 n/a
1905  Scotland James Braid St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 318 n/a
1906  Scotland James Braid Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 300 n/a
1907  France Arnaud Massy Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 312 n/a
1908  Scotland James Braid Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 291 n/a
1909  England John Henry Taylor Royal Cinque Ports Deal, England 291 n/a
1910  Scotland James Braid St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 299 n/a
1911  Jersey Harry Vardon[j] Royal St George's Sandwich, England 303 n/a
1912  Jersey Ted Ray Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 295 n/a
1913  England John Henry Taylor Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 304 n/a
1914  Jersey Harry Vardon Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 306 n/a
1915 None[k]
1916 None
1917 None
1918 None
1919 None
1920  Scotland George Duncan Royal Cinque Ports Deal, England 303 +15
1921  United States Jock Hutchison[l] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 296 +8
1922  United States Walter Hagen Royal St George's Sandwich, England 300 +20
1923  England Arthur Havers Troon Troon, Scotland 295 +7
1924  United States Walter Hagen Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 301 +13
1925  England Jim Barnes Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick, Scotland 300 +16
1926  United States Bobby Jones*[m] Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 291 +7
1927  United States Bobby Jones*[m] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 285 –3
1928  United States Walter Hagen Royal St George's Sandwich, England 292 +12
1929  United States Walter Hagen Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 292 +8
1930  United States Bobby Jones*[m] Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 291 +3
1931  United States Tommy Armour Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 296 +12
1932  United States Gene Sarazen Prince's Golf Club Sandwich, England 283 −5
1933  United States Denny Shute[n] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 292 +4
1934  England Henry Cotton Royal St George's Sandwich, England 283 +3
1935  England Alf Perry Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 283 −5
1936  England Alf Padgham Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 287 −9
1937  England Henry Cotton Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 290 +6
1938  England Reg Whitcombe Royal St George's Sandwich, England 295 +15
1939  England Dick Burton St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 290 −2
1940 None[o]
1941 None
1942 None
1943 None
1944 None
1945 None
1946  United States Sam Snead St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 290 +2
1947  Northern Ireland Fred Daly Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 293 +5
1948  England Henry Cotton Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 284 E
1949  South Africa Bobby Locke[p] Royal St George's Sandwich, England 283 –5
1950  South Africa Bobby Locke Troon Troon, Scotland 279 −9
1951  England Max Faulkner Royal Portrush County Antrim, Northern Ireland 285 −3
1952  South Africa Bobby Locke Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 287 –1
1953  United States Ben Hogan Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 282 −6
1954  Australia Peter Thomson Royal Birkdale Southport, England 283 −3
1955  Australia Peter Thomson St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 281 −7
1956  Australia Peter Thomson Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 286 −2
1957  South Africa Bobby Locke St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 279 −9
1958  Australia Peter Thomson[q] Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 274 −10
1959  South Africa Gary Player Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 284 E
1960  Australia Kel Nagle St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 278 −10
1961  United States Arnold Palmer Royal Birkdale Southport, England 284 −4
1962  United States Arnold Palmer Troon Troon, Scotland 276 −12
1963  New Zealand Bob Charles[r] Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 277 −7
1964  United States Tony Lema St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 279 −9
1965  Australia Peter Thomson Royal Birkdale Southport, England 285 −7
1966  United States Jack Nicklaus Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 282 −2
1967  Argentina Roberto De Vicenzo Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 278 −10
1968  South Africa Gary Player Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 289 +1
1969  England Tony Jacklin Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 280 −4
1970  United States Jack Nicklaus[s] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 283 −5
1971  United States Lee Trevino Royal Birkdale Southport, England 278 −14
1972  United States Lee Trevino Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 278 −6
1973  United States Tom Weiskopf Royal Troon Troon, Scotland 276 −12
1974  South Africa Gary Player Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 282 −2
1975  United States Tom Watson[t] Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 279 −9
1976  United States Johnny Miller Royal Birkdale Southport, England 279 −9
1977  United States Tom Watson Turnberry South Ayrshire, Scotland 268 −12
1978  United States Jack Nicklaus St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 281 −7
1979  Spain Seve Ballesteros Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 283 −1
1980  United States Tom Watson Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 271 −13
1981  United States Bill Rogers Royal St George's Sandwich, England 276 −4
1982  United States Tom Watson Royal Troon Troon, Scotland 284 −4
1983  United States Tom Watson Royal Birkdale Southport, England 275 −9
1984  Spain Seve Ballesteros St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 276 −12
1985  Scotland Sandy Lyle Royal St George's Sandwich, England 282 +2
1986  Australia Greg Norman Turnberry South Ayrshire, Scotland 280 E
1987  England Nick Faldo Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 279 −5
1988  Spain Seve Ballesteros Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 273 −11
1989  United States Mark Calcavecchia[u] Royal Troon Troon, Scotland 275 −13
1990  England Nick Faldo St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 270 −18
1991  Australia Ian Baker-Finch Royal Birkdale Southport, England 272 −8
1992  England Nick Faldo Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 272 −12
1993  Australia Greg Norman Royal St George's Sandwich, England 267 −13
1994  Zimbabwe Nick Price Turnberry South Ayrshire, Scotland 268 −12
1995  United States John Daly[v] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 282 −6
1996  United States Tom Lehman Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 271 −13
1997  United States Justin Leonard Royal Troon Troon, Scotland 272 −12
1998  United States Mark O'Meara[w] Royal Birkdale Southport, England 280 E
1999  Scotland Paul Lawrie[x] Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 290 +6
2000  United States Tiger Woods St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 269 −19
2001  United States David Duval Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 274 −10
2002  South Africa Ernie Els[y] Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 278 −6
2003  United States Ben Curtis Royal St George's Sandwich, England 283 −1
2004  United States Todd Hamilton[z] Royal Troon Troon, Scotland 274 −10
2005  United States Tiger Woods St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 274 −14
2006  United States Tiger Woods Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 270 −18
2007  Ireland Pádraig Harrington[aa] Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 277 −7
2008  Ireland Pádraig Harrington Royal Birkdale Southport, England 283 +3
2009  United States Stewart Cink[ab] Turnberry South Ayrshire, Scotland 278 −2
2010  South Africa Louis Oosthuizen St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 272 −16
2011  Northern Ireland Darren Clarke Royal St George's Sandwich, England 275 −5
2012  South Africa Ernie Els Royal Lytham & St Annes Lytham St Annes, England 273 −7
2013  United States Phil Mickelson Muirfield Gullane, Scotland 281 −3
2014  Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 271 −17
2015  United States Zach Johnson[ac] St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 273 −15
2016  Sweden Henrik Stenson Royal Troon Troon, Scotland 264 −20
2017  United States Jordan Spieth Royal Birkdale Southport, England 268 −12
2018  Italy Francesco Molinari Carnoustie Carnoustie, Scotland 276 −8
2019  Ireland Shane Lowry Royal Portrush County Antrim, Northern Ireland 269 −15
2020 None
2021  United States Collin Morikawa Royal St George's Sandwich, England 265 −15
2022  Australia Cameron Smith St Andrews St Andrews, Scotland 268 −20
2023  United States Brian Harman Royal Liverpool Hoylake, England 271 −13

Multiple champions[edit]

Multiple Open championship champions
Golfer Total Years
 Harry Vardon (JEY) 6 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914
 James Braid (SCO) 5 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910
 John Henry Taylor (ENG) 5 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913
 Peter Thomson (AUS) 5 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965
 Tom Watson (USA) 5 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983
 Tom Morris Sr. (SCO) 4 1861, 1862, 1864, 1867
 Tom Morris Jr. (SCO) 4 1868, 1869, 1870, 1872
 Willie Park Sr. (SCO) 4 1860, 1863, 1866, 1875
 Walter Hagen (USA) 4 1922, 1924, 1928, 1929
 Bobby Locke (RSA) 4 1949, 1950, 1952, 1957
 Jamie Anderson (SCO) 3 1877, 1878, 1879
 Bob Ferguson (SCO) 3 1880, 1881, 1882
 Bobby Jones (a) (USA) 3 1926, 1927, 1930
 Henry Cotton (ENG) 3 1934, 1937, 1948
 Gary Player (RSA) 3 1959, 1968, 1974
 Jack Nicklaus (USA) 3 1966, 1970, 1978
 Seve Ballesteros (ESP) 3 1979, 1984, 1988
 Nick Faldo (ENG) 3 1987, 1990, 1992
 Tiger Woods (USA) 3 2000, 2005, 2006
 Bob Martin (SCO) 2 1876, 1885
 Willie Park Jr. (SCO) 2 1887, 1889
 Harold Hilton (a) (ENG) 2 1892, 1897
 Arnold Palmer (USA) 2 1961, 1962
 Lee Trevino (USA) 2 1971, 1972
 Greg Norman (AUS) 2 1986, 1993
 Pádraig Harrington (IRL) 2 2007, 2008
 Ernie Els (RSA) 2 2002, 2012

By nationality[edit]

Open Championship champions by nationality
Nationality Wins Winners
 United States 46 31
 Scotland 41 22
 England 22 13
 Australia 10 5
 South Africa 10 4
 Jersey 7 2
 Northern Ireland 3 3
 Spain 3 1
 Ireland 3 2
 Argentina 1 1
 France 1 1
 Italy 1 1
 New Zealand 1 1
 Sweden 1 1
 Zimbabwe 1 1

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 72 holes refers to four rounds of golf played on the same 18 holes of golf, with the pin positions varying from one round to another.
  2. ^ Par is a predetermined number of strokes that a golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the total pars of the played holes), or a tournament (the sum of the total pars of each round). E stands for even, which means the tournament was completed in the predetermined number of strokes.[12]
  3. ^ The 1871 Open Championship was not held.[3]
  4. ^ Bob Martin won in a playoff against Davie Strath who refused to compete.
  5. ^ Willie Fernie won in a playoff against Bob Ferguson.
  6. ^ Willie Park Jr. won in a playoff against Andrew Kirkaldy.
  7. ^ John Ball won The Open Championship as an amateur.
  8. ^ a b Harold Hilton won The Open Championship as an amateur.
  9. ^ Harry Vardon won in a playoff against John Henry Taylor.
  10. ^ Harry Vardon won in a playoff against Arnaud Massy.
  11. ^ The Open Championship was not held from 1915 to 1918 because of the First World War.
  12. ^ Jock Hutchison won in a playoff against Roger Wethered.
  13. ^ a b c Bobby Jones won The Open Championship as an amateur.
  14. ^ Denny Shute won in a playoff against Craig Wood.
  15. ^ The Open Championship was not held from 1940 to 1945 because of the Second World War.
  16. ^ Bobby Locke won in a playoff against Harry Bradshaw.
  17. ^ Peter Thomson won in a playoff against Dave Thomas.
  18. ^ Bob Charles won in a playoff against Phil Rodgers.
  19. ^ Jack Nicklaus won in a playoff against Doug Sanders.
  20. ^ Tom Watson won in a playoff against Jack Newton.
  21. ^ Mark Calcavecchia won in a playoff against Wayne Grady and Greg Norman.
  22. ^ John Daly won in a playoff against Costantino Rocca.
  23. ^ Mark O'Meara won in a playoff against Brian Watts.
  24. ^ Paul Lawrie won in a playoff against Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard.
  25. ^ Ernie Els won in a playoff against Thomas Levet, Steve Elkington and Stuart Appleby.
  26. ^ Todd Hamilton won in a playoff against Ernie Els.
  27. ^ Pádraig Harrington won in a playoff against Sergio García.
  28. ^ Stewart Cink won in a playoff against Tom Watson.
  29. ^ Zach Johnson won in a playoff against Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Powers, Christopher (9 July 2022). "Open Championship 2022: Frequently Asked Questions". Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  2. ^ Newport 1997, p. 272.
  3. ^ a b c "Claret Jug". Open Golf. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  4. ^ Haselton, Todd (6 April 2020). "British Open canceled for first time since WWII due to coronavirus". CNBC. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  5. ^ Kolur, Nihal (17 July 2018). "Who Has Won the Most British Opens?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  6. ^ Ray, Justin (17 July 2022). "Open Championship: 10 notes to know on Cameron Smith's history-making win". The Athletic. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  7. ^ Scott, Ged (17 July 2016). "The Open 2016: Henrik Stenson beats Phil Mickelson to win at Royal Troon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  8. ^ Scrivener, Peter (23 July 2023). "The Open: Brian Harman wins Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool by six shots". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Previous Opens". The Open Championship. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  10. ^ "2011 Open Championship Media Guide". The Open Championship. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Open Champions". The Open Championship. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Scoring". BBC Sport. 13 July 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2008.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Newport, Stuart (1997). Guinness Book Of Knowledge. Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-046-6.

External links[edit]