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. 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. 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, 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 .
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.
Harry Vardon holds the record for the most Open Championship victories, winning six times during his career. 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), which they achieved in 2016 and 2022 respectively. Stenson also recorded the lowest total score (264) when he won in 2016. Brian Harman is the current champion, winning the 2023 Open.
Champions ※
Key
(n/a)
Information not available
†
Tournament won in a playoff
*
Tournament won by an amateur
By year ※
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
Year
Country
Champion
Course
Location
Total score
To par
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
—
—
—
—
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
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
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.
Musselburgh Links
Musselburgh , Scotland
155
n/a
1890
England
John Ball *
Prestwick Golf Club
Prestwick , Scotland
162
n/a
1891
Scotland
Hugh Kirkaldy
St Andrews
St Andrews , Scotland
166
n/a
1892
England
Harold Hilton *
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
Muirfield
Gullane , Scotland
316
n/a
1897
England
Harold Hilton *
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
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
—
—
—
—
1916
—
None
—
—
—
—
1917
—
None
—
—
—
—
1918
—
None
—
—
—
—
1919
—
None
—
—
—
—
1920
Scotland
George Duncan
Royal Cinque Ports
Deal , England
303
+15
1921
United States
Jock Hutchison
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 *
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Lytham St Annes , England
291
+7
1927
United States
Bobby Jones *
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 *
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
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
—
—
—
—
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Royal Birkdale
Southport , England
280
E
1999
Scotland
Paul Lawrie
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
Muirfield
Gullane , Scotland
278
−6
2003
United States
Ben Curtis
Royal St George's
Sandwich , England
283
−1
2004
United States
Todd Hamilton
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
Carnoustie
Carnoustie , Scotland
277
−7
2008
Ireland
Pádraig Harrington
Royal Birkdale
Southport , England
283
+3
2009
United States
Stewart Cink
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
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 ※
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 ※
Notes ※
^ 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.
^ 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),/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.
^ The 1871 Open Championship was not held.
^ Bob Martin won in a playoff against Davie Strath who refused to compete.
^ Willie Fernie won in a playoff against Bob Ferguson .
^ Willie Park Jr. won in a playoff against Andrew Kirkaldy .
^ John Ball won The Open Championship as an amateur.
^ Harold Hilton won The Open Championship as an amateur.
^ Harry Vardon won in a playoff against John Henry Taylor .
^ Harry Vardon won in a playoff against Arnaud Massy .
^ The Open Championship was not held from 1915 to 1918. Because of the First World War .
^ Jock Hutchison won in a playoff against Roger Wethered .
^ Bobby Jones won The Open Championship as an amateur.
^ Denny Shute won in a playoff against Craig Wood .
^ The Open Championship was not held from 1940 to 1945 because of the Second World War .
^ Bobby Locke won in a playoff against Harry Bradshaw .
^ Peter Thomson won in a playoff against Dave Thomas .
^ Bob Charles won in a playoff against Phil Rodgers .
^ Jack Nicklaus won in a playoff against Doug Sanders .
^ Tom Watson won in a playoff against Jack Newton .
^ Mark Calcavecchia won in a playoff against Wayne Grady and Greg Norman .
^ John Daly won in a playoff against Costantino Rocca .
^ Mark O'Meara won in a playoff against Brian Watts .
^ Paul Lawrie won in a playoff against Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard .
^ Ernie Els won in a playoff against Thomas Levet , Steve Elkington and Stuart Appleby .
^ Todd Hamilton won in a playoff against Ernie Els .
^ Pádraig Harrington won in a playoff against Sergio García .
^ Stewart Cink won in a playoff against Tom Watson .
^ Zach Johnson won in a playoff against Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen .
^ The Open Championship was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom .
References ※
Bibliography ※
Newport, Stuart (1997). Guinness Book Of Knowledge . Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-046-6 .
External links ※
† indicates the event was won in a playoff; ‡ indicates the event was won wire-to-wire in 72-holes; # indicates the event was won by an amateur
1871
No championship ; 1915–1919
cancelled due to World War I ; 1940–1945
cancelled due to World War II ; 2020
cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Current rota courses Former rota courses