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. 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 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[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 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), 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] ^ The 1871 Open Championship was not held.[3] ^ 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. ^ a b 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 . ^ a b c 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 . References ^ Powers, Christopher (9 July 2022). "Open Championship 2022: Frequently Asked Questions". Golf Digest . Retrieved 18 July 2022 . ^ a b c "Claret Jug". Open Golf . Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009 . ^ Haselton, Todd (6 April 2020). "British Open canceled for first time since WWII due to coronavirus". CNBC. Retrieved 19 July 2022 . ^ Kolur, Nihal (17 July 2018). "Who Has Won the Most British Opens?". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved 19 July 2022 . ^ Ray, Justin (17 July 2022). "Open Championship: 10 notes to know on Cameron Smith's history-making win". The Athletic. Retrieved 18 July 2022 . ^ Scott, Ged (17 July 2016). "The Open 2016: Henrik Stenson beats Phil Mickelson to win at Royal Troon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2022 . ^ Scrivener, Peter (23 July 2023). "The Open: Brian Harman wins Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool by six shots". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 July 2022 . ^ "Previous Opens". The Open Championship. Retrieved 18 July 2022 . ^ "2011 Open Championship Media Guide". The Open Championship. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011 . ^ "Open Champions". The Open Championship. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2011 . ^ "Scoring". BBC Sport. 13 July 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2008 . Bibliography Newport, Stuart (1997). Guinness Book Of Knowledge . Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-046-6 . External links The Open Championship official site R&A website † 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