The Major Championships - The Open Championship

About Us Contact Us Advertise

Home

Travel

Golf Today > Tour Schedules > The Major Championships

The Open Championship

The first 'Open' on October 17, 1860 saw eight professionals play three rounds over Prestwick's then 12-hole layout. There was no prize money, but the Champion, Wille Park, won the Challenge Belt to keep for a year. In 1870, 'Young' Tom Morris made the belt his property when he won it for the third successive time - so there was no Championship in 1871, as there was no trophy. 'The Golf Champion Trophy', better known as the Claret Jug was first offered in 1872, and won again by Young Tom, and has been played for ever since.

Open records

High and low scores, oldest and youngest winners, great fightbacks, margins of victory, most appearances, amateur champions and much more.

See The Open records...

The 2008 Open

All the build-up and action, reports from previous years, information about Royal Birkdalel, the latest betting odds and more.

See the 2008 Open here...

GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES

Paul Azinger names US wildcards

Faldo chooses Casey and Poulter

Havret gains wire to wire Gleneagles win

Sluman clinches First Tee Open with closing 67

Fallout continues over LPGA "English" rule

Poulter chooses high risk Ryder Cup strategy

Year	Venue	Winner	Runner-up	Third

2012	Royal Lytham
2011	Royal St George's
2010	St Andrews
2009	Turnberry
2008	Royal Birkdale	P Harrington 283	Ian Poulter 287	Greg Norman 289 Henrik Stenson 289
2007	Carnoustie	P Harrington 277*	Sergio Garcia 277	Andres Romero 278
2006	Hoylake	Tiger Woods 270	Chris DiMarco 272	Ernie Els 275
2005	St Andrews	Tiger Woods 274	C Montgomerie 279	Fred Couples 280 JM Olazabal 280
2004	Royal Troon	Todd Hamilton 274*	Ernie Els 274	Phil Mickelson 275
2003	Royal St George's	Ben Curtis 283	Thomas Bjorn 284 Vijay Singh 284	Davis Love III 285 Tiger Woods 285
2002	Muirfield	Ernie Els 278*	Stuart Appleby 278 Steve Elkington 278 Thomas Levet 278	Gary Evans 279 P Harrington 279 S Maruyama 279
2001	Royal Lytham	David Duval 274	Niclas Fasth 277	Darren Clarke 278 Ernie Els 278 Miguel A Jimenez 278 Billy Mayfair 278 Bernhard Langer 278 Ian Woosnam 278
2000	St Andrews	Tiger Woods 269	Thomas Bjorn 277 Ernie Els 277	Tom Lehman 278 David Toms 278
1999	Carnoustie	Paul Lawrie 290*	Justin Leonard 290 J Van de Velde 290	Angel Cabrera 291 Craig Parry 291
1998	Royal Birkdale	Mark O'Meara 280*	Brian Watts 280	Tiger Woods 281
1997	Royal Troon	Justin Leonard 272	Darren Clarke 275 Jesper Parnevik 275	Jim Furyk 279
1996	Royal Lytham	Tom Lehman 271	Ernie Els 273 Mark McCumber 273	Nick Faldo 274
1995	St Andrews	John Daly 282*	C Rocca 282	S Bottomley 283 Mark Brooks 283 Michael Campbell 283
1994	Turnberry	Nick Price 268	Jesper Parnevik 269	Fuzzy Zoeller 271
1993	Royal St George's	Greg Norman 267	Nick Faldo 269	Bernhard Langer 270
1992	Muirfield	Nick Faldo 272	John Cook 273	JM Olazabal 274
1991	Royal Birkdale	Ian Baker-Finch 272	Mike Harwood 274	Fred Couples 275 Mark O'Meara 275
1990	St Andrews	Nick Faldo 270	Mark McNulty 275 Payne Stewart 275	Jodie Mudd 276 Ian Woosnam 276
1989	Royal Troon	M Calcavecchia 275*	Wayne Grady 275 Greg Norman 275	Tom Watson 277
1988	Royal Lytham	Seve Ballesteros 273	Nick Price 275	Nick Faldo 279
1987	Muirfield	Nick Faldo 279	Paul Azinger 280 Rodger Davis 280	Ben Crenshaw 281 Payne Stewart 281
1986	Turnberry	Greg Norman 280	Gordon J Brand 285	Bernhard Langer 286 Ian Woosnam 286
1985	Royal St George's	Sandy Lyle 282	Payne Stewart 283	David Graham 284 Bernhard Langer 284 C O'Connor Jnr 284 Mark O'Meara 284 Jose Rivero 284
1984	St Andrews	Seve Ballesteros 276	Bernhard Langer 278 Tom Watson 278	Fred Couples 281 Lanny Wadkins 281
1983	Royal Birkdale	Tom Watson 275	Andy Bean 276 Hale Irwin 276	Graham Marsh 277
1982	Royal Troon	TomWatson 284	Peter Oosterhuis 285 Nick Price 285	Nick Faldo 286 M Kuramoto 286 Tom Purtzer 286 Des Smyth 286
1981	Royal St George's	Bill Rogers 276	Bernhard Langer 280	Ray Floyd 283 Mark James 283
1980	Muifield	Tom Watson 271	Lee Trevino 275	Ben Crenshaw 277
1979	Royal Lytham	Seve Ballesteros 283	Ben Crenshaw 286 Jack Nicklaus 286	Mark James 287
1978	St Andrews	Jack Nicklaus 281	Ben Crenshaw 283 Ray Floyd 283 Tom Kite 283 Simon Owen 283	Peter Oosterhuis 284
1977	Turnberry	Tom Watson 268	Jack Nicklaus 269	Hubert Green 279
1976	Royal Birkdale	Johnny Miller 279	Seve Ballesteros 285 Jack Nicklaus 285	Ray Floyd 286
1975	Carnoustie	Tom Watson 279*	Jack Newton 279	Bobby Cole 280 Johnny Miller 280 Jack Nicklaus 280
1974	Royal Lytham	Gary Player 282	Peter Oosterhuis 286	Jack Nicklaus 287
1973	Troon	Tom Weiskopf 276	Neil Coles 279 Johnny Miller 279	Jack Nicklaus 280
1972	Muirfield	Lee Trevino 278	Jack Nicklaus 279	Tony Jacklin 280
1971	Royal Birkdale	Lee Trevino 278	Lu Liang-huan 279	Tony Jacklin 280
1970	St Andrews	Jack Nicklaus 283*	Doug Sanders 283	Harold Henning 285 Lee Trevino 285
1969	Royal Lytham	Tony Jacklin 280	Bob Charles 282	R de Vicenzo 283 Peter Thomson 283
1968	Carnoustie	Gary Player 289	Bob Charles 291 Jack Nicklaus 291	Billy Casper 292
1967	Hoylake	R de Vicenzo 278	Jack Nicklaus 280	Clive Clark 284 Gary Player 284
1966	Muirfield	Jack Nicklaus 282	Doug Sanders 283 Dave Thomas 283	Bruce Devlin 286 Kel Nagle 286 Gary Player 286 Phil Rodgers 286
1965	Royal Birkdale	Peter Thomson 285	Brian Huggett 287 C O'Connor Snr 287	R de Vicenzo 288
1964	St Andrews	Tony Lema 279	Jack Nicklaus 284	R de Vicenzo 285
1963	Royal Lytham	Bob Charles 277*	Phil Rodgers 277	Jack Nicklaus 278
1962	Troon	Arnold Palmer 276	Kel Nagle 282	Brian Huggett 289 Phil Rodgers 289
1961	Birkdale	Arnold Palmer 284	Dai Rees 285	Neil Coles 288 C O'Connor Snr 288
1960	St Andrews	Kel Nagle 278	Arnold Palmer 279	R de Vicenzo 282 Harold Henning 282 Bernard Hunt 282
1959	Muirfield	Gary Player 284	Fred Bullock 286 F van Donck 286	Syd Scott 287
1958	Royal Lytham	Peter Thomson 278*	Dave Thomas 278	Eric Brown 279 C O'Connor Snr 279
1957	St Andrews	Bobby Locke 279	Peter Thomson 282	Eric Brown 283
1956	Hoylake	Peter Thomson 286	F van Donck 289	R de Vicenzo 290
1955	St Andrews	Peter Thomson 281	Johnny Fallon 283	Frank Jowle 284
1954	Birkdale	Peter Thomson 283	Bobby Locke 284 Dai Rees 284 Syd Scott 284	Jimmy Adams 286 Antonio Cerda 286 Jim Turnesa 286
1953	Carnoustie	Ben Hogan 282	Antonio Cerda 286 Dai Rees 286 F Stranahan (A) 286 Peter Thomson 286	R de Vicenzo 287
1952	Royal Lytham	Bobby Locke 287	Peter Thomson 288	Fred Daly 289
1951	Royal Portrush	Max Faulkner 285	Antonio Cerda 287	Charlie Ward 290
1950	Troon	Bobby Locke 279	R de Vicenzo 281	Fred Daly 282 Dai Rees 282
1949	Royal St George's	Bobby Locke 283	Harry Bradshaw 283	R de Vicenzo 285
1948	Muirfield	Henry Cotton 284	Fred Daly 289	R de Vicenzo 290 Jack Hargreaves 290 N Von Nida 290 Charlie Ward 290
1947	Hoylake	Fred Daly 293	Reg Horne 294 F Stranahan (A) 294	Bill Shankland 295
1946	St Andrews	Sam Snead 290	Johnny Bulla 294 Bobby Locke 294	Henry Cotton 295 Norman von Nida 295 Dai Rees 295 Charlie Ward 295
1945	No Championship
1944	No Championship
1943	No Championship
1942	No Championship
1941	No Championship
1940	No Championship
1939	St Andrews	Dick Burton 290	Johnny Bulla 292	Johnny Fallon 294 Sam King 294 Alf Perry 294 Bill Shankland 294 Reg Whitcombe 294
1938	Royal St George's	Reg Whitcombe 295	Jimmy Adams 297	Henry Cotton 298
1937	Carnoustie	Henry Cotton 290	Reg Whitcombe 292	Charles Lacey 293
1936	Hoylake	Alf Padgham 287	Jimmy Adams 288	Henry Cotton 289 M Dallemagne 289
1935	Muirfield	Alf Perry 283	Alf Padgham 287	C Whitcombe 288
1934	Royal St George's	Henry Cotton 283	Sid Brews 288	Alf Padgham 290
1933	St Andrews	Denny Shute 292*	Craig Wood 292	Leo Diegel 293 Syd Easterbrook 293 Gene Sarazen 293
1932	Prince's	Gene Sarazen 283	Macdonald Smith 288	Arthur Havers 289
1931	Carnoustie	Tommy Armour 296	Jose Jurado 297	Percy Alliss 298 Gene Sarazen 298
1930	Hoylake	Bobby Jones (A) 291	Leo Diegel 293 Macdonald Smith 293	Fred Robson 296 Horton Smith 296
1929	Muirfield	Walter Hagen 292	Johnny Farrell 298	Leo Diegel 299
1928	Royal St George's	Walter Hagen 292	Gene Sarazen 294	Archie Compston 295
1927	St Andrews	Bobby Jones (A) 285	Aubrey Boomer 291 Fred Robson 291	Joe Kirkwood Snr 293 E Whitcombe 293
1926	Royal Lytham	Bobby Jones (A) 291	Al Watrous 293	Walter Hagen 295 G Von Elm (A) 295
1925	Prestwick	Jim Barnes 300	Archie Compston 301 Ted Ray 301	Macdonald Smith 303
1924	Hoylake	Walter Hagen 301	E Whitcombe 302	Frank Ball 304 Macdonald Smith 304
1923	Troon	Arthur Havers 295	Walter Hagen 296	Macdonald Smith 297
1922	Royal St George's	Walter Hagen 300	Jim Barnes 301 George Duncan 301	Jock Hutchison 302
1921	St Andrews	Jock Hutchison 296*	R Wethered (A) 296	Tom Kerrigan 298
1920	Royal Cinque Ports	George Duncan 303	Sandy Herd 305	Ted Ray 306
1919	No Championship
1918	No Championship
1917	No Championship
1916	No Championship
1915	No Championship
1914	Prestwick	Harry Vardon 306	JH Taylor 309	Harry Simpson 310
1913	Hoylake	JH Taylor 304	Ted Ray 312	Michael Moran 313 Harry Vardon 313
1912	Muirfield	Ted Ray 295	Harry Vardon 299	James Braid 303
1911	Royal St George's	Harry Vardon 303*	Arnaud Massy 303	Sandy Herd 304 Harold Hilton (A) 304
1910	St Andrews	James Braid 299	Sandy Herd 303	George Duncan 304
1909	Royal Cinque Ports	JH Taylor 295	Tom Ball 301 James Braid 301	Charles Johns 302
1908	Prestwick	James Braid 291	Tom Ball 299	Ted Ray 301
1907	Hoylake	Arnaud Massy 312	JH Taylor 314	George Pulford 317 Tom Vardon 317
1906	Muirfield	James Braid 300	JH Taylor 304	Harry Vardon 305
1905	St Andrews	James Braid 318	Rowland Jones 323 JH Taylor 323	James Kinnel 324
1904	Royal St George's	Jack White 296	James Braid 297 JH Taylor 297	Tom Vardon 301
1903	Prestwick	Harry Vardon 300	Tom Vardon 306	Jack White 308
1902	Hoylake	Sandy Herd 307	James Braid 308 Harry Vardon 308	R Maxwell (A) 309
1901	Muirfield	James Braid 309	Harry Vardon 312	JH Taylor 313
1900	St Andrews	JH Taylor 309	Harry Vardon 317	James Braid 322
1899	St George's	Harry Vardon 310	Jack White 315	Andrew Kirkaldy 319
1898	Prestwick	Harry Vardon 307	Willie Park Jnr 308	Harold Hilton (A) 309
1897	Hoylake	Harold Hilton (A) 314	James Braid 315	George Pulford 317 Freddie Tait (A) 317
1896	Muirfield	Harry Vardon 316	JH Taylor 316	Willie Fernie 319 Freddie Tait (A) 319
1895	St Andrews	JH Taylor 322	Sandy Herd 326	Andrew Kirkaldy 332
1894	St George's	JH Taylor 326	Douglas Rolland 331	Andrew Kirkaldy 332
1893	Prestwick	W Auchterlonie 322	J Laidlay (A) 324	Sandy Herd 325
1892	Muirfield	Harold Hilton (A) 305	John Ball Jnr (A) 308 Sandy Herd 308 Hugh Kirkaldy 308	James Kay 312 Ben Sayers 312
1891	St Andrews	Hugh Kirkaldy 166	Willie Fernie 168 Andrew Kirkaldy 168	R Fergusson (A) 170
1890	Prestwick	John Ball Jnr (A) 164	Willie Fernie 167 Archie Simpson 167	Andrew Kirkaldy 170 Willie Park Jnr 170
1889	Musselburgh	Willie Park Jnr 155*	Andrew Kirkaldy 155	Ben Sayers 159
1888	St Andrews	Jack Burns 171	D Anderson Jnr 172 Ben Sayers 172	Willie Campbell 174
1887	Prestwick	Willie Park Jnr 161	Bob Martin 162	Willie Campbell 164
1886	Musselburgh	David Brown 157	Willie Campbell 159	Ben Campbell 160
1885	St Andrews	Bob Martin 171	Archie Simpson 172	David Ayton 173
1884	Prestwick	Jack Simpson 160	Willie Fernie 164 Douglas Rolland 164	Willie Campbell 169 Willie Park Jnr 169
1883	Musselburgh	Willie Fernie 159*	Bob Ferguson 159	William Brown 160
1882	St Andrews	Bob Ferguson 171	Willie Fernie 174	Jamie Anderson 175 Fitz Boothby (A) 175 John Kirkaldy 175 Bob Martin 175
1881	Prestwick	Bob Ferguson 170	Jamie Anderson 173	Ned Cosgrove 177
1880	Musselburgh	Bob Ferguson 162	Peter Paxton 167	Ned Cosgrove 168
1879	St Andrews	Jamie Anderson 169	Jamie Allan 172 Andrew Kirkaldy 172	George Paxton 174
1878	Prestwick	Jamie Anderson 157	Bob Kirk 159	JOF Morris 161
1877	Musselburgh	Jamie Anderson 160	Bob Pringle 162	William Cosgrove 164 Bob Ferguson 164
1876	St Andrews	Bob Martin 176*	Davie Strath 176	Willie Prk Snr 183
1875	Prestwick	Willie Park Snr 166	Bob Martin 168	Mungo Park 171
1874	Musselburgh	Mungo Park 159	Tom Morris Jnr 161	George Paxton 162
1873	St Andrews	Tom Kidd 179	Jamie Anderson 180	Bob Kirk 183 Tom Morris Jnr 183
1872	Prestwick	Tom Morris Jnr 166	Davie Strath 169	W Doleman (A) 177
1871	No Championship
1870	Prestwick	Tom Morris Jnr 149	Bob Kirk 161 Davie Strath 161	Tom Morris Snr 162
1869	Prestwick	Tom Morris Jnr 154	Tom Morris Snr 157	S Fergusson (A) 165
1868	Prestwick	Tom Morris Jnr 157	Robert Andrew 159	Willie Park Snr 162
1867	Prestwick	Tom Morris Snr 170	Willie Park Snr 172	Andrew Strath 174
1866	Prestwick	Willie Park Snr 169	David Park 171	Robert Andrew 176
1865	Prestwick	Andrew Strath 162	Willie Park Snr 164	William Dow 171
1864	Prestwick	Tom Morris Snr 167	Andrew Strath 169	Robert Andrew 175
1863	Prestwick	Willie Park Snr 168	Tom Morris Snr 170	David Park 172
1862	Prestwick	Tom Morris Snr 163	Willie Park Snr 176	Charlie Hunter 178
1861	Prestwick	Tom Morris Snr 163	Willie Park Snr 167	William Dow 171
1860	Prestwick	Willie Park Snr 174	Tom Morris Snr 176	Andrew Strath 180

(A) denotes Amateur
* denotes playoff victory