Bad weather, epic comebacks, legendary performances. We’re taking a look back at some of the top champion golfers and all-time records (all data from the Open’s official website).
It’s the oldest of the four major championships, dating all the way back to 1860.
The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, started with just eight players having tee times in a three-round, one-day event in Scotland. Now, it’s a sometimes grueling, four-day tournament with 144 of the world’s best players competing in front of millions.
Unpredictable weather on the golf courses remains part of the tournament’s alluring tradition. Finding a way to limit disaster in the harsh elements is often a key to victory.
Along the way, there have been some legendary performances and dramatic victories. Which players have had their names etched in the Open’s record book?
Let’s take a look at some of the top champion golfers and all-time records (all data from the Open’s official website):
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4 months ago Opta AnalystMost Appearances: 46 – Gary Player, 1956-2001
Player not only has made the most appearances in the Open, but he’s also been one of the best ever to compete in the tourney. In 1959, he won the Claret Jug for the first time at 23 years old – at that time the youngest ever to win it – and added two more wins in 1968 and 1974. Overall, the South African racked up 12 top-10 finishes.
Gary Player is shown kissing the winner’s trophy that his 72-hole total of 284 got him at Muirfield, Scotland, in this July 3, 1959. (AP Photo/File) 43 – Sandy Lyle, 1974-2018 38 – Jack Nicklaus, 1962-2005 38 – Sandy Herd, 1885-1933 38 – Tom Watson, 1975-2015 37 – Nick Faldo, 1976-2015 35 – Ben Sayers, 1878-1914 34 -Bob Charles, 1958-2001 34 – Old Tom Morris, 1860-96 32 – Tom Williamson, 1897-1936 32 – Ernie Els, 1989-2023Most Victories: 6 – Harry Vardon, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914
Tiger Woods? Arnold Palmer? Sam Snead? Nope. It’s Vardon, who was something of a golf prodigy when he turned pro at 20 years old. He’s credited for developing many techniques of the modern golf swing and for popularizing the overlapping grip. His historic victories helped him emerge as golf’s first superstar and the PGA annually awards the Vardon Trophy to the professional with the best scoring average.
5 – James Braid, 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910 5 – J.H. Taylor, 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913 5 – Peter Thomson, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965 5 – Tom Watson, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983Largest Margin Of Victory: 13 Strokes – Old Tom Morris, 1862
The event was still in its infancy when Old Tom Morris (not to be confused with his son Young Tom Morris) cruised to the largest victory in Open history. At the age of 20, Thomas Mitchell Morris had earned an St. Andrews apprenticeship with the links keeper at the old course in 1841. Just 20 years later, he won the Open at Prestwick Golf Club his first of back-to-back titles (and three in four years), earning the nickname “The Grand Old Man of Golf.” Tommy, his son, won his first Open championship in 1868 before capturing three more – two in dominant fashion (below).
12 – Young Tom Morris, 1870 11 – Young Tom Morris, 1869 8 – J.H. Taylor, 1900, 1913 8 – James Braid, 1908 8 – Tiger Woods, 2000Champions In Three Separate Decades
Harry Vardon – 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914 J.H. Taylor – 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913 Gary Player – 1959, 1968, 1974Vardon was one of the Open’s all-time great players, and Taylor was his rival throughout his career. But only one golfer has won the Open in three separate decades since the end of World War I – the incomparable Gary Player. He was 38 years old when he won his final Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England, by four strokes over Peter Oosterhuis in 1974. Player had also won the Masters earlier that year.
Greatest Comeback By A Champion
After 54 holes: 10 Strokes Back – Paul Lawrie, 1999Unfortunately for Lawrie, this tournament is remembered more for Jean Van de Velde’s collapse on a difficult Carnoustie course than his comeback. Vande de Velde had reached the 18th tee with a three-stroke lead, but he ended up with triple bogey that left him in a playoff. Lawrie won it become the first Scottish golfer to claim the Claret Jug in 68 years.
After 36 holes: 13 Strokes Back – George Duncan, 1920 After 18 holes: 11 Strokes Back – Harry Vardon, 1896Oldest Open Champions: 46 Years, 102 Days – Old Tom Morris, 1867
44 Years, 92 Days – Roberto de Vicenzo, 1967 44 Years, 41 Days – Harry Vardon, 1914 43 Years, 92 Days – Old Tom Morris, 1864 43 Years, 35 Days – Phil Mickelson, 2013 42 Years, 337 Days – Darren Clarke, 2011 42 Years, 279 Days – Ernie Els, 2012 42 Years, 97 Days – J.H. Taylor, 1913 42 Years, 72 Days – Willie Park Sr., 1875 41 Years, 187 Days – Mark O’Meara, 1998Youngest Open Champions: 17 Years, 156 Days – Young Tom Morris, 1868
18 Years, 149 Days – Young Tom Morris, 1869 19 Years, 148 Days – Young Tom Morris, 1870 21 Years, 22 Days – Willie Auchterlonie, 1893 21 Years, 146 Days – Young Tom Morris, 1872 22 Years, 103 Days – Seve Ballesteros, 1979Amateur Champions: 3 – Bobby Jones, 1926, 1927, 1930
Lowest Individual Round: 62 – Branden Grace, Third Round, 2017
Grace didn’t win the 2017 Open. In fact, he ended up in a tie for sixth. But for one day, he was better than anyone in majors history. Grace shot an 8-under 62 in the third round of the 2017 Open, becoming the first player in major championship history to shoot lower than 63. The 29-year-old South African also broke the course record at Royal Birkdale, set by Jodie Mudd (63) in the final round of the 1991 Open.
South Africa’s Branden Grace plays out of a bunker on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) 63 – Mark Hayes, Second Round, Turnberry, 1977 63 – Isao Aoki, Third Round, Muirfield, 1980 63 – Greg Norman, Second Round, Turnberry, 1986 63 – Paul Broadhurst, Third Round, St. Andrews, 1990 63 – Jodie Mudd, Fourth Round, Royal Birkdale, 1991 63 – Nick Faldo, Second Round, Royal St George’s, 1993 63 – Payne Stewart, Fourth Round, Royal St George’s, 1993 63 – Rory McIlroy, First Round, St. Andrews, 2010 63 – Phil Mickelson, First Round, Royal Troon, 2016 63 – Henrik Stenson, Fourth Round, Royal Troon, 2016 63 – Haotong Li, Fourth Round, Royal Birkdale, 2017 63 – Shane Lowry, Third Round, Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, 2019 63 – Jon Rahm, Third Round, Royal Liverpool, 2023Lowest Total Score By A Champion: 264 – Henrik Stenson, Royal Troon, 2016
Stenson finally won his first major in 2016, and he did it in style at Royal Troon. After he previously had three runner-up finishes and six thirds in majors, the 40-year-old Swede managed to hold off 2013 champion Phil Mickelson in the final round to cap the best four-round performance in Open history. He also became the first from his country to lift the Claret Jug with his 20-under-par 264 (68, 65, 68, 63).
Lowest Total By An Amateur: 277 – Jordan Niebrugge, St. Andrews, 2015
Most Strokes Under Par (Since 1963): 20 – Henrik Stenson, Royal Troon, 2016/Cameron Smith, St. Andrews, 2022
We relived Stenson’s historic effort in 2016 earlier, and six years later, Smith matched his 20-under-par record at St. Andrews. In an unforgettable run, Smith started the day four shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland before carding five consecutive birdies on the back nine in the final round of the 150th edition of the Open. He was the first golfer to put up two rounds of 64 en route to the victory.
19 – Tiger Woods, St. Andrews, 2000 18 – Nick Faldo, St. Andrews, 1990 18 – Tiger Woods, Royal Liverpool, 2006 17 – Rory McIlroy, Royal Liverpool, 2014 16 – Louis Oosthuizen, St. Andrews, 2010Be sure to check out all our MLB, NBA and NFL coverage. And follow us on X and Instagram for more!
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