The Open Championship
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The Open Championship is the oldest and one of the most storied golfing events in the world. It was founded and is still administers by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
The first Open was held in 1860 and has been played over the last 150 years with minor interruptions. In 1871, eleven years after the maiden date The Open Championship was cancelled because they simply did not have a “trophy” or “championship belt” to give to the winner.
The reason for this was the domination of Young Tom Morris who won The Open in 1868, 1869, 1870 and was allowed to keep the then current “championship belt”. Originally the plan to let the winner keep the belt was to draw more entrants into the event in hopes of letting Young Tom Morris meet his match.
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 17 Oct | Willie Park, Snr | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1861 | 26 Sep | Tom Morris, Snr | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1862 | 11 Sep | Tom Morris, Snr (2) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1863 | 18 Sep | Willie Park, Snr (2) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1864 | 16 Sep | Tom Morris, Snr (3) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1865 | 14 Sep | Andrew Strath | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1866 | 13 Sep | Willie Park, Snr (3) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1867 | 26 Sep | Tom Morris, Snr (4) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1868 | 23 Sep | Tom Morris, Jnr | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1869 | 16 Sep | Tom Morris, Jnr (2) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1870 | 15 Sep | Tom Morris, Jnr (3) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1871 | Championship cancelled as no trophy available | |||
| 1872 | 13 Sep | Tom Morris, Jnr (4) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1873 | 4 Oct | Tom Kidd | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1874 | 10 Apr | Mungo Park | Scotland | Musselburgh |
| 1875 | 10 Sep | Willie Park, Snr (4) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1876 | 30 Sep, 2 Oct | Bob Martin | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1877 | 6 Apr | Jamie Anderson | Scotland | Musselburgh |
| 1878 | 4 Oct | Jamie Anderson (2) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1879 | 27,29 Sep | Jamie Anderson (3) | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1880 | 9 Apr | Bob Ferguson | Scotland | Musselburgh |
| 1881 | 14 Oct | Bob Ferguson (2) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1882 | 30 Sep | Bob Ferguson (3) | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1883 | 16–17 Nov | Willie Fernie | Scotland | Musselburgh |
| 1884 | 3 Oct | Jack Simpson | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1885 | 3 Oct | Bob Martin (2) | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1886 | 5 Nov | David Brown | Scotland | Musselburgh |
| 1887 | 16 Sep | Willie Park, Jnr | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1888 | 6,8 Oct | Jack Burns | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1889 | 8,11 Nov | Willie Park, Jnr (2) | Scotland | Musselburgh |
| 1890 | 11 Sep | John Ball (a) | England | Prestwick |
| 1891 | 6–7 Oct | Hugh Kirkaldy | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1892 | 22–23 Sep | Harold Hilton (a) | England | Muirfield |
| 1893 | 31 Aug – 1 Sep | William Auchterlonie | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1894 | 11–12 Jun | J.H. Taylor | England | St George’s |
| 1895 | 12–13 Jun | J.H. Taylor (2) | England | St Andrews |
| 1896 | 10–11,13 Jun | Harry Vardon | Jersey | Muirfield |
| 1897 | 19–20 May | Harold Hilton (a) (2) | England | Royal Liverpool |
| 1898 | 8–9 Jun | Harry Vardon (2) | Jersey | Prestwick |
| 1899 | 7–8 Jun | Harry Vardon (3) | Jersey | St George’s |
| 1900 | 6–7 Jun | J.H. Taylor (3) | England | St Andrews |
| 1901 | 5–6 Jun | James Braid | Scotland | Muirfield |
| 1902 | 4–5 Jun | Sandy Herd | Scotland | Royal Liverpool |
| 1903 | 10–11 Jun | Harry Vardon (4) | Jersey | Prestwick |
| 1904 | 8–10 Jun | Jack White | Scotland | Royal St George’s |
| 1905 | 7–9 Jun | James Braid (2) | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1906 | 13–15 Jun | James Braid (3) | Scotland | Muirfield |
| 1907 | 20–21 Jun | Arnaud Massy | France | Royal Liverpool |
| 1908 | 18–19 Jun | James Braid (4) | Scotland | Prestwick |
| 1909 | 10–11 Jun | J.H. Taylor (4) | England | Royal Cinque Ports |
| 1910 | 21–24 Jun | James Braid (5) | Scotland | St Andrews |
| 1911 | 26–30 Jun | Harry Vardon (5) | Jersey | Royal St George’s |
| 1912 | 24–25 Jun | Ted Ray | Jersey | Muirfield |
| 1913 | 23–24 Jun | J.H. Taylor (5) | England | Royal Liverpool |
| 1914 | 18–19 Jun | Harry Vardon (6) | Jersey | Prestwick |
| 1915–19 | No Championships because of World War I | |||
| 1920 | 30 Jun – 1 Jul | George Duncan | Scotland | Royal Cinque Ports |
| 1921 | 23–25 Jun | Jock Hutchison | United States | St Andrews |
| 1922 | 22–23 Jun | Walter Hagen | United States | Royal St George’s |
| 1923 | 14–15 Jun | Arthur Havers | England | Troon |
| 1924 | 26–27 Jun | Walter Hagen (2) | United States | Royal Liverpool |
| 1925 | 26–27 Jun | Jim Barnes | United States | Prestwick |
| 1926 | 25–26 Jun | Bobby Jones (a) | United States | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1927 | 23–25 Jun | Bobby Jones (a) (2) | United States | St Andrews |
| 1928 | 13–15 Jul | Walter Hagen (3) | United States | Royal St George’s |
| 1929 | 8–10 May | Walter Hagen (4) | United States | Muirfield |
| 1930 | 18–20 Jun | Bobby Jones (a) (3) | United States | Royal Liverpool |
| 1931 | 3–5 Jun | Tommy Armour | United States | Carnoustie |
| 1932 | 8–10 Jun | Gene Sarazen | United States | Prince’s |
| 1933 | 5–8 Jul | Denny Shute | United States | St Andrews |
| 1934 | 27–29 Jun | Henry Cotton | England | Royal St George’s |
| 1935 | 26–28 Jun | Alf Perry | England | Muirfield |
| 1936 | 25–27 Jun | Alf Padgham | England | Royal Liverpool |
| 1937 | 7–9 Jul | Henry Cotton (2) | England | Carnoustie |
| 1938 | 6–8 Jul | Reg Whitcombe | England | Royal St George’s |
| 1939 | 5–7 Jul | Dick Burton | England | St Andrews |
| 1940–45 | No Championships because of World War II | |||
| 1946 | 3–5 Jul | Sam Snead | United States | St Andrews |
| 1947 | 2–4 Jul | Fred Daly | Northern Ireland | Royal Liverpool |
| 1948 | 30 Jun – 2 Jul | Henry Cotton (3) | England | Muirfield |
| 1949 | 6–9 Jul | Bobby Locke | South Africa | Royal St George’s |
| 1950 | 5–7 Jul | Bobby Locke (2) | South Africa | Troon |
| 1951 | 4–6 Jul | Max Faulkner | England | Royal Portrush |
| 1952 | 9–11 Jul | Bobby Locke (3) | South Africa | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1953 | 8–10 Jul | Ben Hogan | United States | Carnoustie |
| 1954 | 7–9 Jul | Peter Thomson | Australia | Royal Birkdale |
| 1955 | 6–8 Jul | Peter Thomson (2) | Australia | St Andrews |
| 1956 | 4–6 Jul | Peter Thomson (3) | Australia | Royal Liverpool |
| 1957 | 3–5 Jul | Bobby Locke (4) | South Africa | St Andrews |
| 1958 | 2–5 Jul | Peter Thomson (4) | Australia | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1959 | 1–3 Jul | Gary Player | South Africa | Muirfield |
| 1960 | 6–9 Jul | Kel Nagle | Australia | St Andrews |
| 1961 | 12–15 Jul | Arnold Palmer | United States | Royal Birkdale |
| 1962 | 11–13 Jul | Arnold Palmer (2) | United States | Troon |
| 1963 | 10–13 Jul | Bob Charles | New Zealand | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1964 | 8–10 Jul | Tony Lema | United States | St Andrews |
| 1965 | 7–9 Jul | Peter Thomson (5) | Australia | Royal Birkdale |
| 1966 | 6–9 Jul | Jack Nicklaus | United States | Muirfield |
| 1967 | 12–15 Jul | Roberto De Vicenzo | Argentina | Royal Liverpool |
| 1968 | 10–13 Jul | Gary Player (2) | South Africa | Carnoustie |
| 1969 | 9–12 Jul | Tony Jacklin | England | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1970 | 8–12 Jul | Jack Nicklaus (2) | United States | St Andrews |
| 1971 | 7–10 Jul | Lee Trevino | United States | Royal Birkdale |
| 1972 | 12–15 Jul | Lee Trevino (2) | United States | Muirfield |
| 1973 | 11–14 Jul | Tom Weiskopf | United States | Troon |
| 1974 | 10–13 Jul | Gary Player (3) | South Africa | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1975 | 9–13 Jul | Tom Watson | United States | Carnoustie |
| 1976 | 7–10 Jul | Johnny Miller | United States | Royal Birkdale |
| 1977 | 6–9 Jul | Tom Watson (2) | United States | Turnberry |
| 1978 | 12–15 Jul | Jack Nicklaus (3) | United States | St Andrews |
| 1979 | 18–21 Jul | Seve Ballesteros | Spain | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1980 | 17–20 Jul | Tom Watson (3) | United States | Muirfield |
| 1981 | 16–19 Jul | Bill Rogers | United States | Royal St George’s |
| 1982 | 15–18 Jul | Tom Watson (4) | United States | Royal Troon |
| 1984 | 19–22 Jul | Seve Ballesteros (2) | Spain | St Andrews |
| 1985 | 18–21 Jul | Sandy Lyle | Scotland | Royal St George’s |
| 1986 | 17–20 Jul | Greg Norman | Australia | Turnberry |
| 1987 | 16–19 Jul | Nick Faldo | England | Muirfield |
| 1988 | 14–18 Jul | Seve Ballesteros (3) | Spain | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1989 | 20–23 Jul | Mark Calcavecchia | United States | Royal Troon |
| 1990 | 19–22 Jul | Nick Faldo (2) | England | St Andrews |
| 1991 | 18–21 Jul | Ian Baker-Finch | Australia | Royal Birkdale |
| 1992 | 16–19 Jul | Nick Faldo (3) | England | Muirfield |
| 1993 | 15–18 Jul | Greg Norman (2) | Australia | Royal St George’s |
| 1995 | 20–23 Jul | John Daly | United States | St Andrews |
| 1996 | 18–21 Jul | Tom Lehman | United States | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 1997 | 17–20 Jul | Justin Leonard | United States | Royal Troon |
| 1998 | 16–19 Jul | Mark O’Meara | United States | Royal Birkdale |
| 1999 | 15–18 Jul | Paul Lawrie | Scotland | Carnoustie |
| 2000 | 20–23 Jul | Tiger Woods | United States | St Andrews |
| 2001 | 19–22 Jul | David Duval | United States | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 2002 | 18–21 Jul | Ernie Els | South Africa | Muirfield |
| 2003 | 17–20 Jul | Ben Curtis | United States | Royal St George’s |
| 2004 | 15–18 Jul | Todd Hamilton | United States | Royal Troon |
| 2005 | 14–17 Jul | Tiger Woods (2) | United States | St Andrews |
| 2006 | 20–23 Jul | Tiger Woods (3) | United States | Royal Liverpool |
| 2007 | 19–22 Jul | Pádraig Harrington | Ireland | Carnoustie |
| 2008 | 17–20 Jul | Pádraig Harrington (2) | Ireland | Royal Birkdale |
| 2009 | 16–19 Jul | Stewart Cink | United States | Turnberry |
| 2010 | 15–18 Jul | Louis Oosthuizen | South Africa | St Andrews |
| 2011 | 14–17 Jul | Darren Clarke | Northern Ireland | Royal St George’s |
| 2012 | 19–22 Jul | Ernie Els (2) | South Africa | Royal Lytham & St Annes |
| 2013 | 18–21 Jul | Phil Mickelson | United States | Muirfield |
| 2014 | 17–20 Jul | Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland | Royal Liverpool |
| 2015 | 16–20 Jul | Zach Johnson | United States | St Andrews |
| 2016 | 14–17 Jul | Henrik Stenson | Sweden | Royal Troon |
