The Open Championship

The Open Championship

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The Open

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.

YearDatesChampionCountryVenue
186017 Oct Willie Park, Snr ScotlandPrestwick
186126 SepTom Morris, SnrScotlandPrestwick
186211 SepTom Morris, Snr (2)ScotlandPrestwick
186318 SepWillie Park, Snr (2) ScotlandPrestwick
186416 SepTom Morris, Snr (3)ScotlandPrestwick
186514 SepAndrew StrathScotlandPrestwick
186613 SepWillie Park, Snr (3)ScotlandPrestwick
186726 SepTom Morris, Snr (4)ScotlandPrestwick
186823 SepTom Morris, JnrScotlandPrestwick
186916 SepTom Morris, Jnr (2)ScotlandPrestwick
187015 SepTom Morris, Jnr (3)ScotlandPrestwick
1871Championship cancelled as no trophy available
187213 SepTom Morris, Jnr (4) ScotlandPrestwick
18734 OctTom KiddScotlandSt Andrews
1874 10 AprMungo ParkScotlandMusselburgh
187510 SepWillie Park, Snr (4)ScotlandPrestwick
187630 Sep, 2 Oct Bob MartinScotlandSt Andrews
18776 AprJamie AndersonScotlandMusselburgh
18784 OctJamie Anderson (2)ScotlandPrestwick
187927,29 SepJamie Anderson (3)ScotlandSt Andrews
18809 AprBob FergusonScotlandMusselburgh
188114 OctBob Ferguson (2)ScotlandPrestwick
188230 SepBob Ferguson (3)ScotlandSt Andrews
188316–17 NovWillie FernieScotlandMusselburgh
18843 OctJack SimpsonScotlandPrestwick
18853 OctBob Martin (2)ScotlandSt Andrews
18865 NovDavid BrownScotlandMusselburgh
188716 SepWillie Park, JnrScotlandPrestwick
18886,8 OctJack BurnsScotlandSt Andrews
18898,11 NovWillie Park, Jnr (2)ScotlandMusselburgh
189011 SepJohn Ball (a)EnglandPrestwick
18916–7 OctHugh KirkaldyScotlandSt Andrews
189222–23 SepHarold Hilton (a) EnglandMuirfield
189331 Aug – 1 Sep William AuchterlonieScotlandPrestwick
189411–12 JunJ.H. TaylorEnglandSt George’s
189512–13 JunJ.H. Taylor (2)EnglandSt Andrews
189610–11,13 JunHarry Vardon JerseyMuirfield
189719–20 MayHarold Hilton (a) (2) EnglandRoyal Liverpool
18988–9 JunHarry Vardon (2) JerseyPrestwick
18997–8 JunHarry Vardon (3)JerseySt George’s
19006–7 JunJ.H. Taylor (3) EnglandSt Andrews
19015–6 JunJames BraidScotlandMuirfield
19024–5 JunSandy Herd ScotlandRoyal Liverpool
190310–11 JunHarry Vardon (4) JerseyPrestwick
19048–10 JunJack WhiteScotlandRoyal St George’s
19057–9 JunJames Braid (2) ScotlandSt Andrews
190613–15 JunJames Braid (3) ScotlandMuirfield
190720–21 JunArnaud Massy FranceRoyal Liverpool
190818–19 JunJames Braid (4)ScotlandPrestwick
190910–11 JunJ.H. Taylor (4)EnglandRoyal Cinque Ports
191021–24 JunJames Braid (5)ScotlandSt Andrews
191126–30 JunHarry Vardon (5)JerseyRoyal St George’s
191224–25 JunTed RayJerseyMuirfield
191323–24 JunJ.H. Taylor (5) EnglandRoyal Liverpool
191418–19 JunHarry Vardon (6)JerseyPrestwick
1915–19No Championships because of World War I
1920
30 Jun – 1 JulGeorge DuncanScotlandRoyal Cinque Ports
1921
23–25 Jun
Jock HutchisonUnited StatesSt Andrews
192222–23 JunWalter HagenUnited StatesRoyal St George’s
192314–15 JunArthur HaversEnglandTroon
192426–27 JunWalter Hagen (2)United StatesRoyal Liverpool
192526–27 JunJim BarnesUnited StatesPrestwick
192625–26 JunBobby Jones (a)United StatesRoyal Lytham & St Annes
192723–25 JunBobby Jones (a) (2)United StatesSt Andrews
192813–15 JulWalter Hagen (3)United StatesRoyal St George’s
19298–10 MayWalter Hagen (4)United StatesMuirfield
193018–20 JunBobby Jones (a) (3)United StatesRoyal Liverpool
19313–5 JunTommy ArmourUnited StatesCarnoustie
19328–10 JunGene SarazenUnited StatesPrince’s
19335–8 JulDenny ShuteUnited StatesSt Andrews
193427–29 JunHenry Cotton EnglandRoyal St George’s
193526–28 JunAlf Perry EnglandMuirfield
193625–27 JunAlf Padgham EnglandRoyal Liverpool
19377–9 JulHenry Cotton (2) EnglandCarnoustie
19386–8 JulReg Whitcombe EnglandRoyal St George’s
19395–7 JulDick Burton EnglandSt Andrews
1940–45 No Championships because of World War II
19463–5 JulSam SneadUnited States
St Andrews
1947
2–4 Jul
Fred Daly Northern IrelandRoyal Liverpool
194830 Jun – 2 JulHenry Cotton (3) EnglandMuirfield
1949
6–9 Jul
Bobby LockeSouth AfricaRoyal St George’s
19505–7 JulBobby Locke (2) South AfricaTroon
19514–6 JulMax FaulknerEnglandRoyal Portrush
19529–11 JulBobby Locke (3)South AfricaRoyal Lytham & St Annes
19538–10 JulBen HoganUnited StatesCarnoustie
19547–9 JulPeter ThomsonAustraliaRoyal Birkdale
19556–8 JulPeter Thomson (2) AustraliaSt Andrews
19564–6 JulPeter Thomson (3) AustraliaRoyal Liverpool
19573–5 JulBobby Locke (4)South AfricaSt Andrews
19582–5 JulPeter Thomson (4) AustraliaRoyal Lytham & St Annes
19591–3 JulGary Player South AfricaMuirfield
19606–9 JulKel NagleAustraliaSt Andrews
196112–15 JulArnold PalmerUnited StatesRoyal Birkdale
196211–13 JulArnold Palmer (2)United StatesTroon
196310–13 JulBob CharlesNew ZealandRoyal Lytham & St Annes
19648–10 JulTony LemaUnited StatesSt Andrews
19657–9 JulPeter Thomson (5)AustraliaRoyal Birkdale
19666–9 JulJack NicklausUnited StatesMuirfield
196712–15 JulRoberto De Vicenzo ArgentinaRoyal Liverpool
196810–13 JulGary Player (2) South AfricaCarnoustie
19699–12 JulTony JacklinEnglandRoyal Lytham & St Annes
19708–12 JulJack Nicklaus (2) United StatesSt Andrews
19717–10 JulLee TrevinoUnited StatesRoyal Birkdale
197212–15 JulLee Trevino (2)United StatesMuirfield
197311–14 JulTom WeiskopfUnited StatesTroon
1974
10–13 Jul
Gary Player (3) South AfricaRoyal Lytham & St Annes
19759–13 JulTom WatsonUnited StatesCarnoustie
1976
7–10 Jul
Johnny MillerUnited StatesRoyal Birkdale
19776–9 JulTom Watson (2)United StatesTurnberry
197812–15 JulJack Nicklaus (3)United StatesSt Andrews
197918–21 JulSeve Ballesteros SpainRoyal Lytham & St Annes
198017–20 JulTom Watson (3)United StatesMuirfield
198116–19 JulBill RogersUnited StatesRoyal St George’s
198215–18 JulTom Watson (4)United StatesRoyal Troon
198419–22 JulSeve Ballesteros (2)SpainSt Andrews
198518–21 JulSandy Lyle ScotlandRoyal St George’s
198617–20 JulGreg Norman AustraliaTurnberry
198716–19 JulNick FaldoEnglandMuirfield
198814–18 JulSeve Ballesteros (3) SpainRoyal Lytham & St Annes
198920–23 JulMark CalcavecchiaUnited StatesRoyal Troon
199019–22 JulNick Faldo (2) EnglandSt Andrews
199118–21 JulIan Baker-Finch
 Australia
Royal Birkdale
199216–19 JulNick Faldo (3)EnglandMuirfield
199315–18 JulGreg Norman (2) AustraliaRoyal St George’s
199520–23 JulJohn DalyUnited StatesSt Andrews
199618–21 JulTom LehmanUnited StatesRoyal Lytham & St Annes
199717–20 JulJustin LeonardUnited StatesRoyal Troon
199816–19 JulMark O’MearaUnited StatesRoyal Birkdale
199915–18 JulPaul Lawrie ScotlandCarnoustie
200020–23 JulTiger WoodsUnited StatesSt Andrews
200119–22 JulDavid DuvalUnited States
Royal Lytham & St Annes
200218–21 JulErnie Els South Africa
Muirfield
200317–20 JulBen CurtisUnited StatesRoyal St George’s
200415–18 JulTodd HamiltonUnited StatesRoyal Troon
200514–17 JulTiger Woods (2)United StatesSt Andrews
200620–23 JulTiger Woods (3)United StatesRoyal Liverpool
200719–22 JulPádraig Harrington IrelandCarnoustie
200817–20 JulPádraig Harrington (2) Ireland
Royal Birkdale
200916–19 JulStewart CinkUnited StatesTurnberry
201015–18 JulLouis Oosthuizen South AfricaSt Andrews
201114–17 JulDarren ClarkeNorthern IrelandRoyal St George’s
201219–22 JulErnie Els (2)South AfricaRoyal Lytham & St Annes
201318–21 JulPhil MickelsonUnited States
Muirfield
201417–20 JulRory McIlroy Northern IrelandRoyal Liverpool
201516–20 JulZach Johnson United StatesSt Andrews
201614–17 JulHenrik Stenson SwedenRoyal Troon