# List of The Open Championship champions

The Open Championship is an annual golf competition held in the United Kingdom that was established in 1860. 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, 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.
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.
Harry Vardon holds the record for the most Open Championship victories, winning six times during his career. 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), which they achieved in 2016 and 2022 respectively. Stenson also recorded the lowest total score (264) when he won in 2016. Xander Schauffele is the current champion, winning the 2024 Open.

## Champions

Key :
| (n/a) | Information not available |
| † | Tournament won in a playoff |
| * | Tournament won by an amateur |

### By year

The Open Championship champions :
| Year | Country | Champion | Course | Location | Total score | To par |
| 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 | — | — | — | — |
| 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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.$^†$ | Musselburgh Links | Musselburgh, Scotland | 155 | n/a |
| 1890 | England | John Ball* | Prestwick Golf Club | Prestwick, Scotland | 162 | n/a |
| 1891 | Scotland | Hugh Kirkaldy | St Andrews | St Andrews, Scotland | 166 | n/a |
| 1892 | England | Harold Hilton* | 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$^†$ | Muirfield | Gullane, Scotland | 316 | n/a |
| 1897 | England | Harold Hilton* | 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$^†$ | 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 | — | — | — | — |
| 1916 | — | None | — | — | — | — |
| 1917 | — | None | — | — | — | — |
| 1918 | — | None | — | — | — | — |
| 1919 | — | None | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | Scotland | George Duncan | Royal Cinque Ports | Deal, England | 303 | +15 |
| 1921 | United States | Jock Hutchison$^†$ | 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* | Royal Lytham & St Annes | Lytham St Annes, England | 291 | +7 |
| 1927 | United States | Bobby Jones* | 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* | 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$^†$ | 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 | — | — | — | — |
| 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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$^†$ | Royal Birkdale | Southport, England | 280 | E |
| 1999 | Scotland | Paul Lawrie$^†$ | 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$^†$ | Muirfield | Gullane, Scotland | 278 | −6 |
| 2003 | United States | Ben Curtis | Royal St George's | Sandwich, England | 283 | −1 |
| 2004 | United States | Todd Hamilton$^†$ | 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$^†$ | Carnoustie | Carnoustie, Scotland | 277 | −7 |
| 2008 | Ireland | Pádraig Harrington | Royal Birkdale | Southport, England | 283 | +3 |
| 2009 | United States | Stewart Cink$^†$ | 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$^†$ | 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 |
| 2024 | United States | Xander Schauffele | Royal Troon | Troon, Scotland | 275 | −9 |

### 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

Open Championship champions by nationality :
| Nationality | Wins | Winners |
| United States | 47 | 32 |
| Scotland | 41 | 22 |
| England | 22 | 13 |
| Australia | 10 | 5 |
| South Africa | 10 | 4 |
| Jersey | 7 | 2 |
| Northern Ireland | 3 | 3 |
| Spain | 3 | 1 |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 |
| Argentina | 1 | 1 |
| France | 1 | 1 |
| Italy | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 |