Senior Open Championship

Last updated

The Senior Open Championship
The Senior Open Championship logo.jpg
Tournament information
LocationVarious in United Kingdom
Established1987
Course(s)Various in United Kingdom
Organised by The R&A and
PGA European Tour
Tour(s) European Senior Tour
PGA Tour Champions
Format Stroke play
Prize fund US$2,780,000 (2024)
Month playedJuly
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Tom Watson (2003)
To par−18 Bernhard Langer (2014)
Current champion
Flag of South Korea.svg K. J. Choi

The Senior Open Championship, or simply The Senior Open (and originally known as the Senior British Open), is a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and over. It is jointly owned and run by The R&A, the same body that organises The Open Championship, and the PGA European Tour. [1] Prize money won in the event is official money on both PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and Champions Tour) and the European Senior Tour. The purse, which is fixed in United States dollars, had increased to $2.75 million for 2023. [2] [3]

Contents

History

The tournament was first held in 1987 and became part of the European Seniors Tour schedule in 1992. It is younger than the PGA Seniors Championship, which started in 1957, as well as the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship. In late 2002 it was designated as the fifth major championship on the Champions Tour schedule. [4] Winners before 2003 were not retroactively designated as Champions Tour major winners until late 2018. [5] [6] [7] Winners gain entry into the following season's Open Championship. The event is usually held the week following The Open Championship, although in 1991 it was held the week before the Open and in 1998 it was held in August, three weeks after the Open.

The 2018 Senior Open was held at St Andrews for the first time, a decision which was heavily influenced by five-time Open champion Tom Watson. [8] In 2020, the championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [9]

Field

The standard field size is 144 players and an 18-hole qualifying round is held at the championship course on the Monday before the tournament, with a minimum of 24 places available. If fewer than 120 exempt players enter, the field is filled to 144 with more high finishers from qualifying. If more than 120 exempt players enter, the top 24 finishers earn entry even if it causes the field to expand beyond 144. [10]

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenue
The Senior Open Championship
2024 Flag of South Korea.svg K. J. Choi 278−102 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Richard Green Carnoustie
2023 Flag of Germany.svg Alex Čejka 289+5Playoff [lower-alpha 1] Flag of Ireland.svg Pádraig Harrington Royal Porthcawl
2022 Ulster Banner.svg Darren Clarke 270−101 stroke Flag of Ireland.svg Pádraig Harrington Gleneagles
2021 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Stephen Dodd 267−131 stroke Flag of Spain.svg Miguel Ángel Jiménez Sunningdale
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [9]
2019 Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer (4)274−62 strokes Flag of England.svg Paul Broadhurst Royal Lytham & St. Annes
2018 Flag of Spain.svg Miguel Ángel Jiménez 276−121 stroke Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer St Andrews
2017 Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer (3)280−43 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Corey Pavin Royal Porthcawl
2016 Flag of England.svg Paul Broadhurst 277−112 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Scott McCarron Carnoustie
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Dawson 264−161 stroke Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer Sunningdale
2014 Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer (2)266−1813 strokes Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie Royal Porthcawl
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Wiebe 271−9Playoff [lower-alpha 2] Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer Royal Birkdale
2012 Flag of the United States.svg Fred Couples 271−92 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Gary Hallberg Turnberry
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Russ Cochran 276−122 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Mark Calcavecchia Walton Heath
2010 Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer 279−51 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Corey Pavin Carnoustie
2009 Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts (2)268−12Playoff [lower-alpha 3] Flag of the United States.svg Fred Funk
Flag of Ireland.svg Mark McNulty 		Sunningdale
2008 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Vaughan 278−6Playoff [lower-alpha 4] Flag of the United States.svg John Cook Royal Troon
2007 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson (3)284E1 stroke Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stewart Ginn
Flag of the United States.svg Mark O'Meara 		Muirfield
The Senior British Open Championship
2006 Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts 274−6Playoff [lower-alpha 5] Flag of Argentina.svg Eduardo Romero Turnberry
2005 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson (2)280−4Playoff [lower-alpha 6] Flag of Ireland.svg Des Smyth Royal Aberdeen
2004 Flag of the United States.svg Pete Oakley 284−41 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Tom Kite
Flag of Argentina.svg Eduardo Romero 		Royal Portrush
Senior British Open
2003 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson 263−17Playoff [lower-alpha 7] Flag of England.svg Carl Mason Turnberry
2002 Flag of Japan.svg Noboru Sugai 281−32 strokes Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Irwin Royal County Down
2001 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Stanley 278−6Playoff [lower-alpha 8] Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles
2000 Flag of Ireland.svg Christy O'Connor Jnr (2)275−92 strokes Flag of South Africa.svg John Bland
1999 Flag of Ireland.svg Christy O'Connor Jnr 282−63 strokes Flag of South Africa.svg John Bland Royal Portrush
1998 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Brian Huggett 283−5Playoff [lower-alpha 9] Ulster Banner.svg Eddie Polland
1997 Flag of South Africa.svg Gary Player (3)278−10Playoff [lower-alpha 10] Flag of South Africa.svg John Bland
1996 Flag of Scotland.svg Brian Barnes (2)277−113 strokes Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles
Flag of the United States.svg David Oakley
1995 Flag of Scotland.svg Brian Barnes 281−7Playoff [lower-alpha 11] Flag of the United States.svg Bob Murphy
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Wargo 280−82 strokes Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles
Flag of the United States.svg Doug Dalziel 		Royal Lytham & St. Annes
1993 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles (2)291+71 stroke Flag of England.svg Tommy Horton
Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg Gary Player
1992 Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg John Fourie 282−23 strokes Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles
Flag of England.svg Neil Coles
Seniors' British Open
1991 Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg Bobby Verwey 285+11 stroke Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles
Flag of England.svg Tommy Horton 		Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Volvo Seniors' British Open
1990 Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg Gary Player (2)280E1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Deane Beman
Flag of England.svg Brian Waites 		Turnberry
1989 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles 269−117 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Billy Casper
1988 Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg Gary Player 272−81 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Billy Casper
Seniors' British Open
1987 Flag of England.svg Neil Coles 279−11 stroke Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles Turnberry

Multiple winners

Seven players have multiple victories in the Senior Open Championship:

Winners of both The Open and The Senior Open

Four players have won both The Open Championship and The Senior Open Championship, (two of the professional majors run by the R&A).

PlayerThe Open ChampionshipThe Senior Open Championship
Flag of South Africa.svg Gary Player 1959, 1968, 1974 1988, 1990, 1997
Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles 1963 1989, 1993
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 2003, 2005, 2007
Ulster Banner.svg Darren Clarke 2011 2022

Host courses

The Senior Open Championship has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of times hosted (as of 2024):

Future venues

YearCourseTownCountyCountryDates
2025 Sunningdale Golf Club Old Course Sunningdale Berkshire England 24–27 July

Notes

  1. ↑ Čejka beat Harrington with a birdie at the second extra hole.
  2. ↑ Wiebe beat Langer with a par at the fifth extra hole. Play was suspended because of darkness after two holes of the playoff and the pair returned on Monday morning to complete it.
  3. ↑ Roberts beat McNulty with a par at the third extra hole. Funk was eliminated at the first extra hole where Roberts and McNulty had birdies.
  4. ↑ Vaughan beat Cook with a birdie at the first extra hole.
  5. ↑ Roberts beat Romero with a par at the first extra hole.
  6. ↑ Watson beat Smyth with a par at the third extra hole.
  7. ↑ Watson beat Mason with a par at the second extra hole.
  8. ↑ Stanley beat Charles with a par at the first extra hole.
  9. ↑ Huggett beat Polland with a par at the first extra hole.
  10. ↑ Player beat Bland with a birdie at the second extra hole.
  11. ↑ Barnes beat Murphy with an eagle at the third extra hole.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Nicklaus</span> American professional golfer (born 1940)

Jack William Nicklaus, nicknamed "the Golden Bear", is a retired American professional golfer and golf course designer. He is widely considered to be either the greatest or one of the greatest golfers of all time. He won 117 professional tournaments in his career. Over a quarter-century, he won a record 18 major championships, three more than second-placed Tiger Woods. Nicklaus focused on the major championships—the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship—and played a selective schedule of regular PGA Tour events. He competed in 164 major tournaments, more than any other player, and finished with 73 PGA Tour victories, third behind Sam Snead (82) and Woods (82).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Watson (golfer)</span> American golfer

Thomas Sturges Watson is an American retired professional golfer on the PGA Tour Champions, formerly on the PGA Tour.

The following is a partial timeline of the history of golf.

Mark Charles Wiebe is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He also played on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Oosthuizen</span> South African professional golfer

Lodewicus Theodorus "Louis" Oosthuizen is a South African professional golfer who won the 2010 Open Championship. He has finished runner-up in all four major championships: the 2012 Masters Tournament, the 2015 and 2021 U.S. Open, the 2015 Open Championship, and the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2021. His highest placing on the Official World Golf Ranking is fourth, which he reached in January 2013.

This article summarizes the highlights of professional and amateur golf in the year 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Open Championship</span> Golf tournament

The 2015 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 144th Open Championship, held from 16 to 20 July at the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. It was the 29th Open Championship played at the course and Zach Johnson won in a four-hole playoff for his second major title.

The 2014 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 28th Senior Open Championship, held 24–27 July at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Porthcawl, Wales. It was the first Senior Open Championship played at the course and the 12th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 2010 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 24th Senior Open Championship, held from 22–25 July at Carnoustie Golf Links in Carnoustie, Scotland. It was the first Senior Open Championship played at the course and the eighth Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Senior Open Championship</span> Golf tournament

The 2017 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 31st Senior Open Championship, held 27–30 July at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Porthcawl, Wales. It was the 2nd Senior Open Championship played at the course and the 15th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 2010 U.S. Senior Open was a senior major golf championship and the 31st U.S. Senior Open, held July 29 to August 1 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, a suburb east of Seattle. It was the first U.S. Senior Open played at the course, which hosted the PGA Championship in 1998.

The 2013 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 27th Senior Open Championship, held on 25–28 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, United Kingdom. It was the 11th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 2011 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 25th Senior Open Championship, held on 21–24 July at Walton Heath Golf Club in Walton on the Hill, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It was the 9th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 2009 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 23rd Senior Open Championship, held on 23–26 July at Sunningdale Golf Club in Sunningdale, England. It was the first Senior Open Championship played at the course and the seventh Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Senior Open Championship</span> Golf tournament

The 2008 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 22nd Senior Open Championship, held on 24–27 July at Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the first Senior Open Championship played at the course and the seventh Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 2005 Senior British Open Championship, for sponsor reasons named Senior British Open Championship presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, was a senior major golf championship and the 19th Senior Open Championship, held from 21 to 24 July at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. It was the third Senior British Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 2004 Senior British Open Championship, for sponsorship reasons named Senior British Open Championship presented by MasterCard, was a senior major golf championship and the 18th Senior British Open Championship, held from 22 to 25 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It was the second Senior British Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

The 1998 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the 12th British Senior Open Championship, held from 6 to 9 August at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

The 1997 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the 11th British Senior Open Championship, held from 24 to 27 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Senior Open Championship</span> Golf tournament

The 2022 Senior Open Championship, for sponsorship reasons known as The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, was a senior major golf championship and the 35th Senior Open Championship, held on 21–24 July at Gleneagles – Kings Course in Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland. It was the first Senior Open Championship played at the course and the 19th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

References

  1. ↑ Corrigan, James (15 June 2023). "Lee Westwood vows to never rejoin DP World Tour amid Senior Open ban over £800,000 fine". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Champiopns Tour, Schedule, 2023 Season, The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex". The PGA Tour. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "Senior Open Championship: results". PGA Tour. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Senior British Open now a Major
  5. ↑ Senior British Open elevated to Senior Major
  6. ↑ "PGA Tour Champions recognizes Gary Player's Senior British Open wins as major titles". thegolfnewsnet.com. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  7. ↑ Herrington, Ryan (21 December 2018). "How well do you remember what happened in golf in 2018? Take our quiz". Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  8. ↑ Inglis, Martin (3 February 2016). "Tom Watson plays key role as Senior Open heads to St Andrews". bunkered.
  9. 1 2 Dempster, Martin (2 July 2020). "Senior Open cancelled for first time in its history". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Senior Open Championship 2017 – Entry Form" (PDF). European Senior Tour. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.