“The Open”
In existence since 1860, The British Open has seen 30 U.S. Presidents, the Confederate States of America, two world wars, the Industrial Revolution and the dawning of the information age. Inaugurated at Prestwick in Scotland in 1860, the early golfers competed for the “Challenge Belt” instead of the “Claret Jug.” Through 1889, all winners were from Scotland and gradually other courses were added to a rotation of venues. Immediately following World War I, the Americans dominated the event, led by Bobby Jones, who won an amazing three British Opens as an amateur. After World War II, the event declined in significance until the early 1960’s when the world’s most popular golfer, Arnold Palmer, brought “Arnie’s Army” and the attention of the world back to the British Open. In more recent years, the most memorable British Opens involved five-time winner Tom Watson. In 1977, Jack Nicklaus lost by one stroke to Tom Watson in an incredible display of golf by both men in what has come to be called “The Duel in the Sun.” In 2009, at 59 years of age, Tom Watson gave a sensational performance in a losing effort to Stewart Cink in a playoff. The all-time leader in British Open victories is Harry Vardon of England with six. See the list below of all British Open winners.
Roster of British Open Champions
2009: Stewart Cink
2008: Padraig Harrington
2007: Padraig Harrington
2006: Tiger Woods
2005: Tiger Woods
2004: Todd Hamilton
2003: Ben Curtis
2002: Ernie Els
2001: David Duval
2000: Tiger Woods
1999: Paul Lawrie
1998: Mark O’Meara
1997: Justin Leonard
1996: Tom Lehman
1995: John Daly
1994: Nick Price
1993: Greg Norman
1992: Nick Faldo
1991: Ian Baker-Finch
1990: Nick Faldo
1989: Mark Calcavecchia
1988: Seve Ballesteros
1987: Nick Faldo
1986: Greg Norman
1985: Sandy Lyle
1984: Seve Ballesteros
1983: Tom Watson
1982: Tom Watson
1981: Bill Rogers
1980: Tom Watson
1979: Seve Ballesteros
1978: Jack Nicklaus
1977: Tom Watson
1976: Johnny Miller
1975: Tom Watson
1974: Gary Player
1973: Tom Weiskopf
1972: Lee Trevino
1971: Lee Trevino
1970: Jack Nicklaus
1969: Tony Jacklin
1968: Gary Player
1967: Roberto De Vicenzo
1966: Jack Nicklaus
1965: Peter Thomson
1964: Tony Lema
1963: Bob Charles
1962: Arnold Palmer
1961: Arnold Palmer
1960: Kel Nagle
1959: Gary Player
1958: Peter Thomson
1957: Bobby Locke
1956: Peter Thomson
1955: Peter Thomson
1954: Peter Thomson
1953: Ben Hogan
1952: Bobby Locke
1951: Max Faulkner
1950: Bobby Locke
1949: Bobby Locke
1948: Henry Cotton
1947: Fred Daly
1946: Sam Snead
1939: Dick Burton
1938: Reg Whitcombe
1937: Henry Cotton
1936: Alf Padgham
1935: Alf Perry
1934: Henry Cotton
1933: Denny Shute
1932: Gene Sarazen
1931: Tommy Armour
1930: Bobby Jones (A)
1929: Walter Hagen
1928: Walter Hagen
1927: Bobby Jones (A)
1926: Bobby Jones (A)
1925: Jim Barnes
1924: Walter Hagen
1923: Arthur Havers
1922: Walter Hagen
1921: Jock Hutchison
1920: George Duncan
1914: Harry Vardon
1913: J.H. Taylor
1912: Ted Ray
1911: Harry Vardon
1910: James Braid
1909: J.H. Taylor
1908: James Braid
1907: Arnaud Massy
1906: James Braid
1905: James Braid
1904: Jack White
1903: Harry Vardon
1902: Sandy Herd
1901: James Braid
1900: J.H. Taylor
1899: Harry Vardon
1898: Harry Vardon
1897: Harold Hilton (A)
1896: Harry Vardon
1895: J.H. Taylor
1894: J.H. Taylor
1893: Willie Auchterlonie
1892: Harold Hilton (A)
1891: Hugh Kirkaldy
1890: John Ball, Jr. (A)
1889: Willie Park, Jr.
1888: Jack Burns
1887: Willie Park, Jr.
1886: David Brown
1885: Bob Martin
1884: Jack Simpson
1883: Willie Fernie
1882: Bob Ferguson
1881: Bob Ferguson
1880: Bob Ferguson
1879: Jamie Anderson
1878: Jamie Anderson
1877: Jamie Anderson
1876: Bob Martin
1875: Willie Park, Sr.
1874: Mungo Park
1873: Tom Kidd
1872: Tommy Morris, Jr.
1870: Tommy Morris, Jr.
1869: Tommy Morris, Jr.
1868: Tommy Morris, Jr.
1867: Tom Morris, Sr.
1866: Willie Park, Sr.
1865: Andrew Strath
1864: Tom Morris, Sr.
1863: Willie Park, Sr.
1862: Tom Morris, Sr.
1861: Tom Morris, Sr.
1860: Willie Park, Sr.
All historical information found at “The Open’s” official web site.
Other great British Open articles on associatedcontent.com.
The Majesty and Tradition of the British Open
The Five Greatest British Opens
The Five Greatest British Open Performances
