The Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world, which is why it calls itself golf's original major. This year, the 154th Open is at Royal Birkdale from July 12th-19th and will see players navigate brutal coastal winds, deep pot bunkers, and rock-hard fairways.
Many greats have managed to get around the tough course to lift the iconic Claret Jug and secure a permanent legacy in sports history.
From the historical cradle of St Andrews to modern battles across the United Kingdom, the tournament has crowned the greatest names to ever swing a club. Below, we list the champions, speak about the iconic eras and detail the multiple winners.
The Modern Era: Dominance on the coast
Over the last few decades, the world's elite have pushed scoring boundaries at The Open, while fighting extreme weather shifts, making it a great spectacle. Legends like Tiger Woods redefined dominance in the early 2000s, including a, at the time, record-breaking 19 under par performance at St Andrews.
In recent years, scoring has gone even further, with both Henrik Stenson (2016) and Cameron Smith (2022) reaching a staggering 20 under par to share the modern scoring record.
Most recently, world number one Scottie Scheffler put on a surgical ball-striking exhibition at Royal Portrush to claim the 2025 title.
2025 Champion: Scottie Scheffler (-17) — Royal Portrush
2024 Champion: Xander Schauffele (-9) — Royal Troon
2023 Champion: Brian Harman (-13) — Royal Liverpool
2022 Champion: Cameron Smith (-20) — St Andrews
The Legends Table: Multiple Open champions
Winning an Open Championship once carves your name into history, and only an elite group of players have hoisted the Claret Jug multiple times.
Jersey’s Harry Vardon still stands alone at the absolute peak of the sport with his six historical titles. Close behind him are modern titans and classic icons like Tom Watson, Peter Thomson, James Braid and J.H. Taylor, who are all on five wins.
Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo & Gary Player are all on three.
Historic milestones and trivia
The rich history of The Open is packed with fascinating statistics. In the earliest iterations, the champion didn't even receive the Claret Jug; they walked away with a prestigious Challenge Belt
Young Tom Morris holds the record as the youngest winner in history, securing the 1868 title at just 17 years old. His father, Old Tom Morris, holds the opposite record as the oldest champion, winning in 1867 at age 46.
Only three amateurs have won The Open. The legendary Bobby Jones remains the most famous, capturing three separate titles during his historic run in the 1920s.
Modern & Post-War Era (Relation to Par)
2025 - Scottie Scheffler - -17 - Royal Portrush
2024 - Xander Schauffele - -9 - Royal Troon
2023 - Brian Harman - -13 - Royal Liverpool
2022 - Cameron Smith - -20 - St Andrews
2021 - Collin Morikawa - -15 - Royal St George's
2019 - Shane Lowry - -15 - Royal Portrush
2018 - Francesco Molinari - -8 - Carnoustie
2017 - Jordan Spieth - -12 - Royal Birkdale
2016 - Henrik Stenson - -20 - Royal Troon
2015 - Zach Johnson - -15 - St Andrews
2014 - Rory McIlroy - -13 - Royal Liverpool
2013 - Phil Mickelson - -3 - Muirfield
2012 - Ernie Els - -7 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
2011 - Darren Clarke - -5 - Royal St George's
2010 - Louis Oosthuizen - -16 - St Andrews
2009 - Stewart Cink - -2 - Turnberry
2008 - Pádraig Harrington - +3 - Royal Birkdale
2007 - Pádraig Harrington - -7 - Carnoustie
2006 - Tiger Woods - -18 - Royal Liverpool
2005 - Tiger Woods - -14 - St Andrews
2004 - Todd Hamilton - -10 - Royal Troon
2003 - Ben Curtis - -1 - Royal St George's
2002 - Ernie Els - -6 - Muirfield
2001 - David Duval - -10 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
2000 - Tiger Woods - -19 - St Andrews
1999 - Paul Lawrie - +6 - Carnoustie
1998 - Mark O'Meara - E - Royal Birkdale
1997 - Justin Leonard - -12 - Royal Troon
1996 - Tom Lehman - -13 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1995 - John Daly - -6 - St Andrews
1994 - Nick Price - -12 - Turnberry
1993 - Greg Norman - -13 - Royal St George's
1992 - Nick Faldo - -8 - Muirfield
1991 - Ian Baker-Finch - -8 - Royal Birkdale
1990 - Nick Faldo - -18 - St Andrews
1989 - Mark Calcavecchia - -13 - Royal Troon
1988 - Seve Ballesteros - -11 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1987 - Nick Faldo - -5 - Muirfield
1986 - Greg Norman - E - Turnberry
1985 - Sandy Lyle - +2 - Royal St George's
1984 - Seve Ballesteros - -12 - St Andrews
1983 - Tom Watson - -9 - Royal Troon
1982 - Tom Watson - -4 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1981 - Bill Rogers - -4 - Royal St George's
1980 - Tom Watson - -9 - Muirfield
1979 - Seve Ballesteros - -1 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1978 - Jack Nicklaus - -7 - St Andrews
1977 - Tom Watson - -12 - Turnberry
1976 - Johnny Miller - -9 - Royal Birkdale
1975 - Tom Watson - -5 - Carnoustie
1974 - Gary Player - -2 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1973 - Tom Weiskopf - -12 - Royal Troon
1972 - Lee Trevino - -6 - Muirfield
1971 - Lee Trevino - -14 - Royal Birkdale
1970 - Jack Nicklaus - -5 - St Andrews
1969 - Tony Jacklin - -4 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1968 - Gary Player - +1 - Carnoustie
1967 - Roberto De Vicenzo - -10 - Royal Liverpool
1966 - Jack Nicklaus - -2 - Muirfield
1965 - Peter Thomson - -3 - Royal Birkdale
1964 - Tony Lema - -9 - St Andrews
1963 - Bob Charles - -3 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1962 - Arnold Palmer - -12 - Royal Troon
1961 - Arnold Palmer - -4 - Royal Birkdale
1960 - Kel Nagle - -10 - St Andrews
1959 - Gary Player - E - Muirfield
1958 - Peter Thomson - -10 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1957 - Bobby Locke - -9 - St Andrews
1956 - Peter Thomson - -2 - Royal Liverpool
1955 - Peter Thomson - -7 - St Andrews
1954 - Peter Thomson - -5 - Royal Birkdale
1953 - Ben Hogan - -6 - Carnoustie
1952 - Bobby Locke - -1 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1951 - Max Faulkner - -3 - Royal Portrush
1950 - Bobby Locke - -9 - Troon
1949 - Bobby Locke - -5 - Royal St George's
1948 - Henry Cotton - E - Muirfield
1947 - Fred Daly - +5 - Royal Liverpool
1946 - Sam Snead - +2 - St Andrews
Historic Era (Total Strokes)
1939 - Richard Burton - 290 - St Andrews
1938 - Reg Whitcombe - 295 - Royal St George's
1937 - Henry Cotton - 290 - Carnoustie
1936 - Alf Padgham - 287 - Royal Liverpool
1935 - Alf Perry - 283 - Muirfield
1934 - Henry Cotton - 283 - Royal St George's
1933 - Denny Shute - 292 - St Andrews
1932 - Gene Sarazen - 283 - Prince's
1931 - Tommy Armour - 296 - Carnoustie
1930 - Bobby Jones (Am) - 291 - Royal Liverpool
1929 - Walter Hagen - 292 - Muirfield
1928 - Walter Hagen - 292 - Royal St George's
1927 - Bobby Jones (Am) - 285 - St Andrews
1926 - Bobby Jones (Am) - 291 - Royal Lytham & St Annes
1925 - Jim Barnes - 300 - Prestwick
1924 - Walter Hagen - 301 - Royal Liverpool
1923 - Arthur Havers - 295 - Troon
1922 - Walter Hagen - 300 - Royal St George's
1921 - Jock Hutchison - 296 - St Andrews
1920 - George Duncan - 303 - Deal
1914 - Harry Vardon - 306 - Prestwick
1913 - J.H. Taylor - 304 - Royal Liverpool
1912 - Ted Ray - 295 - Muirfield
1911 - Harry Vardon - 303 - Royal St George's
1910 - James Braid - 299 - St Andrews
1909 - J.H. Taylor - 295 - Deal
1908 - James Braid - 291 - Prestwick
1907 - Arnaud Massy - 312 - Royal Liverpool
1906 - James Braid - 300 - Muirfield
1905 - James Braid - 318 - St Andrews
1904 - Jack White - 296 - Royal St George's
1903 - Harry Vardon - 300 - Prestwick
1902 - Sandy Herd - 307 - Royal Liverpool
1901 - James Braid - 309 - Muirfield
1900 - J.H. Taylor - 309 - St Andrews
1899 - Harry Vardon - 310 - Royal St George's
1898 - Harry Vardon - 307 - Prestwick
1897 - Harold Hilton (Am) - 314 - Royal Liverpool
1896 - Harry Vardon - 316 - Muirfield
1895 - J.H. Taylor - 322 - St Andrews
1894 - J.H. Taylor - 326 - Royal St George's
1893 - William Auchterlonie - 322 - Prestwick
1892 - Harold Hilton (Am) - 305 - Muirfield
1891 - Hugh Kirkaldy - 166 - St Andrews
1890 - John Ball (Am) - 164 - Prestwick
1889 - Willie Park Jr. - 155 - Musselburgh
1888 - Jack Burns - 171 - St Andrews
1887 - Willie Park Jr. - 161 - Prestwick
1886 - David Brown - 157 - Musselburgh
1885 - Bob Martin - 171 - St Andrews
1884 - Jack Simpson - 160 - Prestwick
1883 - Willie Fernie - 159 - Musselburgh
1882 - Bob Ferguson - 171 - St Andrews
1881 - Bob Ferguson - 170 - Prestwick
1880 - Bob Ferguson - 162 - Musselburgh
1879 - Jamie Anderson - 169 - St Andrews
1878 - Jamie Anderson - 157 - Prestwick
1877 - Jamie Anderson - 160 - Musselburgh
1876 - Bob Martin - 176 - St Andrews
1875 - Willie Park Sr. - 166 - Prestwick
1874 - Mungo Park - 159 - Musselburgh
1873 - Tom Kidd - 179 - St Andrews
1872 - Tom Morris Jr. - 166 - Prestwick
1870 - Tom Morris Jr. - 149 - Prestwick
1869 - Tom Morris Jr. - 157 - Prestwick
1868 - Tom Morris Jr. - 157 - Prestwick
1867 - Tom Morris Sr. - 170 - Prestwick
1866 - Willie Park Sr. - 169 - Prestwick
1865 - Andrew Strath - 162 - Prestwick
1864 - Tom Morris Sr. - 167 - Prestwick
1863 - Willie Park Sr. - 168 - Prestwick
1862 - Tom Morris Sr. - 163 - Prestwick
1861 - Tom Morris Sr. - 163 - Prestwick
1860 - Willie Park Sr. - 174 - Prestwick
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most Open Championships in history?
Harry Vardon holds the record with six victories: 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914.
What trophy does the winner of The Open Championship receive?
The champion receives the historic Claret Jug, officially catalogued as the Golf Champion Trophy. Interestingly, the original prize was a Moroccan leather Challenge Belt, which was retired and given permanently to Young Tom Morris after he won three consecutive titles.
Who is the youngest player ever to win The Open?
Young Tom Morris remains the youngest champion in Open history, winning in 1868 when he was just 17 years, 5 months, and 8 days old.
Who won the most recent Open Championship?
Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Has an amateur golfer ever won The Open Championship?
Yes, three amateur golfers have successfully lifted the Claret Jug. Bobby Jones secured three titles in the 1920s, while Harold Hilton won twice and John Ball claimed victory once.
What is the lowest 72-hole score recorded in Open history?
The lowest total aggregate score belongs to Henrik Stenson (2016) and Cameron Smith (2022) at -20.