Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have won multiple Open Championships but are some way off being the most successful men’s player.
Roddy ConsRoddyConsUpdate: Jul 21st, 2024 12:54 EDT0
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The British Open, officially named The Open Championship, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and arguably remains the most prestigious despite some stiff competition in the modern era.
When was the first Open Championship played?
The first edition of the event took place in 1860, well before golf’s other majors were established in 1895 (the US Open), 1916 (the PGA Championship) and 1934 (the Masters).
With The Open originating in Scotland, it may not come as a huge surprise to learn Scottish golfers dominated in its early days, winning the first 29 tournaments until 1889.
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus at Royal Troon in 1962 where Arnie won his second straight Open and Jack competed in his first – pic.twitter.com/OwWos7SEh3
— TheGolfDivoTee™ (@TheGolfDivoTee) July 19, 2024
The first non-Scot, Englishman John Ball, won in 1890, although it took until 1921 for the first American, Jock Hutchinson (who was born in Scotland, as the name suggests) to win the Claret Jug.
From then on, the United States has gone on to become the most successful nation in the history of the British Open, registering 46 victories (Scotland are next with 41) up until 2023, when Brian Harman won at Royal Liverpool.
Who has won the Open the most times?
The list of British Open winners reads as a who’s who of golf, with Tom Watson, Bobby Jones, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino among the players who have won the tournament on multiple occasions.
Harry Vardon at The Open, 1922. pic.twitter.com/y6GnOONu7h
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 19, 2024
However, The Open Championship’s ultimate champion is Harry Vardon, who hailed from Jersey. With a whopping six titles under his belt, spanning from 1896 to 1914, Vardon tops the all-time list of winners ahead of four players, including Watson, who won five Opens.
All-time winners:
Harry Vardon: 61896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914James Braid: 51901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910John Henry Taylor: 51894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913Peter Thomson: 51954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965Tom Watson: 51975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983Tom Morris Sr:41861, 1862, 1864, 1867Tom Morris Jr: 41868, 1869, 1870, 1872Willie Park Sr: 41860, 1863, 1866, 1875Walter Haugen: 41922, 1924, 1928, 1929Bobby Locke: 41949, 1950, 1952, 1957Jamie Anderson: 31877, 1878, 1879Bob Ferguson: 31880, 1881, 1882Bobby Jones: 31926, 1927, 1930Henry Cotton: 31934, 1937, 1948Gary Player: 31959, 1968, 1974Jack Nicklaus: 31966, 1970, 1978Seve Ballesteros: 31979, 1984, 1988Nick Faldo: 31987, 1990, 1992 Tiger Woods: 32000, 2005, 2006Bob Martin: 21876, 1885Willie Park Jr: 21887, 1889Harold Hilton: 21892, 1987Arnold Palmer: 21961, 1962Lee Trevino: 21971, 1972Greg Norman: 21986, 1993Padraig Harrington: 22007, 2008Ernie Els: 22002, 2012
