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.[3]
Harry Vardon holds the record for the most Open Championship victories, winning six times during his career.[5] 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),[a] which they achieved in 2016 and 2022 respectively.[6] Stenson also recorded the lowest total score (264) when he won in 2016.[7]Xander Schauffele is the current champion, winning the 2024 Open.
James Braid, five-time Open Champion in 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, and 1910John Henry Taylor, five-time Open Champion in 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913Tom Watson, five-time Open Champion in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983Tom Morris Sr., four-time Open Champion in 1861, 1862, 1864, and 1867. Tom Morris Jr., four-time Open Champion in 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1872.Willie Park Sr., four-time Open Champion in 1860, 1863, 1866, and 1875Walter Hagen, four-time Open Champion in 1922, 1924, 1928, and 1929Bob Ferguson, three-time Open Champion in 1880, 1881, 1882Bobby Jones, three-time Open Champion in 1926, 1927, and 1930. He is one of six champions to win wire-to-wire after 72-holes played with his victory in 1927.Henry Cotton, three-time Open Champion in 1934, 1937, and 1948. He is one of six champions to win wire-to-wire after 72-holes played with his victory in 1934.Gary Player, three-time Open Champion in 1959, 1968, and 1974.Jack Nicklaus, three-time Open Champion in 1966, 1970, and 1978Seve Ballesteros, three-time Open Champion in 1979, 1984, and 1988Nick Faldo, three-time Open Champion in 1987, 1990, and 1992Tiger Woods, three-time Open Champion in 2000, 2005, and 2006. He is one of six champions to win wire-to-wire after 72-holes played with his victory in 2005.
^72 holes refers to four rounds of golf played on the same 18 holes of golf, with the pin positions varying from one round to another.
^Par is a predetermined number of strokes that a golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the total pars of the played holes), or a tournament (the sum of the total pars of each round). E stands for even, which means the tournament was completed in the predetermined number of strokes.[11]
† indicates the event was won in a playoff; ‡ indicates the event was won wire-to-wire in 72-holes; # indicates the event was won by an amateur 1871 No championship; 1915–1919 cancelled due to World War I; 1940–1945 cancelled due to World War II; 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic