Senior Open Championship

Professional golf tournament

Golf tournament

The Senior Open Championship

Tournament information
Location| Various in United Kingdom
Established| 1987
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$2,850,000 (2025)
Month played| July
Tournament record score
Aggregate| 263 Tom Watson (2003)
To par| −18 Bernhard Langer (2014)
Current champion
Pádraig Harrington

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]

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of
victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue

|
|
|
|
|
|

ISPS Handa Senior Open
2025 |  Pádraig Harrington | 264 | –16 | 3 strokes |  Thomas Bjørn
Justin Leonard | Sunningdale
The Senior Open Championship
2024 |  K. J. Choi | 278 | −10 | 2 strokes |  Richard Green | Carnoustie
2023 |  Alex Čejka | 289 | +5 | Playoff[a] |  Pádraig Harrington | Royal Porthcawl
2022 |  Darren Clarke | 270 | −10 | 1 stroke |  Pádraig Harrington | Gleneagles
2021 |  Stephen Dodd | 267 | −13 | 1 stroke |  Miguel Ángel Jiménez | Sunningdale
2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[9]
2019 |  Bernhard Langer (4) | 274 | −6 | 2 strokes |  Paul Broadhurst | Royal Lytham & St. Annes
2018 |  Miguel Ángel Jiménez | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke |  Bernhard Langer | St Andrews
2017 |  Bernhard Langer (3) | 280 | −4 | 3 strokes |  Corey Pavin | Royal Porthcawl
2016 |  Paul Broadhurst | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes |  Scott McCarron | Carnoustie
2015 |  Marco Dawson | 264 | −16 | 1 stroke |  Bernhard Langer | Sunningdale
2014 |  Bernhard Langer (2) | 266 | −18 | 13 strokes |  Colin Montgomerie | Royal Porthcawl
2013 |  Mark Wiebe | 271 | −9 | Playoff[b] |  Bernhard Langer | Royal Birkdale
2012 |  Fred Couples | 271 | −9 | 2 strokes |  Gary Hallberg | Turnberry
2011 |  Russ Cochran | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes |  Mark Calcavecchia | Walton Heath
2010 |  Bernhard Langer | 279 | −5 | 1 stroke |  Corey Pavin | Carnoustie
2009 |  Loren Roberts (2) | 268 | −12 | Playoff[c] |  Fred Funk
Mark McNulty | Sunningdale
2008 |  Bruce Vaughan | 278 | −6 | Playoff[d] |  John Cook | Royal Troon
2007 |  Tom Watson (3) | 284 | E | 1 stroke |  Stewart Ginn
Mark O'Meara | Muirfield
The Senior British Open Championship
2006 |  Loren Roberts | 274 | −6 | Playoff[e] |  Eduardo Romero | Turnberry
2005 |  Tom Watson (2) | 280 | −4 | Playoff[f] |  Des Smyth | Royal Aberdeen
2004 |  Pete Oakley | 284 | −4 | 1 stroke |  Tom Kite
Eduardo Romero | Royal Portrush
Senior British Open
2003 |  Tom Watson | 263 | −17 | Playoff[g] |  Carl Mason | Turnberry
2002 |  Noboru Sugai | 281 | −3 | 2 strokes |  John Irwin | Royal County Down
2001 |  Ian Stanley | 278 | −6 | Playoff[h] |  Bob Charles
2000 |  Christy O'Connor Jnr (2) | 275 | −9 | 2 strokes |  John Bland
1999 |  Christy O'Connor Jnr | 282 | −6 | 3 strokes |  John Bland | Royal Portrush
1998 |  Brian Huggett | 283 | −5 | Playoff[i] |  Eddie Polland
1997 |  Gary Player (3) | 278 | −10 | Playoff[j] |  John Bland
1996 |  Brian Barnes (2) | 277 | −11 | 3 strokes |  Bob Charles
David Oakley
1995 |  Brian Barnes | 281 | −7 | Playoff[k] |  Bob Murphy
1994 |  Tom Wargo | 280 | −8 | 2 strokes |  Bob Charles
Doug Dalziel | Royal Lytham & St. Annes
1993 |  Bob Charles (2) | 291 | +7 | 1 stroke |  Tommy Horton
Gary Player
1992 |  John Fourie | 282 | −2 | 3 strokes |  Bob Charles
Neil Coles
Seniors' British Open
1991 |  Bobby Verwey | 285 | +1 | 1 stroke |  Bob Charles
Tommy Horton | Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Volvo Seniors' British Open
1990 |  Gary Player (2) | 280 | E | 1 stroke |  Deane Beman
Brian Waites | Turnberry
1989 |  Bob Charles | 269 | −11 | 7 strokes |  Billy Casper
1988 |  Gary Player | 272 | −8 | 1 stroke |  Billy Casper
Seniors' British Open
1987 |  Neil Coles | 279 | −1 | 1 stroke |  Bob Charles | Turnberry

## Multiple winners

[edit]

Seven players have multiple victories in the Senior Open Championship:

* 4 wins: Bernhard Langer (2010, 2014, 2017, 2019)
* 3 wins: Gary Player (1988, 1990, 1997), Tom Watson (2003, 2005, 2007)
* 2 wins: Bob Charles (1989, 1993), Brian Barnes (1995, 1996), Christy O'Connor Jnr (1999, 2000), Loren Roberts (2006, 2009)

## Winners of both The Open and The Senior Open

[edit]

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

Player | The Open Championship | The Senior Open Championship

|
|

Gary Player | 1959, 1968, 1974 | 1988, 1990, 1997
Bob Charles | 1963 | 1989, 1993
Tom Watson | 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 | 2003, 2005, 2007
Darren Clarke | 2011 | 2022
Pádraig Harrington | 2007, 2008 | 2025

## Host courses

[edit]

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

* 7 Turnberry Golf Club (Ailsa Course)
* 6 Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce Course)
* 5 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
* 4 Sunningdale Golf Club (Old Course)
* 3 Royal County Down Golf Club (Championship Course), Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course)
* 2 Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course)
* 1 Gleneagles (Kings Course), St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Walton Heath Golf Club, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie Course)

### Future venues

[edit]

Year | Course | Town | County | Country | Dates

|
|
|
|
|

2026  | Gleneagles (Kings Course)  | Glen Eagles | Perth and Kinross | Scotland | 23–26 July

## Notes

[edit]

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.

## References

[edit]

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. ^ a b 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.

## External links

[edit]

* Coverage on the European Senior Tour's official site
* Coverage on the PGA Tour Champions' official site

* v
* t
* e

Senior Open Championship champions

* 1987 Neil Coles
* 1988 Gary Player
* 1989 Bob Charles
* 1990 Gary Player
* 1991 Bobby Verwey
* 1992 John Fourie
* 1993 Bob Charles
* 1994 Tom Wargo
* 1995 Brian Barnes†
* 1996 Brian Barnes
* 1997 Gary Player†
* 1998 Brian Huggett†
* 1999 Christy O'Connor Jnr
* 2000 Christy O'Connor Jnr
* 2001 Ian Stanley†
* 2002 Noboru Sugai
* 2003 Tom Watson†
* 2004 Pete Oakley
* 2005 Tom Watson†
* 2006 Loren Roberts†
* 2007 Tom Watson
* 2008 Bruce Vaughan†
* 2009 Loren Roberts†
* 2010 Bernhard Langer
* 2011 Russ Cochran
* 2012 Fred Couples
* 2013 Mark Wiebe†
* 2014 Bernhard Langer
* 2015 Marco Dawson
* 2016 Paul Broadhurst
* 2017 Bernhard Langer
* 2018 Miguel Ángel Jiménez
* 2019 Bernhard Langer
* 2020 Not held
* 2021 Stephen Dodd
* 2022 Darren Clarke
* 2023 Alex Čejka†
* 2024 K. J. Choi
* 2025 Pádraig Harrington

† indicates the event was won in a playoff

* v
* t
* e

Senior major golf championships

Current|

* The Tradition
* Senior PGA Championship
* U.S. Senior Open
* Senior Players Championship
* Senior Open Championship

* v
* t
* e

European Senior Tour events

Senior major championships|

* KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
* U.S. Senior Open
* The Senior Open Championship

Other tournaments in playing order|

* Riegler & Partner Legends
* Jersey Legends
* Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship
* Swiss Seniors Open
* WINSTONgolf Senior Open
* JCB Championship
* Irish Legends
* Staysure PGA Seniors Championship
* Legends Open de France
* Farmfoods European Senior Masters
* Italian Senior Open
* MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles
* MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius

* v
* t
* e

PGA Tour Champions events

Events are listed in playing order

Major championships|

* Regions Tradition
* Senior PGA Championship
* U.S. Senior Open
* Senior Players Championship
* Senior Open Championship

Regular events|

* Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
* Chubb Classic
* Cologuard Classic
* Hoag Classic
* Rapiscan Systems Classic
* Mitsubishi Electric Classic
* Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf
* Insperity Invitational
* Principal Charity Classic
* American Family Insurance Championship
* 3M Championship
* Dick's Sporting Goods Open
* Boeing Classic
* Rogers Charity Classic
* The Ally Challenge
* Sanford International
* PURE Insurance Championship
* SAS Championship

Charles Schwab Cup playoff events|

* Dominion Energy Charity Classic
* Boca Raton Championship
* Charles Schwab Cup Championship

Unofficial money events|

* Diamond Resorts Invitational
* PNC Father-Son Challenge
* World Champions Cup

Category

* v
* t
* e

Golf

Overview|

* History
* Glossary
* Outline
* Rules
* etiquette
* stroke play
* match play
* four-ball
* foursomes
* scoring
* Stableford
* handicap
* penalties
* playoffs
* Golf course
* links
* teeing ground
* hazards
* Equipment
* golf clubs
* golf ball
* tee

Technical|

* Golf swing
* drive
* Instruction

Facilities|

* Country club
* Golf club
* Driving range
* Pro shop

Governing
organizations|

* International Golf Federation
* The R&A
* United States Golf Association
* Professional Golfers' Association (Great Britain and Ireland)
* Professional Golfers' Association of America
* Professional golf tours
* LPGA
* PGA Tour
* PGA European Tour
* American Society of Golf Course Architects
* World Golf Teachers Federation

Majors
(Grand Slam,
Triple Crown)|

| Men|

* Masters Tournament
* Augusta National
* PGA Championship
* U.S. Open
* The Open Championship
* venues
* Challenge Belt
* Claret Jug

|

Women|

* Chevron Championship
* U.S. Women's Open
* Women's PGA Championship
* The Evian Championship
* Women's British Open

Senior|

* The Tradition
* Senior PGA Championship
* U.S. Senior Open
* Senior Players Championship
* Senior Open Championship

Senior Women's|

* LPGA Legends Championship
* U.S. Senior Women's Open

International
events|

| Team|

* Curtis Cup
* Eisenhower Trophy
* Espirito Santo Trophy
* European Amateur Team Championship
* European Ladies' Team Championship
* International Crown
* Presidents Cup
* Ryder Cup
* Solheim Cup
* Walker Cup
* World Cup
* Men's
* Women's

|

Multi-sport event|

* Summer Olympics
* Youth
* Asian Games
* Inter-Allied Games
* Island Games
* Mediterranean Games
* Pacific Games
* Pan American Games
* Summer World University Games

Rankings|

* Men
* No 1s
* top 10
* Women
* Amateur

Golfers|

* Male golfers
* Female golfers
* Men's major championship winners
* chronologically
* Women's major championship winners
* chronologically
* Senior major championship winners
* Olympic medalists
* Most wins
* Asian Tour
* Challenge Tour
* European Tour
* European Senior Tour
* Japan Golf Tour
* Korn Ferry Tour
* Ladies European Tour
* LPGA Tour
* LPGA of Japan Tour
* PGA Tour
* PGA Tour Champions

Lists of
golf courses|

| by feature|

* Granted Royal status
* Links
* Olympic venues

|

by country|

* Canada
* Iceland
* India
* Nepal
* Norway
* Philippines
* Portugal
* South Africa
* Sweden
* United Kingdom
* United States

by designer|

* Coore & Crenshaw
* Pete Dye
* Robert Trent Jones
* Old Tom Morris
* Jack Nicklaus
* Greg Norman
* Donald Ross
* A. W. Tillinghast

Countries|

* Australia
* China
* India
* Ireland
* Philippines
* Russia
* Scotland
* Sweden
* Thailand
* United States
* Wales

Years|

* 1353–1850
* 1851–1945
* 1945–1999
* 2000–2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Variations|

* Beach golf
* Disc golf
* Footgolf
* GolfCross
* Hickory golf
* Indoor golf
* Long drive
* Miniature golf
* Park golf
* Pitch and putt
* Shotgun start
* Skins game
* Snow golf
* Speed golf
* Urban golf

Media|

* Golf Channel
* personalities
* GolfTV
* Golf Digest
* Golf Magazine
* Golf World
* Golfweek
* Links
* Travel + Leisure Golf
* Video games
* JTBC Golf&Sports

Miscellaneous|

* Albatrosses in notable tournaments
* Architects
* Awards
* Caddie
* Caddie Hall of Fame
* Evans Scholars Foundation
* Great Triumvirate
* Greenskeeper
* Lowest rounds
* Furyk's 58
* Open tournaments
* Jack Nicklaus Museum
* R&A World Golf Museum
* USGA Museum
* World Golf Hall of Fame

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template