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The oldest and arguably the most prestigious of the four major golf championships is the Open Championship, or the British Championship as it is most commonly referred to.
The third championship that is played yearly behind the Masters and US Open tournaments, the British Open has been an official event on the PGA Tour since 1995. The tournament is played on a links course, which is near coastal areas and on sandy soil. The course has few water hazards, if any and often has small, deep bunkers referred to as “pot bunkers”.
Twenty-four players have won more than one Open Championship victory since the birth of the tournament in 1860. Harry Vardon owns the record for British Open titles with six. The Englishman won his first title in 1896 at the Muirfield Golf Course.
Four golfers have five wins apiece including Peter Thomson, James Braid, J.H. Taylor and Tom Watson. Old Tom Morris holds the record for the widest margin of victory at 13 and was one of the pioneers of golf. Both he and his son, Young Tom Morris, share three titles apiece.
Padraig Harrington won the most recent title in 2007 after beating Sergio Garcia by one stroke in a thrilling four-hole playoff. Harrington became the first Irish winner of the British Open since Fred Daly in 1947.
Another impressive victory at the Open Championship happened in ‘01 where David Duval achieved his first major after entering the event at 33 to 1 odds. Duval seemingly came out of nowhere after barely surviving the opening round of the tournament.
Top Information Websites
Open Golf.com
Information and updates for the 2007 British Open held in Carnoustie, Angus.
USGA.com
Official website of the United States Golf Association with links to both men and women‘s tournaments and championships.
The Golf Channel
The latest news, player profiles, weather forecasts, complete TV air times and a look back at the 2006 championship.
Golf Online
Keep up with the latest news, catch scores on the leader board, get a full schedule, key statistics and find out who the money leaders are in the world of golf.
BBC Golf
Daily news and information on all the major tournaments as well as highlight videos.
Golf.com
Anything and everything relating to the sport of golf including: news, games and even contests.
Relive Past British Opens
2008
Harrington captures second straight British Open title
Padraig Harrington shot 4-under par over the final six holes at Royal Birkdale, giving him a four-shot victory to continue a rich tradition of consecutive British Open championships.
2007
Harrington wins a war of nerves at British Open
Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia by one stroke in a four-hole playoff in a thrilling 2007 Open.
2006
Woods earns 11th career major win at British Open
The incredible Tiger Woods continued his mastery over golf with his third British Open title in just six years.
2005
Tiger closes with 2-under 70 for 10th career major
Tiger Woods goes wire to wire to win his 10th career major and second British Open in six years.
2004
Hamilton wins Open Championship in playoff over Els
In stunning fashion, Todd Hamilton beats Ernie Els for his first British Open title.
2003
Curtis Clinches Open
Rookie Ben Curtis, competing in his first-ever major, comes out of nowhere to capture the 2001 British Open.
2002
Els resurrects career with playoff win
Ernie Els defeats Thomas Levet in the first hole of a sudden death playoff to capture the 2002 British Open.
2001
Gorse Management
Despite great odds and a slew of competition, David Duval captured his first major in underdog fashion.
2000
Superb Woods seals Major glory
Tiger Woods became the youngest player to win all four majors with his 2000 British Open Championship.
General
A to Zee
BBC.com provides a unique A through Z visitors guide to the British Open.
British Open Winners
| .Year | .Winner |
|---|---|
| 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 | NickFaldo |
| 1991 | Ian Baker-Finch |
| 1990 | NickFaldo |
| 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 deVicenzo |
| 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 |
| 1940-45 | Not played |
| 1939 | Richard Burton |
| 1938 | R.A. Whitcombe |
| 1937 | Henry Cotton |
| 1936 | Alfred Padgham |
| 1935 | Alfred Perry |
| 1934 | Henry Cotton |
| 1933 | Denny Shute |
| 1932 | Gene Sarazen |
| 1931 | Tommy Armour |
| 1930 | Robert Jones Jr. |
| 1929 | Walter Hagen |
| 1928 | Walter Hagen |
| 1927 | Robert Jones Jr. |
| 1926 | Robert Jones Jr. |
| 1925 | James Barnes |
| 1924 | Walter Hagen |
| 1923 | Arthur Havers |
| 1922 | Walter Hagen |
| 1921 | Jock Hutchison |
| 1920 | George Duncan |
| 1915-19 | Not played |
| 1914 | Harry Vardon |
| 1913 | J.H. Taylor |
| 1912 | Edward 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 | Alexander Herd |
| 1901 | James Braid |
| 1900 | J.H. Taylor |
| 1899 | Harry Vardon |
| 1898 | Harry Vardon |
| 1897 | Harold Hilton |
| 1896 | Harry Vardon |
| 1895 | J.H. Taylor |
| 1894 | J.H. Taylor |
| 1893 | William Auchterlonie |
| 1892 | Harold Hilton |
| 1891 | Hugh Kirkaldy |
| 1890 | John Ball |
| 1889 | Willie Park Jr. |
| 1888 | Jack Burns |
| 1887 | Willie Park Jr. |
| 1886 | David Brown |
| 1885 | Bob Martin |
| 1884 | Jack Simpson |
| 1883 | Willie Fernie |
| 1882 | Robert Ferguson |
| 1881 | Robert Ferguson |
| 1880 | Robert Ferguson |
| 1879 | Jamie Anderson |
| 1878 | Jamie Anderson |
| 1877 | Jamie Anderson |
| 1876 | Robert Martin |
| 1875 | Willie Park |
| 1874 | Mungo Park |
| 1873 | Tom Kidd |
| 1872 | Tom Morris Jr. |
| 1871 | Not played |
| 1870 | Tom Morris Jr. |
| 1869 | Tom Morris Jr. |
| 1868 | Tom Morris Jr. |
| 1867 | Tom Morris Sr. |
| 1866 | Willie Park |
| 1865 | Andrew Strath |
| 1864 | Tom Morris Sr. |
| 1863 | Willie Park |
| 1862 | Tom Morris Sr. |
| 1861 | Tom Morris Sr. |
| 1860 | Willie Park |
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