Open Champions at St Andrews 1873 – 2005
2005 Tiger Woods (USA)
A second Open win at St Andrews for Woods. A first round 66 put him into the lead and further rounds of 67, 71 and 70 brought Woods a total of 274, and a five shot victory. Colin Montgomerie was runner-up.
2000 Tiger Woods (USA)
Always the favourite, Woods was at the top of the leaderboard after the second day with 133. Rounds of 67, 66, 67 and 69 gave him a total of 269 – 8 shots clear of runners-up Ernie Els and Thomas Bjorn. Woods’ 19 under par broke Faldo’s record of 18 under par set in St Andrews in 1990.
1995 John Daly (USA)
This was the finish where outsider Constantino Rocca, after chipping into the Valley of Sin, holed an unbelievable 60-foot putt to equal John Daly’s leading 282 aggregate. In the play-off Daly cruised to victory by four shots.
1990 Nick Faldo (England)
Having out-played the world number one Greg Norman in the third round, Faldo had several shots in hand and holed out in 71 for a winning 270. It was his second Open win and followed his Masters victory earlier in the year.
1984 Seve Ballesteros (Spain)
The Road Hole proved the downfall of Tom Watson who was going for his sixth Open Championship and a hat trick. Ballesteros stepped in and birdied the 18th to win by two strokes with 276. The Young Australian unknown, Ian Baker Finch, led for three days but returned a final round of 79.
1978 Jack Nicklaus (USA)
This hard-pressed win ended three years in the doldrums for Nicklaus. His aggregate of 281 left him two shots clear of his main threats: Simon Owen of New Zealand and three Americans, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite and Ray Floyd.
1970 Jack Nicklaus (USA)
Probably the most famous missed putt of the Open took place when Doug Sanders missed a four footer on the 18th in the final round. His total of 283 equalled Nicklaus’ score. The play-off, in a howling wind, saw both birdie the 18th but Nicklaus won by one shot with 72.
1964 Tony Lema (USA)
Never having been to St Andrews before, Lema had only played a few practice holes on the Old Course before the championship began. He engaged Arnold Palmer’s caddie, Tip Anderson, who helped him win with an aggregate of 279, five shots clear of Jack Nicklaus.
1960 Kel Nagle (Australia)
Rain delayed the final round of the Centenary Open for a day. Nagle had a commanding score of 207 which was threatened by a blistering final round 68 from Arnold Palmer. Nagle’s 71 made his total 278 – one shot ahead of Palmer.
1957 Bobby Locke (South Africa)
Locke led from the start to win his fourth Open with a total of 279. It was the first time the final was televised live and drama ensued when a viewer noticed that Locke had not replaced his ball in the correct spot for the final putt of the championship. The committee decided that the result would stand.
1955 Peter Thomson (Australia)
This was the second of Thomson’s five Open wins. By the third round he held the lead on 209 and his fourth round 72 put him two ahead of Johnny Fallon with 281.
1946 Sam Snead (USA)
After three rounds Snead was in a triple tie with fellow American, Johnny Bulla, and Dai Rees. Snead cruised through the final round with 75 giving him a total of 290, and his first major title.
1939 Richard Burton (England)
The name on everyone’s lips was Johnny Bulla, however it was Dick Burton who put in a nerve-tingling finish for a fourth round 71 to win by two strokes, on 290.
1933 Densmore Shute (USA)
Shute’s victory was the last in a long series of American wins. Four rounds of 73 brought him in line with Craig Wood on 292. In the play-off over 36 holes, Wood made a jittery start into the Swilcan Burn and into a bunker on the second. Shute gained a four shot lead and won with a 149 aggregate.
1927 Bobby Jones (USA)
The defending champion was still an amateur when he won with an aggregate of 285 – a new record and the second of Jones’ three Open wins. He built a special relationship with St Andrews, getting the freedom of the burgh in 1956. When he died in 1971, the 10th hole on the Old Course was named after him.
1921 Jock Hutchison (USA)
A native of St Andrews, Hutchison emigrated to the USA but never lost his touch on home ground. In the first round he holed his tee shot at the 8th and then birdied the 9th. A third round 79 pulled him back but he recovered with 70 in the final round. In the 36 hole play-off against Roger Wethered, Hutchison won by 9 strokes.
1910 & 1905 James Braid
Born in Elie, Braid was a clubmaker turned professional. He won the Open five times in all and was made an honorary member of the R&A in 1950.
1900 & 1895 J H Taylor
Also a five-times Open winner, Taylor learned golf in Westward Ho!, Devon He was one of the founders of the PGA with James Braid, and was made an honorary member of the R&A in 1950.
1891 Hugh Kirkaldy
This was the last time the Open was contested over 36 holes. Kirkcaldy won in stormy conditions with two rounds of 83. He set the course record at 73.
1888 Jack Burns
The first Anglo-Scot to take the title. He won with a score of 171 beating the mercurial Ben Sayers by one stroke.
1885 & 1876 Bob Martin
Martin’s first victory was a walkover following a protest from Davie Strath. Both scored an aggregate of 176 but on the 17th green, Strath’s ball had run into one of the players ahead. The R&A suggested a play-off but Strath refused.
1882 Bob Ferguson
Born in Musselburgh, Ferguson was the first non-St Andrean to win the title at the Home of Golf. It was his third consecutive triumph. His score was 171.
1879 Jamie Anderson
His third consecutive win and the score was 169. He was the son of Old Daw Anderson.
1873 Tom Kidd
The first man to win the Open at St Andrews was a local known as a fine driver and the first golfer to use ribbed irons to impart backspin. In a field of 26, Kidd’s 36 hole aggregate was 179.