Open Championship records: Lowest round, lowest 72 hole score, youngest winner, more

Taking a look at The Open Championship records in history with the lowest round, lowest 72-hole score, youngest and oldest winners and much more. 

One thing you can always count on at The Open Championship is a bevy of beautiful scenes. Sure, the scenery itself might be nice, but the 150-year-old event is so steeped with history, as are the courses in the rota, that you can feel the weight of golf in the world with every shot. We’re sure to feel that again in 2023 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club too.

The trip to Hoylake will be the 151st Open in the history of the event, which is truly wild to consider. And we saw plenty of history made at The Open a year ago with Cam Smith chasing down Rory McIlroy to be the one to hoist the famed Claret Jug for the 150th time. Now, a new Champion Golfer of the Year will be crowned (or he’ll be crowned again).

In Smith’s win, though, Open Championship records were set. Golf fans would also love to see that happen again at Royal Liverpool. But what are the marks and numbers they’re chasing? Let’s take a look at some of the biggest Open Championship records that could possibly fall.

Open Championship records through 150 years of history

Most Open Championship victories

The great Harry Vardon holds the Open Championship record for the most victories at The Open, winning the coveted trophy six times in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914.

Four players have come one short of Vardon by winning The Open five times, including James Braid, John Henry Taylor, Peter Thomson, and Tom Watson. Five players have won the event on four occasions. Meanwhile, the all-time greats in Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods each only have three victories at this major in their careers.

Lowest 72-hole score in Open Championship history

Henrik Stenson’s victory in 2016 at Royal Troon over Phil Mickelson is the lowest 72-hole score in the history of The Open, registering a measly 264 strokes for the week. He punctuated that victory with an 8-under round of 63 on the Par-71 course to take home the Claret Jug.

Stenson also set the record for the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par as well at -20 for the week with his win at Royal Troon. That mark, however, was tied at the 2022 Open Championship when Cam Smith also shot 20-under at St. Andrews. With The Old Course being a Par 72, though, he did not set the fewest strokes total record.

Lowest Open Championship round ever

The lowest round in the history of The Open in terms of the number was a 62 shot in 2017 by Branden Grace. His 8-under number at the Par-70 Royal Birkdale was the record for the lowest round in any of the four major championships ever until he was tied by both Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele in the first round of the 2023 US Open.

As for the lowest round in relation to par, that honor is shared at The Open at -9 by Paul Broadhurst’s third round in 1990 at St. Andrews and Rory McIlroy’s first round in 2010, also at St. Andrews.

Interestingly, though, whether its Grave, Broadhurst or McIlroy, none of the three went on to win the tournament where they set the record for the lowest round at The Open.

Youngest and oldest Open Championship winners

In a bit of synergy, the oldest and youngest winners of The Open ever actually happened in back-to-back years… and have the same name. In 1867, Old Tom Morris etched his name in history by winning at Prestwick Golf Club at 46 years and 102 days old. The next year, his son, Young Tom Morris, became the youngest ever winner of The Open Championship as he captured the victory, again at Prestwick, at only 17 years and 156 days old. In more than 150 years, neither of those marks have ever been bested.

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