1983 Open Championship

The 1983 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 112th Open Championship, held from 14 to 17 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. It was the sixth time the course had hosted, with the first in 1954.

Defending champion Tom Watson won his fifth Open Championship, one stroke ahead of runners-up Andy Bean and Hale Irwin. It was his second consecutive Open win and third in the last four, but was helped by Irwin "whiffing" a one-inch putt on the 14th hole on the third day, which cost him a chance of a play-off with Watson for the tournament.

At age 33, this was Watson's eighth and final major title; he had won three of the last six majors, but had not won any event for twelve months.

Watson was the fifth to win five Open Championships, last accomplished in 1965 by Peter Thomson, also at Royal Birkdale. He was the first to successfully defend the title in over a decade, since Lee Trevino in 1972 at Muirfield. Of his five Open wins, this was the only one outside Scotland.

Seven years earlier at Royal Birkdale in 1976, defending champion Watson posted an 80 in the third round, finishing with a pair of sixes, and missed the 54-hole cut by a stroke.

Course layout

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, 14 July 1983

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Second round

Friday, 15 July 1983

Source: Amateurs: Parkin (+5), Gilford (+7), Plaxton (+12), Thompson (+12), Wood (+12), Hamer (+13), Thomas (+13), Crosby (+17).

Third round

Saturday, 16 July 1983

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Final round

Sunday, 17 July 1983

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• The exchange rate at the time was approximately 1.52 dollars (US) per pound sterling.

External links

53°37′19″N 3°01′59″W/53.622°N 3.033°W/ 53.622; -3.033