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. 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.

History

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. Winners before 2003 were not retroactively designated as Champions Tour major winners until late 2018. 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. In 2020, the championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Field

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.

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of victoryRunner(s)-upVenue
ISPS Handa Senior Open
2025Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington264–163 strokesDenmark Thomas Bjørn United States Justin LeonardSunningdale
The Senior Open Championship
2024South Korea K. J. Choi278−102 strokesAustralia Richard GreenCarnoustie
2023Germany Alex Čejka289+5PlayoffRepublic of Ireland Pádraig HarringtonRoyal Porthcawl
2022Northern Ireland Darren Clarke270−101 strokeRepublic of Ireland Pádraig HarringtonGleneagles
2021Wales Stephen Dodd267−131 strokeSpain Miguel Ángel JiménezSunningdale
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019Germany Bernhard Langer (4)274−62 strokesEngland Paul BroadhurstRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
2018Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez276−121 strokeGermany Bernhard LangerSt Andrews
2017Germany Bernhard Langer (3)280−43 strokesUnited States Corey PavinRoyal Porthcawl
2016England Paul Broadhurst277−112 strokesUnited States Scott McCarronCarnoustie
2015United States Marco Dawson264−161 strokeGermany Bernhard LangerSunningdale
2014Germany Bernhard Langer (2)266−1813 strokesScotland Colin MontgomerieRoyal Porthcawl
2013United States Mark Wiebe271−9PlayoffGermany Bernhard LangerRoyal Birkdale
2012United States Fred Couples271−92 strokesUnited States Gary HallbergTurnberry
2011United States Russ Cochran276−122 strokesUnited States Mark CalcavecchiaWalton Heath
2010Germany Bernhard Langer279−51 strokeUnited States Corey PavinCarnoustie
2009United States Loren Roberts (2)268−12PlayoffUnited States Fred Funk Republic of Ireland Mark McNultySunningdale
2008United States Bruce Vaughan278−6PlayoffUnited States John CookRoyal Troon
2007United States Tom Watson (3)284E1 strokeAustralia Stewart Ginn United States Mark O'MearaMuirfield
The Senior British Open Championship
2006United States Loren Roberts274−6PlayoffArgentina Eduardo RomeroTurnberry
2005United States Tom Watson (2)280−4PlayoffRepublic of Ireland Des SmythRoyal Aberdeen
2004United States Pete Oakley284−41 strokeUnited States Tom Kite Argentina Eduardo RomeroRoyal Portrush
Senior British Open
2003United States Tom Watson263−17PlayoffEngland Carl MasonTurnberry
2002Japan Noboru Sugai281−32 strokesCanada John IrwinRoyal County Down
2001Australia Ian Stanley278−6PlayoffNew Zealand Bob Charles
2000Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Jnr (2)275−92 strokesSouth Africa John Bland
1999Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Jnr282−63 strokesSouth Africa John BlandRoyal Portrush
1998Wales Brian Huggett283−5PlayoffNorthern Ireland Eddie Polland
1997South Africa Gary Player (3)278−10PlayoffSouth Africa John Bland
1996Scotland Brian Barnes (2)277−113 strokesNew Zealand Bob Charles United States David Oakley
1995Scotland Brian Barnes281−7PlayoffUnited States Bob Murphy
1994United States Tom Wargo280−82 strokesNew Zealand Bob Charles United States Doug DalzielRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
1993New Zealand Bob Charles (2)291+71 strokeEngland Tommy Horton South Africa Gary Player
1992South Africa John Fourie282−23 strokesNew Zealand Bob Charles England Neil Coles
Seniors' British Open
1991South Africa Bobby Verwey285+11 strokeNew Zealand Bob Charles England Tommy HortonRoyal Lytham & St. Annes
Volvo Seniors' British Open
1990South Africa Gary Player (2)280E1 strokeUnited States Deane Beman England Brian WaitesTurnberry
1989New Zealand Bob Charles269−117 strokesUnited States Billy Casper
1988South Africa Gary Player272−81 strokeUnited States Billy Casper
Seniors' British Open
1987England Neil Coles279−11 strokeNew Zealand Bob CharlesTurnberry

Multiple winners

Seven players have multiple victories in the Senior Open Championship:

Winners of both The Open and The Senior Open

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

PlayerThe Open ChampionshipThe Senior Open Championship
South Africa Gary Player1959, 1968, 19741988, 1990, 1997
New Zealand Bob Charles19631989, 1993
United States Tom Watson1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 19832003, 2005, 2007
Northern Ireland Darren Clarke20112022
Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington2007, 20082025

Host courses

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

Future venues

YearCourseTownCountyCountryDates
2026Gleneagles (Kings Course)AuchterarderPerth and KinrossScotland23–26 July

Notes

External links