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.Senior British Open now a Major Winners before 2003 were not retroactively designated as Champions Tour major winners until late 2018.Senior British Open elevated to Senior Major 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 ofvictoryRunner(s)-upVenueISPS Handa Senior Open 2026 Jerry Kelly 270 −10 2 strokes Darren Fichardt Matt Gogel Cameron Percy Gleneagles (King's) 2025 Pádraig Harrington 264 −16 3 strokes Thomas Bjørn Justin Leonard Sunningdale (Old)The Senior Open Championship 2024 K. J. Choi278 −10 2 strokes Richard Green Carnoustie (Championship) 2023 Alex Čejka 289 +5 Playoff Pádraig Harrington Royal Porthcawl 2022 Darren Clarke 270 −10 1 stroke Pádraig Harrington Gleneagles (King's) 2021 Stephen Dodd 267 −13 1 stroke Miguel Ángel Jiménez Sunningdale (Old) 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2019 Bernhard Langer (4) 274 −6 2 strokes Paul Broadhurst Royal Lytham & St. Annes 2018 Miguel Ángel Jiménez 276 −12 1 stroke Bernhard Langer St Andrews (Old) 2017 Bernhard Langer (3) 280 −4 3 strokes Corey Pavin Royal Porthcawl 2016 Paul Broadhurst 277 −11 2 strokes Scott McCarron Carnoustie (Championship) 2015 Marco Dawson 264 −16 1 stroke Bernhard Langer Sunningdale (Old) 2014 Bernhard Langer (2) 266 −18 13 strokes Colin Montgomerie Royal Porthcawl 2013 Mark Wiebe 271 −9 Playoff Bernhard Langer Royal Birkdale 2012 Fred Couples 271 −9 2 strokes Gary Hallberg Turnberry (Ailsa) 2011 Russ Cochran 276 −12 2 strokes Mark Calcavecchia Walton Heath (Old) 2010 Bernhard Langer 279 −5 1 stroke Corey Pavin Carnoustie (Championship) 2009 Loren Roberts (2) 268 −12 Playoff Fred Funk Mark McNulty Sunningdale (Old) 2008 Bruce Vaughan 278 −6 Playoff John Cook Royal Troon (Old) 2007 Tom Watson (3) 284 E 1 stroke Stewart Ginn Mark O'Meara MuirfieldThe Senior British Open Championship 2006 Loren Roberts 274 −6 Playoff Eduardo Romero Turnberry (Ailsa) 2005 Tom Watson (2) 280 −4 Playoff Des Smyth Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) 2004 Pete Oakley 284 −4 1 stroke Tom Kite Eduardo Romero Royal Portrush (Dunluce)Senior British Open 2003 Tom Watson 263 −17 Playoff Carl Mason Turnberry (Ailsa) 2002 Noboru Sugai 281 −3 2 strokes John Irwin Royal County Down (Championship) 2001 Ian Stanley 278 −6 Playoff Bob Charles 2000 Christy O'Connor Jnr (2) 275 −9 2 strokes John Bland 1999 Christy O'Connor Jnr 282 −6 3 strokes John Bland Royal Portrush (Dunluce) 1998 Brian Huggett 283 −5 Playoff Eddie Polland 1997 Gary Player (3) 278 −10 Playoff John Bland 1996 Brian Barnes (2) 277 −11 3 strokes Bob Charles David Oakley 1995 Brian Barnes 281 −7 Playoff Bob Murphy 1994 Tom Wargo 280 −8 2 strokes Bob Charles Doug Dalziel Royal Lytham & St. Annes 1993 Bob Charles (2) 291 +7 1 stroke Tommy Horton Gary Player 1992 John Fourie 282 −2 3 strokes Bob Charles Neil ColesSeniors' British Open 1991 Bobby Verwey 285 +1 1 stroke Bob Charles Tommy Horton Royal Lytham & St. AnnesVolvo Seniors' British Open 1990 Gary Player (2) 280 E 1 stroke Deane Beman Brian Waites Turnberry (Ailsa) 1989 Bob Charles 269 −11 7 strokes Billy Casper 1988 Gary Player 272 −8 1 stroke Billy CasperSeniors' British Open 1987 Neil Coles 279 −1 1 stroke Bob Charles Turnberry (Ailsa)
Multiple winners Seven players have multiple victories in the Senior Open Championship:
4 wins: Bernhard Langer (2010, 2014, 2017, 2019) 3 wins: Gary Player (1988, 1990, 1997), Tom Watson (2003, 2005, 2007) 2 wins: Bob Charles (1989, 1993), Brian Barnes (1995, 1996), Christy O'Connor Jnr (1999, 2000), Loren Roberts (2006, 2009)
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).
Player The Open Championship The Senior Open Championship Gary Player 1959, 1968, 1974 1988, 1990, 1997 Bob Charles 1963 1989, 1993 Tom Watson 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 2003, 2005, 2007 Darren Clarke 2011 2022 Pádraig Harrington 2007, 2008 2025
Host courses The Senior Open Championship has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of times hosted (as of 2024): 7 Turnberry Golf Club (Ailsa) 6 Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce) 5 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club 4 Sunningdale Golf Club (Old Course) 3 Royal County Down Golf Club (Championship), Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship) 2 Gleneagles (King's), Royal Troon Golf Club (Old) 1 St Andrews Links (Old), Muirfield, Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Walton Heath Golf Club, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)
Future venues YearCourseTownCountyCountryDates2027Royal PorthcawlPorthcawlBridgend County BoroughWales22–25 July
Notes
References
External links
Coverage on the European Senior Tour's official site Coverage on the PGA Tour Champions' official site