Photo by Lo Sarno on Unsplash Statistical analysis of amateur golf performance consistently reveals a counterintuitive finding: distance control errors on approach shots cost recreational golfers more strokes than directional errors, even though most golfers practice and worry about direction far more. The Statistical Pattern Shot-tracking data from systems used across recreational and competitive golf shows that amateur golfers are typically far more likely to miss an approach shot short or long of their intended distance than they are to miss significantly left or right of their intended line. A shot that's 15 yards short or long frequently finds trouble — a bunker, water, or simply a much longer subsequent putt — in a way that a shot 10 yards left or right of the pin, but still on the green, does not. Why This Happens Directional misses are usually caused by face-to-path errors, covered in our ball flight laws article , which tend to be relatively consistent for an individual g...
The Open Championship has been played since 1860 — longer than any other major golf championship in the world. In that time, it has produced records that span more than 160 years of competitive golf. Here are the numbers that define the history of the Claret Jug.
Most Open Championship Victories
Harry Vardon holds the record with six Open Championship victories — in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914. His six titles remain the most by any player in Open Championship history and represent a standard of dominance across a 18-year span that has never been equalled. Tom Watson and Peter Thomson each won five Open Championships. Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Walter Hagen, James Braid, JH Taylor, and Gary Player each won the Open three times. Tiger Woods won three Opens. Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, and Greg Norman each won twice.
Lowest Winning Score
Henrik Stenson holds the record for the lowest winning score in Open Championship history — 20 under par (264) at Royal Troon in 2016, defeating Phil Mickelson by three shots in what many regard as the greatest head-to-head duel in major championship history. Stenson's 264 broke Greg Norman's record of 267 set at Royal St George's in 1993.
Lowest Single Round
Branden Grace shot a 62 at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 Open Championship — the lowest single round in major championship history (across all four majors). Grace's 62 on the Saturday of that championship has never been matched or broken at any major. The fact that it was set at Birkdale gives the 2026 Open a specific historical reference point for any player who approaches that score during the week.
Largest Winning Margin
Old Tom Morris won the 1862 Open Championship at Prestwick by 13 shots — the largest margin of victory in Open history. In the modern era, Tiger Woods's eight-shot win at St Andrews in 2000 stands as the largest margin since the championship was expanded to 72 holes.
Oldest and Youngest Champions
Old Tom Morris won the 1867 Open Championship at the age of 46 years and 99 days — making him the oldest champion in the event's history. Young Tom Morris won the 1868 Open at 17 years and 5 months, making him the youngest. The contrast between father and son holding both age records simultaneously is one of the most remarkable statistical anomalies in the history of any sport.
Venue Records
St Andrews has hosted The Open Championship more times than any other venue. Royal Birkdale, with the 2026 championship, will have hosted The Open 11 times — making it the second most frequent host after St Andrews. Prestwick hosted the original 12 Opens before being removed from the rota.
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