Tuesday Trivia

The Open is this week’s topic

Old Tom Morris (left) and his son Young Tom each won four Open championships.

The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious.

It was founded in 1860. The 152^nd Open starts Thursday at Royal Troon.

Test you golf knowledge by answering these 10 questions.

Answers are below.

Questions

1. How many players were entered in the first Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860?

2. Which course has hosted the most championships?

3. Who has the largest margin of victory in The Open?

4. Who holds the record for the most victories with six?

5. Who has the most runner-up finishes in The Open?

6. Who is the oldest winner of The Open?

7. Who is the youngest winner of The Open?

8. Two players have been low amateur at the Open and would later win the Open. Can you name either.

9. What is the lowest 18-hole round at The Open?

10. What is the lowest final score in relation to par for 72 holes?

Answers

1. There were only eight players in the first tournament. Willie Park Sr. was “Champion Golfer of the Year,” He would earn that honor four times.

2. The Old Course at St Andrews has hosted the most championships with 30. The most recent was in 2022.

3. Old Tom Morris won the 1862 title at Prestwick by 13 strokes. That was the record for all majors until 2000, when Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach. Morris did earn his 13-stroke win in a 36-hole event.

4. Harry Vardon has the most championships with six. He won in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911 and 1914.

5. Jack Nicklaus has the most runner-up finishes with seven (1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979). He won the tournament three times (1966, 1970, 1978).

6. Old Tom Morris won in 1867 at the age of 46 years and 99 days.

7. Young Tom Morris won in 1868 at aged 17 years 5 months 8 days. He was also the youngest competitor when he played in the 1865 event, aged 14 years 4 months, 25 days.

8. Tiger Woods was low amateur in 1996 and has been the Open champion three times (2000, 2005, 2006). Rory McIlroy was low amateur in 2007 and won the Open in 2014.

9. Branden Grace carded a 62 in the third round of the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale. That’s a record for all majors.

10. -20 is the lowest final score. It’s happened twice. Henrik Stenson (68-65-68-63=264) in 2016 at Royal Troon; and Cameron Smith (67-64-73-64=268) in 2022 at St. Andrews.