The Open Championship Winners Since 2001

Caroline Nash
·6 min read

So, you're wondering who the Open Championship winners are? Let's talk about it!

The 151st Open, also known as the British Open, is set to take place from July 16th through July 23rd in Merseyside, England at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club and features 150 of the top golfers on the planet. As always, with it being the last major championship of the year, it's sure to be tough competition that will come down to the final strokes.

Related: An Inside Look at the Four Major Golf Tournaments

The Open was given its name because it is such in theory - an “open” competition to all, including professionals and amateurs. In modern times, however, the criteria to qualify for the tournament is limited in practice to past winners and well-ranking golfers across the globe. Among those eligible are golfers who have won The Open within the last ten years and regional qualifiers who succeeded in various qualifying tournaments throughout the year. Several remaining spots are also held for golfers to earn in the final qualification stage a few days prior. All of these opportunities to qualify, on top of the ability for the R&A (the organizing body of The Open) to extend special invites based on their own set of criteria guarantees it's a thrilling watch for viewers.

Here are the most recent winners of the revered Claret Jug trophy.

Note: The Open did not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Cameron Smith

Image credit: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

  • Home Country: Australia

  • Final Score: -10

The 150th Open Championship was played at the Old Course in St. Andrews, and the tournament did not disappoint when it came to twists, turns and nail-biting rounds. Going into the final round, Cameron Smith was four strokes off the lead, but after shooting 64 in the final-round, he held on to beat Cameron Young by one shot, and Rory McIlroy by two shots, who was the favorite to win the tournament.

2021: Collin Morikawa

Image credit: David Cannon / Getty Images

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -15

Collin Morikawa’s professional career began in 2019, and he has been a threat to some of the most well-established golfers since then. Morikawa came out two strokes above the runner up, Jordan Speith at the 2021 Open Championship. This was his second major win, his first being the 2020 PGA Championship, which made him the first player to win two different majors in his debut appearance at each of these respective tournaments.

2019: Shane Lowry

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  • Home Country: Ireland

  • Final Score: -15

The 2019 Open Championship took place at the beautiful Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, which was fresh off major renovations. Shane Lowry entered the tournament ranked 33rd, but played a consistent opening two rounds, which left him tied at 8-under going into the third round. He shot a course record 63 in the third round and ended up on top by six shots above the runner up, Tommy Fleetwood.

2018: Francesco Molinari

Image credit: David Connon / Getty Images

  • Home Country: Italy

  • Final Score: -8

Francesco Molinari’s victory at the 2018 Open was his first and only major win. It's also the first major win by an Italian professional golfer. The 2018 Open took place in the midst of a heatwave in Scotland, where the host course of Carnoustie Golf Links is located. This resulted in some dry and sun-baked fairways that transformed them into a brown rough. Molinari came into The Open having had a successful start to the season that earned him the 2018 BBC World Sports Star of the Year. The final round was captivating, and though he entered 3 strokes behind the tied leaders, Molinari shot a bogey-free 69 to win the tournament by two shots.

2017: Jordan Speith

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  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -12

The 2017 Open was held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England where Jordan Speith won his third major. He got off to a good start, finishing the first round tied for the lead, which he would hold onto for the next two rounds. However, at the start of the third round, he shot three bogeys in the first four holes, putting him temporarily behind Matt Kuchar. Speith and Kuchar fought a tight race for the remaining holes, but ultimately, Spieth grinded out a final round 69 which gave him the victory by three strokes.

2016: Henrik Stenson

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  • Home Country: Sweden

  • Final Score: -20

The Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland hosted the 2016 Open Championship, which experienced a wide range of weather conditions. Henrik Stenson’s victory made him the first Scandinavian man to win a major title, and his final score of 20-under par was a record for the tournament that has only been tied by Cameron Smith in 2022. The final round was an exciting battle between Stenson and Phil Mickelson, but Stenson’s final round 63 sealed the deal for him, winning his first major title. Stenson’s 264 overall set a record for the lowest score in a major championship.

2015: Zach Johnson

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  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -15

The 2015 Open, held at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, battled heavy rain and strong wins, which pushed the final round that went into a playoff to Monday. The playoff round was a four-hole matchup between Louis Oostheuizen, Marc Leishman, and Zach Johnson, with Johnson coming out on top and securing his second major win.

2014: Rory McIlroy

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  • Home Country: Northern Ireland

  • Final Score: -17

Rory McIlroy had an incredibly successful weekend at The 2014 Open, which took place at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course. McIlroy led at the end of every round in the tournament, and though he lost some ground in the final round, he finished two strokes ahead of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia. This was McIlroy’s third major championship title.

2013: Phil Mickelson

Image credit: Getty Images

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -3

Phil Mickelson had a fantastic come from behind victory in the 142nd Open Championship in 2013. Mickelson entered the final round five strokes behind the leader and tied for ninth place, but he shot a 66, ending his tournament three strokes ahead of the runner up, Henrik Stenson.

2012: Ernie Els

Image credit: Getty Images

  • Home Country: South Africa

  • Final Score: -7

Els’s victory at The 2012 Open Championship was a big shock to the golf world. His successful career dates back to 1997, but the 2011 and 2012 season was a struggle prior to The Open. Els went on to edge Adam Scott by just one stroke; Scott had held onto the lead until he bogeyed the final four holes while Els went on to birdie the 18th, earning him his fourth major title.

2011-2001 Champions

2011: Darren Clarke

  • Home Country: Northern Ireland

  • Final Score: 5

2010: Louis Oosthuizen

  • Home Country: South Africa

  • Final Score: 16

2009: Stewart Cink

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: 2

2008: Padraig Harrington

  • Home Country: Ireland

  • Final Score: -3

2007: Padraig Harrington

  • Home Country: Ireland

  • Final Score: -7

2006: Tiger Woods

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -18

2005: Tiger Woods

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -14

2004: Todd Hamilton

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -10

2003: Ben Curtis

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -1

2002: Ernie Els

  • Home Country: South Africa

  • Final Score: -6

2001: David Duval

  • Home Country: USA

  • Final Score: -10