US Champion Golfers

Arnold Palmer’s landmark triumph at Royal Birkdale in 1961 was a pivotal moment in the story of US success at golf’s original championship.

Many view his victory at The 90th Open as being a watershed moment for the Championship. The moment fans across America sat up and took notice, inspired by the style with which their compatriot claimed the famous Claret Jug across the Atlantic.

It proved to be the start of a fruitful era for US players, particularly in Southport where Americans make up six of the nine Champions to have won since it first staged The Open in 1954.

Each of those six victories have helped shape the course of the Championship’s history and reaffirm Royal Birkdale's reputation for being a world class stage where the very best players thrive.

Arnold Palmer | The 90th Open | 1961

The USA has produced 34 Champion Golfers in the illustrious history of The Open, and the influence of Palmer in inspiring many of those victories cannot be overstated.

His 1961 success, beamed into television sets across America with the help of transatlantic broadcasting, was an exhibition in bold, attacking golf. Even as storms moved in, Palmer’s approach was unrelenting.

It was here he produced one of the finest shots in Open history. His legendary 6-iron from the bottom of a bush on what was then the 15th hole is now immortalised with a special plaque marking the spot.

He would finish the week one shot clear of Dai Rees with a score of 284, representing the first of back-to-back Open triumphs for Palmer who would retain the Claret Jug at Royal Troon the following year.

Lee Trevino | The 100th Open | 1971

A fitting Champion for a landmark Championship.

Lee Trevino arrived in Southport as the game’s dominant force, and played like a man who knew it, winning The 100th Open ten years on from Palmer’s success at the same venue.

His engrossing battle with Lu Liang-Huan, affectionately known as Mr Lu, captivated those lucky enough to be watching at Royal Birkdale, and helped shape a week remembered for rivalry, respect and remarkable golf on one of the game’s great stages.

Trevino eventually succeeded by one shot with a score of 278 and, like Palmer, he would repeat the trick by retaining the Claret Jug – winning The 101st Open at Muirfield the following year.

Johnny Miller | The 105th Open | 1976

As a summer heatwave hit the UK, Johnny Miller kept the US hot streak going by making it a hat-trick of American victories at Royal Birkdale.

The Californian, who had been runner-up and third in two of his previous three Open appearances, finally got over the line with a commanding six-shot victory in 1976.

This was his second major title, achieved as he was at the peak of his powers and, unquestionably, one of the finest golfers on the planet.

Miller was the man who claimed the Claret Jug that week, but he shared the headlines with an emerging star of the game. 19‑year‑old Seve Ballesteros thrilled the watching public with his flair and talent, announcing himself on the big stage and earning a share of second place.

Tom Watson | The 112th Open | 1983

Tom Watson’s world class performance at The 112th Open underlined his credentials as a master of links golf.

His fifth Open triumph, sealed after a sublime 2-iron shot to the green on 18, was the fourth consecutive victory by an American golfer at Royal Birkdale.

The man from Missouri arrived in Southport having won the previous year, and like Palmer and Trevino, is a back-to-back Champion to have prevailed at the venue. Padraig Harrington would go on to join this elite club 25 years later.

Watson ended the week with a total of 275, one shot clear of fellow Americans Hale Irwin and Andy Bean.

Mark O’Meara | The 127th Open | 1998

Australian Ian Baker-Finch won in 1991 to break the run of US dominance at the venue, however the leaderboard was again dominated by American players seven years later.

At The 127th Open Mark O’Meara won, aged 41, to become the oldest first time Champion Golfer in Open history. His victory came after coming out on top in a play-off with countryman Brian Watts – the pair having finished one shot ahead of Tiger Woods.

This success came three months after O’Meara won his first major at the Masters, and he spoke afterwards about how Tiger’s emergence had “rejuvenated” him, adding: “He has been a driving force. I look at Tiger’s talent and his technique and his swing and I think he is a better player than I am.

“That motivated me. He keeps telling my friends, ‘You know Mark can really play and he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.’”

Jordan Spieth | The 146th Open | 2017

The top two at The Open’s most recent visit to Royal Birkdale in 2017 hail from the US, with Jordan Spieth ending the week as Champion Golfer.

The Texan finished three shots ahead of Matt Kuchar to claim his third major title after a thrilling finale in Southport.

Aged 23, Spieth dazzled with a remarkable back nine showing which included a miraculous escape from the practice ground on 13, a near ace on 14 and a devastating sequence of birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie to wrestle the Claret Jug from his closest challenger.

It capped a stunning run of form for the American, who became the second youngest player in history to capture three major titles.

Another milestone moment to add to the many others produced by US players at this famous links setting.