Lowest rounds at The Open

Cameron Smith made history at The 150th Open by becoming the first Champion Golfer to shoot two scores of 64 or better on his way to securing the Claret Jug.

Smith went round in 64 on Friday and Sunday to be one of three players, along with runner-up Cameron Young and Sam Burns, with the lowest scores of the week at St Andrews.

But how often in the recent history of The Open has the best round of the Championship been recorded by a player who ultimately emerged victorious? We decided to find out.

A GROWING TREND

Eight of the last 22 Champion Golfers have recorded either the joint-lowest or outright-lowest score of the week on their way to claiming the Claret Jug.

However, the feat has been much more common among recent winners, with four of the last six Champions – including each of the last three – setting the benchmark for the week.

Henrik Stenson (2016), Collin Morikawa (2021) and Smith (2022) all equalled the lowest rounds of the Championships they went on to win, while Shane Lowry stood alone in 2019 courtesy of his third-round 63 at Royal Portrush.

The other Champions since 2000 to have at least matched the best rounds of the week en route to victory are Tiger Woods (2000 & 2006), David Duval (2001) and Phil Mickelson (2013).

THE VALUE OF CONSISTENCY

Although recent Champions have required the very best scores of the week to prevail, that is certainly not always the case at The Open.

On five occasions since 2000, the Champion Golfer’s lowest round was bettered by three shots, with consistency across the week ultimately proving key.

In 2017 at Royal Birkdale Branden Grace made history with a 62, the lowest round in men’s major history, but Jordan Spieth triumphed with two 65s and two 69s.

Padraig Harrington (2007 & 2008), Darren Clarke (2011) and Ernie Els (2012) also lifted the Claret Jug even though their best rounds of the week were comfortably topped by other players.

Here is a full breakdown of the lowest rounds at every Open since 2000, along with the scores of each Champion Golfer.

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The 150th Open, St Andrews, 2022

Best score of the week: 64 – Cameron Young (R1), Cameron Smith (R2 & R4), Sam Burns (R4)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Cameron Smith (67, 64, 73, 64)

The 149th Open, Royal St George’s, 2021

Best score of the week: 64 – Louis Oosthuizen (R1), Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm & Emiliano Grillo (all R2)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Collin Morikawa (67, 64, 68, 66)

The 148th Open, Royal Portrush, 2019

Best score of the week: 63 – Shane Lowry (R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Shane Lowry (67, 67, 63, 72)

The 147th Open, Carnoustie, 2018

Best score of the week: 64 - Justin Rose (R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Francesco Molinari (70, 72, 65, 69)

The 146th Open, Royal Birkdale, 2017

Best score of the week: 62 – Branden Grace (R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Jordan Spieth (65, 69, 65, 69)

The 145th Open, Royal Troon, 2016

Best score of the week: 63 – Phil Mickelson (R1) & Henrik Stenson (R4)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Henrik Stenson (68, 65, 68, 63)

The 144th Open, St Andrews, 2015

Best score of the week: 64 – Marc Leishman (R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Zach Johnson (66, 71, 70, 66)

The 143rd Open, Royal Liverpool, 2014

Best score of the week: 65 – Dustin Johnson (R2), Jim Furyk, Marc Leishman, Shane Lowry & Chris Wood (all R4)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Rory McIlroy (66, 66, 68, 71)

The 142nd Open, Muirfield, 2013

Best score of the week: 66 – Zach Johnson (R1) & Phil Mickelson (R4)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Phil Mickelson (69, 74, 72, 66)

The 141st Open, Royal Lytham & St Annes, 2012

Best score of the week: 64 – Adam Scott (R1) & Brandt Snedeker (R2)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Ernie Els (67, 70, 68, 68)

The 140th Open, Royal St George’s, 2011

Best score of the week: 65 – Thomas Bjorn & Tom Lewis (both R1)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Darren Clarke (68, 68, 69, 70)

The 139th Open, St Andrews, 2010

Best score of the week: 63 – Rory McIlroy (R1)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Louis Oosthuizen (65, 67, 69, 71)

The 138th Open, Turnberry, 2009

Best score of the week: 64 – Miguel Angel Jimenez (R1)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Stewart Cink (66, 72, 71, 69)

The 137th Open, Royal Birkdale, 2008

Best score of the week: 65 – Camilo Villegas (R2)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Padraig Harrington (74, 68, 72, 69)

The 136th Open, Carnoustie, 2007

Best score of the week: 64 – Steve Stricker (R3) & Richard Green (R4)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Padraig Harrington (69, 73, 68, 67)

The 135th Open, Royal Liverpool, 2006

Best score of the week: 65 – Tiger Woods, Chris DiMarco, Ernie Els (all R2) & Sergio Garcia (R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Tiger Woods (67, 65, 71, 67)

The 134th Open, St Andrews, 2005

Best score of the week: 65 – David Frost (R2)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Tiger Woods (66, 67, 71, 70)

The 133rd Open, Royal Troon, 2004

Best score of the week: 66 – Thomas Levet, Paul Casey (both R1), Phil Mickelson & Skip Kendall (both R2)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Todd Hamilton (71, 67, 67, 69)

The 132nd Open, Royal St George’s, 2003

Best score of the week: 67 – Sir Nick Faldo & Pierre Fulke (both R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Ben Curtis (72, 72, 70, 69)

The 131st Open, Muirfield, 2002

Best score of the week: 64 – Colin Montgomerie (R2)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Ernie Els (70, 66, 72, 70)

The 130th Open, Royal Lytham & St Annes, 2001

Best score of the week: 65 – Colin Montgomerie (R1), Des Smyth (R2) & David Duval (R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: David Duval (69, 73, 65, 67)

The 129th Open, St Andrews, 2000

Best score of the week: 66 – Ernie Els (R1), Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Jose Coceres (all R2), David Duval, Bernhard Langer and Bob May (all R3)

Champion Golfer of the Year: Tiger Woods (67, 66, 67, 69)