Open Greats

One of the game’s all-time greats, Gary Player holds the honour of being the only man in the last 100 years to win The Open in three different decades.

The South African announced himself on the world stage at Muirfield in 1959, winning his first Claret Jug at the age of 23.

At the time he was the youngest man to win The Open in the 20th Century, a superb final-round 68 sweeping Player to victory on only his fourth appearance in golf’s original Championship.

His second win came at Carnoustie in 1968. Having finished fourth and third in the previous two Opens, Player edged out Jack Nicklaus and Bob Charles to regain the Claret Jug, thanks in no small part to a stunning final-round eagle on the 14th.

Player’s third Open win - and the eighth of his nine major titles – followed six years later, courtesy of a dominant performance at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

He also holds the record for the most appearances in The Open, having played in an astonishing 46 successive Championships from 1956 – when he finished fourth on debut at Royal Liverpool – to 2001.

Gary Player's record at The Open

1956 | Royal Liverpool

Position: 4th

Score: 291 (71, 76, 73, 71)

1957 | St Andrews

Position: T24

Score: 293 (71, 74, 75, 73)

1958 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: 7th

Score: 283 (68, 74, 70, 71)

1959 | Muirfield

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 284 (75, 71, 70, 68)

1960 | St Andrews

Position: 7th

Score: 284 (72, 71, 72, 69)

1961 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 150 (73, 77)

1962 | Royal Troon

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 153 (74, 79)

1963 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T7

Score: 287 (75, 70, 72, 70)

1964 | St Andrews

Position: T8

Score: 292 (78, 71, 73, 70)

1965 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 226 (76, 71, 79)

1966 | Muirfield

Position: T4

Score: 286 (72, 74, 71, 69)

1967 | Royal Liverpool

Position: T3

Score: 284 (72, 71, 67, 74)

1968 | Carnoustie

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 289 (74, 71, 71, 73)

1969 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T23

Score: 292 (74, 68, 76, 74)

1970 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 224 (74, 75, 75)

1971 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T7

Score: 284 (71, 70, 71, 72)

1972 | Muirfield

Position: 6th

Score: 285 (71, 71, 76, 67)

1973 | Royal Troon

Position: T14

Score: 290 (76, 69, 76, 69)

1974 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 282 (69, 68, 75, 70)

1975 | Carnoustie

Position: T32

Score: 292 (75, 71, 73, 73)

1976 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T28

Score: 294 (72, 72, 79, 71)

1977 | Turnberry

Position: T22

Score: 288 (71, 74, 74, 69)

1978 | St Andrews

Position: T34

Score: 292 (74, 71, 76, 71)

1979 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T19

Score: 295 (77, 74, 69, 75)

1980 | Muirfield

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 220 (77, 71, 72)

1981 | Royal St George’s

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 224 (81, 68, 75)

1982 | Royal Troon

Position: T42

Score: 300 (75, 74, 76, 75)

1983 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 147 (76, 71)

1984 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 149 (74, 75)

1985 | Royal St George’s

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 222 (72, 77, 73)

1986 | Turnberry

Position: T35

Score: 296 (75, 72, 73, 76)

1987 | Muirfield

Position: T66

Score: 300 (72, 74, 79, 75)

1988 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T60

Score: 297 (72, 76, 73, 76)

1989 | Royal Troon

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 152 (79, 73)

1990 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 145 (72, 73)

1991 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T57

Score: 286 (75, 71, 69, 71)

1992 | Muirfield

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 146 (71, 75)

1993 | Royal St George’s

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 144 (73, 71)

1994 | Turnberry

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 145 (72, 73)

1995 | St Andrews

Position: T68

Score: 295 (71, 73, 77, 74)

1996 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 147 (71, 76)

1997 | Royal Troon

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 149 (78, 71)

1998 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 151 (77, 74)

1999 | Carnoustie

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 164 (81, 83)

2000 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 156 (77, 79)

2001 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 159 (77, 82)