Low winning scores

Only four Champion Golfers have finished with a lower score to par than Scottie Scheffler following his commanding display at Royal Portrush in 2025.

The world number one finished on 17-under-par, four strokes clear of Harris English. Scheffler’s tally matched that of Rory McIlroy when the Northern Irishman lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

A hugely impressive score, Scheffler came within three shots of the lowest-ever score set by an Open Champion.

Cameron Smith (2022) and Henrik Stenson (2016) share the record low score of 20-under-par, while only Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo have bettered Scheffler’s number since 1963*.

-20 – Cameron Smith; St Andrews, 2022

Smith became the first Champion Golfer to shoot two scores of 64 or better in an electric performance on the Old Course. He started the final day of The 150th Open four strokes behind McIlroy but drained six birdies on the back nine in an immense display of putting.

-20 – Henrik Stenson; Royal Troon, 2016

A spectacular birdie putt on the final hole clinched The 145th Open for Stenson at Royal Troon in 2016. The Swede shot 68-65-68-63 to reach the magical 20-under-par mark, holding off Phil Mickelson to win by three strokes on an incredible Open Sunday.

-19 – Tiger Woods; St Andrews, 2000

Tiger has delivered many major masterclasses but his first Claret Jug success will always stand out. He completed the career Grand Slam at St Andrews in 2000, with four rounds in the 60s seeing him win by a record eight shots.

-18 – Tiger Woods; Royal Liverpool, 2006

In emotional scenes on the 18th green, Tiger sealed his third Open success at Royal Liverpool just two months on from the death of his beloved father Earl. Woods put on a tactical clinic in the first Open at Hoylake for 39 years, preferring to take iron off the tee. It helped him to rounds of 67-65-71-67 and a two-stroke win.

-18 – Sir Nick Faldo; St Andrews, 1990

Faldo was simply unstoppable at The 119th Open, with rounds of 67-65-67-71 enough to win his second Claret Jug and his first at the home of golf. Faldo won by five shots from Mark McNulty and Payne Stewart.

-17 – Scottie Scheffler; Royal Portrush, 2025

Scheffler cantered to victory at Royal Portrush, winning a first Claret Jug by four strokes. The world number one compiled rounds of 68, 64, 67 and 68, dropping shots on just four holes all week.

-17 – Rory McIlroy; Royal Liverpool, 2014

When McIlroy is on fire, there are few greater sights in golf and the Northern Irishman followed in Woods’ footsteps by lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool. A pair of 66s helped him to a four-shot lead on Friday night and he followed it up with two more solid rounds to win by two.

-16 – Louis Oosthuizen; St Andrews, 2010

Louis Oosthuizen romped to victory at St Andrews to cap a magnificent sporting summer for South Africa with his maiden major triumph. Just two weeks after his country had hosted the FIFA World Cup, Oosthuizen stormed to a seven-stroke win over Lee Westwood – only Tiger in 2000 has won by more (eight) since 1913.

*Prior to 1963, all holes were played as level 4. From 1963, pars were introduced and holes were played in 3, 4 or 5 shots.