Open Greats

Only one golfer was able to record three successive Open victories in the 20th century, the great Peter Thomson.

The Australian claimed the first Open title for his country in 1954 as a 24-year-old at Royal Birkdale, and went on to win the Claret Jug three further times in that decade alone.

His maiden victory represented a much-anticipated breakthrough after Thomson had finished as the runner-up in each of the previous two years, having also been an impressive sixth on debut at Royal Portrush in 1951.

He followed up his first success by winning at St Andrews the next year and then completed a hat-trick of triumphs at Royal Liverpool in 1956.

A play-off victory over Dave Thomas in 1958 made it four wins in five years for the increasingly dominant Thomson, but arguably his greatest triumph came in 1965.

Although four-time Champion Golfer Bobby Locke represented a formidable rival to Thomson in the 1950s, some critics highlighted the absence of leading American players as a significant factor in his success.

However, all of the best players in the world were present at Birkdale in 1965 - including the ‘big three’ of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player – as Thomson prevailed by two shots to claim his fifth and final Open title.

Only Harry Vardon has won golf’s original Championship more often, with Thomson among esteemed company alongside James Braid, JH Taylor and Tom Watson as a five-time Champion.

Peter Thomson’s record at The Open

1951 | Royal Portrush

Position: T6

Score: 293 (70, 75, 73, 75)

1952 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: 2nd

Score: 288 (68, 73, 77, 70)

1953 | Carnoustie

Position: T2

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

1954 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 283 (72, 71, 69, 71)

1955 | St Andrews

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 281 (71, 68, 70, 72)

1956 | Royal Liverpool

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 286 (70, 70, 72, 74)

1957 | St Andrews

Position: 2nd

Score: 282 (73, 69, 70, 70)

1958 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 278 (66, 72, 67, 73)

1959 | Muirfield

Position: T23

Score: 294 (74, 74, 72, 74)

1960 | St Andrews

Position: T9

Score: 286 (72, 69, 75, 70)

1961 | Royal Birkdale

Position: 7th

Score: 290 (75, 72, 70, 73)

1962 | Royal Troon

Position: T6

Score: 292 (70, 77, 75, 70)

1963 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: 5th

Score: 285 (67, 69, 71, 78)

1964 | St Andrews

Position: T24

Score: 299 (79, 73, 72, 75)

1965 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 285 (74, 68, 72, 71)

1966 | Muirfield

Position: T8

Score: 288 (73, 75, 69, 71)

1967 | Royal Liverpool

Position: T8

Score: 287 (71, 74, 70, 72)

1968 | Carnoustie

Position: T24

Score: 301 (77, 71, 78, 75)

1969 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T3

Score: 283 (71, 70, 70, 72)

1970 | St Andrews

Position: T9

Score: 289 (68, 74, 73, 74)

1971 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T9

Score: 285 (70, 73, 73, 69)

1972 | Muirfield

Position: T31

Score: 294 (71, 72, 74, 77)

1973 | Royal Troon

Position: T31

Score: 294 (76, 75, 70, 73)

1974 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 160 (79, 81)

1975 | Carnoustie

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 229 (73, 75, 81)

1976 | Royal Birkdale

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 154 (75, 79)

1977 | Turnberry

Position: T13

Score: 286 (74, 72, 67, 73)

1978 | St Andrews

Position: T24

Score: 290 (72, 70, 72, 76)

1979 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T26

Score: 297 (76, 75, 72, 74)

1984 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 221 (72, 73, 76)