Silver Medal winners

Amateur golfers have produced some of the most memorable moments in The Open’s long and illustrious history.

John Ball, Harold Hilton and Bobby Jones all won the Championship before entering the professional ranks, managing a feat scarcely believable in the modern age.

In the modern era, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced themselves at The Open while still amateurs, winning the Silver Medal as teenagers and providing fans with a glimpse of their awesome talents before going on to win the career Grand Slam.

The Silver Medal, awarded to the Championship’s best-performing amateur to make the cut, was introduced five years before The Open was first staged at Royal Birkdale, and through the decades the quest for the accolade has thrown up some compelling stories.

Ahead of The Open's return to Southport this summer, we look at the seven golfers to have captured the Silver Medal at the iconic venue.

Alfie Plant, 2017

As Jordan Spieth was lifting the Claret Jug, Alfie Plant got his hands on the prestigious Silver Medal as the best performing amateur at The 146th Open.

Opening rounds of 71 and 73 meant he was the only player not in the professional ranks to make the cut. The Londoner then saved his best for Moving Day, carding an excellent 69 on a sensational Saturday which also saw Branden Grace card the lowest-ever 18-hole tally at The Open.

Plant’s performance carried the same spirit seen in past amateur successes at golf’s original championship, and he ended the week by adding his name to the list of iconic golfers to have finished the week as leading amateur. To date, it remains his sole appearance at The Open.

Chris Wood, 2008

Chris Wood was a picture of calmness and composure, unfazed by the occasion as he became one of the standout stories at The 137th Open.

With his father as caddie, the Englishman achieved a remarkable T5 finish, level with major winner Jim Furyk, thanks to incredible consistency and impressive shot-making across the four days.

A year after his Silver Medal-winning display, and having turned professional, Wood finished tied third at Turnberry, missing out on a play-off with Tom Watson and Stewart Cink by one shot.

He was back at Royal Birkdale in 2017, and ended the week T14.

Justin Rose, 1998

A decade earlier, Justin Rose captured the imagination of fans with a fearless performance at The 127th Open.

Battling the biggest names in the game, and very much in contention come Sunday afternoon, his composure and talent shone through – exemplified by his unforgettable moment on the final hole.

With huge crowds surrounding Birkdale’s iconic 18th hole, the 17-year-old holed out from the rough for birdie to seal his Silver Medal and earn a tie for fourth place.

It was a week Rose announced himself to the golfing world and remains one of the most memorable amateur performances in history.

Jim Payne, 1991

Jim Payne remained solid throughout his campaign at The 120th Open, relying on controlled iron play and smart course management.

His ability to avoid mistakes and grind out pars, particularly on the closing holes as others faltered around him, saw him end the week in a tie for 38th.

Aged 21 at the time, Payne played with the great Jack Nicklaus on the Sunday, recording a final round score of 70 to seal the Silver Medal on the day Ian Baker-Finch captured the Claret Jug.

After featuring at the Walker Cup later in 1991, Payne turned professional and the following year was named the European Tour Rookie of the Year.

Sir Michael Bonallack, 1971

One of the most decorated amateur golfers of all time, Sir Michael Bonallack won the second of his two Silver Medals at Royal Birkdale.

In fine weather at The 100th Open – and as Lee Trevino battled with Lu Liang Huan at the top of the leaderboard – Sir Michael showcased his ability as an elite links players with a strong performance to end the week in a tie for 22nd.

His first Silver Medal triumph came three years earlier, the year of Gary Player’s memorable victory at Carnoustie.

A legendary figure, and former Captain and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, he played in nine Walker Cup matches, finished T11 at The Open and won The Amateur Championship five times.

Michael Burgess, 1965

As Peter Thomson was winning his fifth Claret Jug in 1965, Michael Burgess was celebrating silverware of his own.

The amateur finished in a tie for 29th, with a score of 299.

The 94th Open represented the third time the Championship was staged at Birkdale, but only the second time the Silver Medal had been awarded at the venue.

In 1961, the year Arnold Palmer was named Champion Golfer, no amateur player made the cut.

Peter Toogood, 1954

Peter Toogood became just the third player to win the Silver Medal when he ended the week as low amateur at The 83rd Open.

Although the honour had been awarded five times prior to Toogood’s success, four of those times (1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953) Frank Stranahan was the recipient. J.W. Jones was the Silver Medal winner in 1952 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Toogood finished T15 as Royal Birkdale staged The Open for the first time, and his fellow Australian Thomson won the first of his five Claret Jugs.

This success came in the same year Toogood won the Australian Amateur, beating his brother John in the final and prompting the now iconic newspaper headline “Toogood was too good for Toogood”.