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In 1932 The Open visited Prince’s for what would prove to be the first and only time as Gene Sarazen set a new scoring record for the Championship of 283 using the newly invented sand wedge. The present-day 27-hole layout is the result of a 1950 re-design following war-time damage to the original course which was redesigned and rebuilt by Sir Guy Campbell and John Morrison.
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Prince's in pictures
THE 67th OPEN
Gene Sarazen / Sarazen sets new Open scoring record at Prince's
The History of The Open
The journey of golf's original major
1860
The 1st Open is played at Prestwick, with Willie Park Senior claiming glory.
1862
Tom Morris Snr wins The Open by 13 strokes, a record which still stands today.
1870
Young Tom Morris takes possession of the Challenge Belt after a third successive victory.
1873
The Open is played at St Andrews for the first time, with Tom Kidd winning the newly crafted Claret Jug.
1883
The Open is played over 18 holes for the first time, after Prestwick extends its course.
1907
Arnaud Massy becomes the first Continental winner of The Open.
1914
Harry Vardon wins his sixth Open and the last before the First World War. His record of six wins remains unbeaten.
1930
The legendary Bobby Jones wins The Amateur, the US Amateur, the US Open and his third Open Championship to claim the 'grand slam'.
1951
The Open is played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Until 2019, this was the only time it had been held outside mainland Britain.
1953
Ben Hogan wins The Open at Carnoustie in his first and only appearance.
1961
'The King' Arnold Palmer wins The Open at Royal Birkdale and would go on to defend his title the following year at Royal Troon.Â
1965
Peter Thomson wins his fifth Claret Jug, cementing his place as an icon of The Open.
1969
The Open is broadcast in colour on BBC Television for the first time.
1977
Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in what would become known as 'The Duel in the Sun' at Turnberry, an iconic moment of golf and sportsmanship.
1978
Jack Nicklaus wins his third and final Open, claiming victory at St Andrews.
1983
Tom Watson wins his fifth and final Open Championship.
1988
Now an icon of European golf, Seve Ballesteros wins his third Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
1999
Paul Lawrie wins at Carnoustie in one of the most dramatic finishes in Open history.
2000
The largest Open crowd in history is at St Andrews to witness Tiger Woods claim his first Claret Jug.
2004
The International Final Qualifying is launched, giving players the chance to qualify directly into the starting field of 156 competitors.
2006
An emotional Tiger Woods captures his third Open with victory at Royal Liverpool.
2009
Matteo Mannasero becomes the youngest ever winner of the Silver Medal aged just 16 years and 3 months. He played the first two rounds with eventual runner-up Tom Watson, aged 59.
2017
Branden Grace shoots 62 at Royal Birkdale, the lowest ever round in a major.
2018
Francesco Molinari becomes the first ever Italian major champion with victory at Carnoustie.
2019
The Open's return to the island of Ireland, at Royal Portrush, produces a hugely popular Champion in Shane Lowry.
2021
After a two-year wait, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The 149th Open at Royal St George's is won by Championship debutant Collin Morikawa.