Open Championship Notes – 2013
Dates: July 15-21, 2013
Where: Muirfield
Par/Yards: 36-35—71/7,192
Field: 156 Format: 72-hole stroke play
Defending Champion: Ernie Els
How the Open Championship was won in 2012
Third-round leader Adam Scott bogeyed his final four holes, opening the door for Ernie Els to win his fourth major championship – and first since the 2002 Open Championship.
Els, who began the day six strokes behind Scott, posted a 4-under 32 on the closing nine, including a birdie on the par-4 18th hole, to card a final-round 2-under 68 and one-stroke victory over Scott (75).
More on Ernie Els’ win at the 2012 Open Championship
Open Championship Starts: 22 (1989, 1992-2012); Wins: 2 (2002, 2012)
Opens at Muirfield: 2 (T5-1992, 1-2002)
Els, at the age of 42 years, 9 months and 5 days, won for the 19th time on the PGA TOUR in his 335th start. Is the second-consecutive 42-year-old to win the event (Darren Clarke/2011).
Only player in 2012 to post all four rounds at par-or-better (67-70-68-68). The win came in his 79th major championship appearance. His start at Muirfield will represent his 83rd major start.
Nine of his 23 top-5 finishes in major championships have occurred at the Open Championship.
Had three rounds in the 60s in 2012, giving him the most rounds in the 60s in Open Championship history (39-Ernie Els, 37-Nick Faldo, 33-Jack Nicklaus).
Here’s how Els stands in the Open Championship record books for most under-par rounds since 1963: 59 (Jack Nicklaus), 53 (Nick Faldo), 48 (Ernie Els), 45 (Tom Watson).
Owns 13 top-10 finishes in 22 starts at the Open Championship.
After missing the cut in his Open Championship debut in 1989, finished outside the top 30 just once (T34-2005) in 18 consecutive starts between 1992 and 2009, including 12 top-10s and eight top-5s. His win in 2012 marked his 19th made cut in 22 Open starts, snapping a streak of two straight misses (2010-11).
Owns multiple wins at the Open Championship (2002, 2012) and U.S. Open (1994, 1997), just the sixth player to perform the feat (Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Lee Trevino, Els).
Became the second Open Championship winner in the last 20 years to birdie the final hole in the final round. Stewart Cink in 2009 was the other.
Span of 10 years between wins (2002, 2012) is the second largest span between victories in Open Championship history. Sir Henry Cotton holds the record with 11 years between 1937 to 1948.
Enshrined into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011, becomes the first male Hall of Fame member to win a major after being inducted since Lee Trevino was inducted in 1981 and later won the 1984 PGA Championship. The only others to win a major after being inducted are Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
Six-shot come-from-behind win is the largest at the Open Championship andnd in a major championship since Padraig Harrington came back from the same deficit at the 2007 Open Championship.
Is hoping to become just the eighth player to post consecutive Open Championship victories since 1951 (16 overall): Padraig Harrington (2007-08), Tiger Woods (2005-06), Tom Watson (1982-83), Lee Trevino 1971-72), Arnold Palmer (1961-62) and Peter Thomson (1954-56).
Has missed the cut in three of 11 starts on TOUR in 2013, with T4 at the U.S. Open his lone top 10.
Recent Major Championship Trends
Dating to the 2009 Masters (18 majors), the 54-hole leader/co-leader has won just five times: Rory McIlroy (2012 PGA Championship, 2011 U.S. Open), Darren Clarke (2011 Open Championship), Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open Championship) and Angel Cabrera (2009 Masters).
International players have now won the last four majors (2013 U.S. Open/Justin Rose, 2013 Masters/Adam Scott, 2012 PGA Championship/Rory McIlroy and 2012 Open Championship/Ernie Els).
The last 19 major championships have been won by 18 different players. Rory McIlroy is the only player with two wins in majors in that span.
| Year |
Winner |
Major |
| 2013 |
Justin Rose |
U.S. Open |
| 2013 |
Adam Scott |
Masters |
| 2012 |
Rory McIlroy |
PGA |
| 2012 |
Ernie Els Open |
Championship |
| 2012 |
Webb Simpson |
U.S. Open |
| 2012 |
Bubba Watson |
Masters |
| 2011 |
Keegan Bradley |
PGA |
| 2011 |
Darren Clarke |
Open Championship |
| 2011 |
Rory McIlroy |
U.S. Open |
| 2011 |
Charl Schwartzel |
Masters |
| 2010 |
Martin Kaymer |
PGA |
| 2010 |
Louis Oosthuizen |
Open Championship |
| 2010 |
Graeme McDowell |
U.S. Open |
| 2010 |
Phil Mickelson |
Masters |
| 2009 |
Y.E. Yang |
PGA |
| 2009 |
Stewart Cink |
Open Championship |
| 2009 |
Lucas Glover |
U.S. Open |
| 2009 |
Angel Cabrera |
Masters |
| 2008 |
Padraig Harrington |
PGA |
Consecutive major appearances (counting this week):
| Player |
Consecutive starts |
| Sergio Garcia |
57 |
| Adam Scott |
49 |
| K.J. Choi |
46 |
Most major starts without a victory (entering this week):
Lee Westwood 61
Sergio Garcia 59
Steve Stricker 59 (not playing this week)
K.J. Choi 49
Inside the Field
23 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings
29 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking (Steve Stricker/10)
Every PGA TOUR winner this season except Brian Gay, John Merrick, Derek Ernst, Sang-Moon Bae
Seventeen past Open Championship winners (26 wins):
| Winner |
Year |
| Mark Calcavecchia |
1989 |
| Stewart Cink |
2009 |
| Darren Clarke |
2011 |
| Ben Curtis |
2003 |
| David Duval |
2001 |
| Ernie Els |
2002 |
| Nick Faldo |
1987, 1990, 1992 |
| Todd Hamilton |
2004 |
| Padraig Harrington |
2007, 2008 |
| Paul Lawrie |
1999 |
| Tom Lehman |
1996 |
| Justin Leonard |
1997 |
| Sandy Lyle |
1985 |
| Mark O’Meara |
1998 |
| Louis Oosthuizen |
2010 |
| Tom Watson |
1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 |
| Tiger Woods |
2000, 2005, 2006 |
Seven amateurs: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Grant Forrest, Steven Fox, Jimmy Mullen, Garrick Porteous, Rys Pugh, Ben Stow
Notable player updates
Jason Day
Highest-ranked player in the FedExCup standings (10th) without a victory in 2013.
Day is the only player to post top-10 finishes in the first two major championships of the season, finishing third at the Masters and T2 at the U.S. Open. He also performed the feat in 2011, finishing second at both events.
Day will be making his third Open Championship start (T30-2011, T60-2010).
Top-3 finishes for Day in 11 major championship starts: T2-2011 Masters, 2nd-2011 U.S. Open, 3rd-2013 Masters, T2-2013 U.S. Open.
Luke Donald
Donald will be making his 13th career Open Championship appearance. After missing the cut in his first five starts (1999, 2000, 2002-04), he has since made six of seven cuts, with his best finishes coming in 2012 (T5), 2009 (T5) and 2010 (T11).
Donald has made the cut in all nine starts on the PGA TOUR this year, with top-10 finishes at the RBC Heritage (T3), Tampa Bay Championship (T4) and the U.S. Open (T8).
Nick Faldo
Will be making his 35th Open Championship appearance and first since 2010.
Open Championship Starts: 34 (1976-2007, 2009-10)
Open Championship Wins: 3 (1987, 1990, 1992)
Opens at Muirfield: 4 (T12-1980, 1-1987, 1-1992, T59-2002)
Most under-par rounds since 1963: 59 (Jack Nicklaus), 53 (Nick Faldo), 48 (Ernie Els), 45 (Tom Watson)
Most rounds in the 60s in Open Championship history (39-Ernie Els, 37-Nick Faldo, 33-Jack Nicklaus).
Sergio Garcia
Garcia owns the current-longest streak of major appearances, with a start at the 2013 Open Championship representing his 57th straight start in a major – a streak dating to his inaugural Major Championship appearance at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 1996 (missed cut).
In 16 Open Championship starts, owns seven top 10s, including T8 at Muirfield in 2002 (71-69-71-69).
Here’s a look at his top 10s: 2-2007, T5-2005, T5-2006, T8-2002, T9-2001, T9-2011, T10-2003.
Rory McIlroy
Will be making his sixth start at the Open (T42-2007, T47-2009, T3-2010, T25-2011, T60-2012).
Seeking his third Major Championship (2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship)
Making 11th start of 2013, with top-10 finishes at the Valero Texas Open (2nd), World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship (T8), THE PLAYERS Championship (T8), Wells Fargo Championship (T10).
Major championship starts in 2013: Masters (T25), U.S. Open (T41)
Phil Mickelson
Will be making his 84th start in a Major Championship this week, with just eight missed cuts.
Recently finished runner-up at the U.S. Open for the sixth time. Other second-place finishes in majors came at the 2001 PGA Championship and 2011 Open Championship.
Winner of the Scottish Open last week
Since 2000, has just three missed cuts in majors (2007 U.S. Open, 2007 & 2012 Open Championship)
Notched his 41st PGA TOUR victory earlier this year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
In 14 starts this season, has top-3 finishes at the Waste Management Phoenix Open (1st), U.S. Open (1st), U.S. Open (T2), FedEx St. Jude Classic (T2), World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship (T3), Wells Fargo Championship (3rd).
Finished T66 (2002) in one Open Championship start at Muirfield.
Open Championship Professional Starts: 18 (1994-2008, 2010-12); Top 10s: 2 (2-2011, 3-2004),
Justin Rose
Will be making his 12th Open start, with T4 in his inaugural appearance in 1998 his lone top-10 finish.
Opens at Muirfield: 1 (T22-2002 with rounds of 68-75-68-72)
Will be seeking to become the seventh player to win the U.S. Open and Open Championship in the same season: Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods.
Adam Scott
Will be making his 14th Open Championship start, with top-10 finishes in 2006 (T8) and 2012 (2nd).
Opens at Muirfield: 1 (MC-2002 with rounds of 77-68)
Carried a four-stroke lead into the final round in 2012, but bogeyed the final four holes en route to a 5-over 75, falling by one stroke to Ernie Els.
Has closed with 75 the last two years at the Open Championship.
Four Australians have won the Open Championship: Peter Thomson (5 wins), Greg Norman (2), Kel Nagle (1), Ian Baker-Finch (1).
Will be seeking to become the ninth player to win the Masters and Open Championship in the same season: Ben Hogan (1953), Arnold Palmer (1962), Jack Nicklaus (1966), Gary Player (1974), Tom Watson (1977), Nick Faldo (1990), Mark O’Meara (1998) and Tiger Woods (2005).
Jordan Spieth
Winner of the John Deere Classic, 19-year-old became the youngest winner on the PGA TOUR since Ralph Guldahl won the 1931 Santa Monica.
Victory at John Deere Classic secured final spot in The Open Championship field.
Rookie now 11th in FedExCup standings, with 500 points for victory combined with 614 non-member FedExCup points prior to victory.
First Open Championship start and third overall major start (2012 and 2013 U.S. Open).
Tom Watson
Will be making his 36th Open Championship and 137th Major Championship appearance.
Open Championship Starts: 35 (1975-1995, 1997-2003, 2005-06, 2008-12)
Open Championship Wins: 5 (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983)
Opens at Muirfield: 4 (1-1980, 7-1987, MC-1992, MC-2002)
Watson’s runner-up finish in 2009 came 34 years after his victory at the 1975 Open in his inaugural start
Prior to 2009 Open Championship, last top 10 on TOUR was in 2002 and his last win was 1998 Colonial.
T77 in 2012 represented his 25th made cut at the Open Championship
T22 in 2011 was one of 69 top 25s in majors.
Most under-par rounds since 1963: 59 (Jack Nicklaus), 53 (Nick Faldo), 48 (Ernie Els), 45 (Tom Watson)
Lee Westwood
Dating to a T23 at the 2009 U.S. Open, Westwood has finished inside the top 25 in 13 of his last 16 Majors, including nine top 10s (most recent was T8 at 2013 Masters).
Will be making his 19th start at the Open Championship, with a runner-up finish in 2010, T3 in 2009 and solo-fourth in 2004 the best of his four top-10 finishes.
Missed the cut at Muirfield in 2002.
Tiger Woods
FedExCup leader Tiger Woods, a three-time winner of the Open Championship (2000, 2005-06), will make his 17th start (15 professional) at the event.
Finished T28 at the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield, which included a third-round 81.
Seeking his 15th Major Championship victory in his 69th start (63 professional, 6 amateur) in a major.
The 2013 Open Championship will mark his 17th major championship start since his last major win at the 2008 U.S. Open.
Recently won THE PLAYERS Championship for his 78th career PGA TOUR victory at the age of 37 years, 4 months and 12 days. By comparison, Sam Snead won the 78th of his TOUR-leading 82 wins at the 1958 Dallas Open Invitational at the age of 46 years and 12 days.
Winning The Week Before A Major
Since 1934, only 10 players on the PGA TOUR have won the week before winning a major, with Lee Trevino the only player performing the feat at the Open Championship:
2007 Tiger Woods won WGC-Bridgestone Invitational followed by PGA Championship
2006 Phil Mickelson won BellSouth Classic followed by Masters
1988 Sandy Lyle won Greater Greensboro Open followed by the Masters
1971 Lee Trevino won the Canadian Open followed by the Open Championship
1959 Art Wall won the Azalea Open followed by the Masters
1949 *Sam Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open followed by the Masters
1946 *Ben Hogan won the Winnipeg Open followed by the PGA
1945 *Byron Nelson won the Chicago Victory Open followed by the PGA
1939 Ralph Guldahl won the Greater Greensboro Open followed by the Masters
1939 *Henry Picard won the Scranton Open followed by the PGA
*No event scheduled the week after first win. Major was the next event contested
SOURCE: PGA TOUR
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