2017 Open Championship
The 2017 Open Championship, formally the 146th Open Championship and the final major golf tournament of the year, was contested from 20 to 23 July at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.[1] American Jordan Spieth claimed the Claret Jug, finishing at 12 under par (268) after rounds of 65, 69, 65, and 69, to win by three strokes over runner-up Matt Kuchar.[2] At age 23, Spieth's victory marked his third major title, following the 2015 Masters and 2015 U.S. Open, and made him the youngest player to win three majors since Jack Nicklaus in 1966.[3] The tournament drew a record 235,000 spectators to the links course, which had previously hosted the Open nine times, most recently in 2008.[2] Spieth entered the final round three shots behind leader Kuchar but mounted a dramatic comeback, highlighted by a birdie on the 14th, an eagle on the 15th, and birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to secure the win.[2] The event also featured historic moments, including South Africa's Branden Grace carding a third-round 62—the lowest score in major championship history and the first sub-63 round in a men's major.[2] A field of 156 players competed for a total purse of $10.25 million, with Spieth earning $1.845 million as winner and Kuchar receiving $1.067 million for second place.[1] Third place went to China's Haotong Li at 6 under par (274), while England's Alfie Plant finished as the low amateur at 6 over par (286), earning the Silver Medal.[1][4] The championship underscored Royal Birkdale's challenging conditions, with wind and firm fairways testing the world's top golfers, including notable finishes from Rory McIlroy (T4 at 5 under) and Brooks Koepka (T6 at 4 under).[1]Tournament overview
Dates and venue
The 146th Open Championship took place from July 20 to 23, 2017, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside, England.[3][5] This marked the 10th occasion that Royal Birkdale hosted the event, having previously done so in 1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998, and 2008.[6][7] Practice rounds were held on July 18 and 19, allowing players to familiarize themselves with the links course ahead of the competitive play.[8][9] The tournament introduced a notable logistical change by announcing the prize fund in United States dollars for the first time, with a total purse of $10.25 million and $1.845 million allocated to the winner.[10][11][12] Weather conditions were challenging and windy throughout the event, testing players' adaptability on the exposed coastal layout. The second round on July 21 featured particularly severe gusts exceeding 30 mph accompanied by rain, while the third round on July 22 saw milder winds of 3 to 12 mph under drier skies.[13][14][15]Course details
The 2017 Open Championship was held at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, a classic links course measuring 7,156 yards with a par of 70.[16] The layout features undulating fairways framed by towering sand dunes, dense gorse, and numerous pot bunkers that demand precise shot-making, while the coastal position exposes players to variable winds from the Irish Sea, often amplifying the challenge on exposed holes.[2] No significant alterations were made to the course for 2017 beyond standard tournament preparations, preserving its traditional character established by architect Frederick G. Hawtree in the 1950s.[6] Key holes exemplify the course's strategic demands, such as the par-3 7th (177 yards), where a narrow green is guarded by bunkers and wind can push shots toward the out-of-bounds railway line on the left, and the closing par-4 18th (473 yards), which plays through a dune-lined corridor with staggered fairway bunkers and a green tilted toward the gorse, requiring a controlled approach to avoid rolling into trouble.[16] The setup emphasized firm, fast-running fairways and penal rough, with tees positioned to extend select holes for added length and to counter prevailing winds, heightening the test of links golf fundamentals like low ball flight and creativity around the greens.[2] Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open Championship nine times prior to 2017, beginning in 1954 when Peter Thomson claimed victory, followed by wins from Arnold Palmer in 1961, Thomson again in 1965, Lee Trevino in 1971, Johnny Miller in 1976, Tom Watson in 1983, Ian Baker-Finch in 1991, Mark O'Meara in 1998, and Pádraig Harrington in 2008.[17] The venue holds historical records including multiple single-round scores of 65, underscoring its reputation for rewarding bold play amid natural hazards.[18]Prize fund and format
The 2017 Open Championship offered a total prize purse of $10.25 million, the first time the event's payout was denominated in U.S. dollars instead of British pounds sterling, reflecting the tournament's growing international appeal.[19] The winner received $1.845 million from this fund.[20] The tournament followed the standard format of 72 holes of stroke play for a field of 156 players. After 36 holes, the cut advanced the top 70 players and ties, set at +5 (145) for this edition, with 77 players proceeding to the final two rounds.[21] No playoff was required, as Jordan Spieth secured a three-stroke victory. Professionals entering via qualifying events paid fees ranging from $200 to $400, while amateurs were exempt from these costs to encourage broader participation. The tiebreaker for any post-72-hole deadlock was a four-hole aggregate playoff on holes 1, 2, 17, and 18, followed by sudden-death if necessary, though it went unused in 2017.[22]Qualification and field
Entry criteria and exemptions
The entry criteria for the 2017 Open Championship were established by The R&A to ensure a competitive field of 156 players, primarily through automatic exemptions based on recent achievements, world rankings, and representation from global tours.[23] Exemption categories encompassed past Open champions aged 60 or under on July 23, 2017, the last 10 Open winners regardless of age, and top-10 finishers (including ties) from the 2016 Open.[23] Recent major winners were also exempt, including the last five champions of the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship, as well as the last three Players Championship winners.[23] The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) provided exemptions for the top 50 players as of the week ending May 21, 2017, alongside spots for the top 30 qualifiers from the 2016 PGA Tour season and the top 30 from the 2016 Race to Dubai on the European Tour.[23] For the European Tour, additional exemptions went to the last three BMW PGA Championship winners and the top five non-exempt members following the 2017 BMW International Open, reflecting a 2017 emphasis on prior-season performance from that circuit.[23] Leading amateurs earned spots via the 2017 British Amateur champion, the 2016 U.S. Amateur and European Amateur champions (if remaining amateur), and the recipient of the 2016 Mark H. McCormack Medal for the top-ranked amateur.[23] Representation from developing golf nations was supported through exemptions for 2016 Order of Merit winners from the Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, and top performers on the Japan Golf Tour.[23] Past Open champions did not receive lifetime exemptions, with eligibility restricted to those under 60 years old; this policy applied uniformly, though historical rules prior to 1997 had offered broader access for British winners.[23] Overall, these categories filled approximately 30 spots through past champions and rankings alone, with the remainder via other exemptions and the Open Qualifying Series.[23]Qualifying events
The Open Qualifying Series for the 2017 Open Championship comprised 12 tournaments held across 10 countries from November 2016 to July 2017, offering spots to the leading non-exempt finishers in each event.[24] These included the Emirates Australian Open (November 17–20, 2016), SMBC Singapore Open (January 19–22), Joburg Open (February 23–26), Ho Tram Players Championship (April 13–16, though later postponed and replaced), Mizuno Open (May 25–28), HNA Open de France (July 1–4), Quicken Loans National (June 29–July 2), Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (July 6–9), The Greenbrier Classic (July 6–9), Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (July 13–16), and John Deere Classic (July 13–16).[25] In total, 12 players earned entry through the series by placing in the top three (or equivalent positions adjusted for ties and exemptions) in these co-sanctioned professional events.[24] Final Qualifying took place on July 4, 2017, across five UK venues in 36-hole stroke-play format, awarding 15 spots to the low scorers at each site.[26] The venues were Woburn Golf & Country Club (Bedfordshire), Royal Cinque Ports (Kent), Gailes Links (Ayrshire, Scotland), Hillside Golf Club (Merseyside), and Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell course, Nottinghamshire), with three places available per location.[26] Notable qualifiers included England's Ian Poulter, who advanced from Woburn with scores of 70-68 to earn his 18th Open appearance, and Indian professional Shiv Kapur, who posted 71-65 at the same site.[26] At Gailes Links, 21-year-old Scottish amateur Connor Syme secured a spot with a 4-under total, while at Hillside, England's Haydn McCullen led the qualifiers with a course-record 64.[27] Canadian Austin Connelly also advanced from Woburn via a playoff birdie for the final spot there.[28] Four first alternates were selected from the Final Qualifying results to fill any late withdrawals, with two ultimately playing in the tournament due to pullouts before the first round.[26] This process ensured the field reached its full capacity of 156 players at Royal Birkdale.[29]Final field composition
The final field for the 2017 Open Championship comprised 156 players drawn from qualification exemptions and events, with 77 advancing to the weekend rounds after the 36-hole cut at +5 or better.[30][1] Players represented 28 countries, underscoring the tournament's international appeal, with the United States leading in participation at 36 entrants, followed by England (12) and Australia (9).[31][32] Among the notable professionals were defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who sought to repeat his 2016 victory, alongside multiple major winners including Rory McIlroy (four-time major champion), Phil Mickelson (five-time major champion), and Jason Day (2015 PGA Championship winner).[3][29] The field also featured five amateurs: Alfie Plant and Harry Ellis of England, Connor Syme of Scotland, Luca Cianchetti of Italy, and Maverick McNealy of the United States, with Plant ultimately earning the Silver Medal as the low amateur.[33][2] Two pre-tournament withdrawals occurred due to injury: 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis, replaced by alternate Tony Finau, and Brandt Snedeker, replaced by alternate James Hahn.[34][35]Rounds and play
First round
The first round of the 2017 Open Championship was held on July 20, 2017, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Weather conditions varied throughout the day, starting with cool temperatures around 15°C (59°F), scattered rain showers, and gusty winds up to 20 mph in the morning that challenged early starters, before improving to mostly calm with light winds, sunshine, and drier conditions by the afternoon.[36][37][38] Three American players—Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Matt Kuchar—shared the lead at five under par 65, the lowest scores of the day on the par-70 layout stretching 7,086 yards. Spieth delivered a bogey-free round, making six birdies, including a strong sequence on the back nine where he birdied holes 11, 12, 14, and 16 to surge into contention. Koepka reached the lead briefly with an eagle on the par-5 17th, holing out from a greenside bunker after a bogey on the previous hole, while Kuchar relied on consistent iron play and putting for his steady 65. Paul Casey of England was one stroke back at four under 66.[37][39][40] Rory McIlroy, a pre-tournament favorite, finished at one over par 71 after a challenging start with three bogeys in his first seven holes for a front-nine 39, but he rallied on the back nine with four birdies, including a 25-foot putt on the par-5 15th, for a 32 to remain in contention. The three amateurs in the field—England's Alfie Plant and Scott Gregory, and Scotland's Connor Syme—struggled overall, posting scores of 74 (+4), 77 (+7), and 78 (+8) respectively, averaging seven over par amid the links challenges.[40][37] The par-5 holes (3rd, 15th, and 17th) yielded low scores, accounting for many of the day's birdies and eagles as players capitalized on the softened greens from morning rain. Notable highlights included Ernie Els's birdie on the 15th to reach three under, and multiple eagles across the par-5s, such as Koepka's on the 17th and another on the 3rd by Thorbjørn Olesen, contributing to 39 players finishing under par.[40][37]Second round
The second round of the 2017 Open Championship took place on July 21 amid deteriorating weather conditions, with winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour and intermittent heavy rain that prompted a 15-minute suspension of play to clear standing water from the greens. These elements transformed Royal Birkdale into a stern test, resulting in a field scoring average well above par and severely limiting birdie chances—only eight players managed sub-par rounds, underscoring the wind's impact on ball flight and green access.[21][41] Jordan Spieth maintained his lead from the first round, navigating the challenges with a 1-under 69 that included an eagle on the par-5 18th hole after a precise long iron approach, finishing at 6-under-par 134 overall and two strokes clear of Matt Kuchar at 4-under 136. Spieth's resilience was evident in his recovery from a bogey at the 9th, where he steadied with key par saves amid the gusts to preserve his position at the top. Meanwhile, emerging contenders made significant moves: Zach Johnson fired the day's lowest score of 66 to surge 100 positions into contention at 1-under, while Rory McIlroy carded a 68—third-best of the round—to climb 52 spots to 3-under, capitalizing on calmer spells early in his back nine.[21][42] The 36-hole cut was set at 5-over-par 145, allowing 77 players (the top 70 plus ties) to advance to the weekend rounds. Notable casualties included major winners Phil Mickelson (10-over after a second-round 77), Justin Thomas (7-over following an 80), and Patrick Reed (8-over), whose struggles with the wind-swept rough and firm greens epitomized the round's brutality. Delays remained brief beyond the initial rain pause, enabling the field to complete play without further interruption.[43][44][45]Third round
The third round of the 2017 Open Championship was held on July 22 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, under significantly improved weather conditions from the previous day. Light winds of 3 to 5 mph prevailed, accompanied by sunny skies and mostly dry play, which softened the course and facilitated aggressive scoring across the field.[46][47] Jordan Spieth, holding a two-shot lead after 36 holes at 6-under par, capitalized on the benign setup with a 5-under-par 65, highlighted by strong putting and precise iron play, to reach 11-under for the tournament and extend his advantage to three strokes.[48][49] The round's defining moment belonged to South Africa's Branden Grace, who produced the lowest score in men's major championship history with an 8-under-par 62 on the par-70 layout—the first sub-63 round in 440 majors dating back to 1860. Starting the day at 4-over par after scraping through the cut, Grace played a flawless, bogey-free card with eight birdies, going out in 29 on the front nine (5-under relative to its par of 34) before coming home in 33 (3-under relative to par 36). His birdies came at holes 1 (16 feet), 4 (35 feet), 5 (drivable par-4, iron off the tee followed by a pitch-in), 8, 9 (to complete a 29), 14, 16, and 17 (two-putt on the par-5 after reaching the green in two with a 3-iron); he closed with a par at 18 after a 60-foot lag putt to 3 feet. Grace's hot streak featured birdies on five of his last six holes on the front nine and three birdies amid the tougher back nine, vaulting him to a tie for sixth at 4-under overall.[50][51][52][53]| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 70 |
| Score | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 62 |
| Relative to Par | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | -3 | -8 |
Final round
The final round of the 2017 Open Championship was contested on July 23, 2017, amid calmer winds that eased the challenges at Royal Birkdale Golf Club compared to the blustery conditions of the previous day. Jordan Spieth, who held a three-shot lead over Matt Kuchar after 54 holes, teed off in the final pairing alongside Kuchar at 2:30 p.m. BST. The par-3 fourth hole, known for its difficulty with its north-facing exposure to the elements, yielded no birdies during the round, underscoring its toughness even in milder weather.[55][56][13] Spieth's round began unsteadily, with bogeys on the first, second, and fifth holes dropping him one stroke behind Kuchar through six holes. He regrouped on the front nine but faced a critical test on the par-4 13th, where his errant tee shot landed in deep rough, forcing him to declare an unplayable lie and drop near the driving range; remarkably, he chipped to six feet and saved par. Kuchar capitalized with a birdie on the same hole to seize a one-shot lead, setting up a tense battle for the Claret Jug.[57][55] The momentum shifted decisively on the back nine as Spieth birdied the par-3 14th—his tee shot finishing inches from the cup for a near hole-in-one—to tie Kuchar. He then poured in a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th to take the lead, followed by birdies on the 16th from 20 feet and the 17th, playing the final five holes in 5-under par. Kuchar maintained a steady performance with a 1-under 69, finishing at 9-under for the tournament. Spieth closed with a par on the 18th for his own 69, securing a three-stroke victory and a total score of 12-under 268.[2][58] Immediately after holing his final putt, Spieth was presented with the Claret Jug on the 18th green by R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, who hailed his resilience in becoming the youngest three-time major winner since Jack Nicklaus. The ceremony included the traditional donning of the iconic trophy, which Spieth kissed in celebration before addressing the crowd and media.[59][2]Results and records
Final leaderboard
Jordan Spieth won the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, finishing at 12 under par (268) to claim the Claret Jug and his third major title. He finished three strokes ahead of runner-up Matt Kuchar, who ended at 9 under par (271). The total purse was $10.25 million, with Spieth earning $1.845 million for the victory and Kuchar receiving $1.067 million for second place.[1][60] The following table shows the top 10 finishers and ties on the final leaderboard:| Position | Player | Country | Scores | Total | To Par | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Spieth | United States | 65-69-65-69 | 268 | -12 | $1,845,000 |
| 2 | Matt Kuchar | United States | 65-71-66-69 | 271 | -9 | $1,067,000 |
| 3 | Haotong Li | China | 69-73-69-63 | 274 | -6 | $684,000 |
| T4 | Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland | 71-68-69-67 | 275 | -5 | $480,000 |
| T4 | Rafa Cabrera-Bello | Spain | 67-73-67-68 | 275 | -5 | $480,000 |
| T6 | Branden Grace | South Africa | 72-69-62-75 | 276 | -4 | $281,000 |
| T6 | Brooks Koepka | United States | 65-72-68-71 | 276 | -4 | $281,000 |
| T6 | Marc Leishman | Australia | 69-76-66-65 | 276 | -4 | $281,000 |
| T6 | Alex Norén | Sweden | 68-72-69-67 | 276 | -4 | $281,000 |
| T6 | Matthew Southgate | England | 69-69-70-68 | 276 | -4 | $281,000 |