How many golfers have won both the British Open and the Senior Open?
With previous British Open champion Darren Clarke winning the 2022 Senior British Open, we take a look at how many people have won both
With the Open Championship representing the pinnacle of golf, winning at St Andrews is a prize that has been held by few and coveted by all. Players at the peak of their prime find it challenging and when they move into the 50+ age bracket, there is a twin tournament organized by the R&A just for them.
The Seniors Open Championship was first held in 1987 and has featured some of the biggest names in golf, champions of PGA tournaments all over the world, but this year saw Darren Clarke, winner of the 2011 Open Championship, take the top prize.
To pull off such a feat in St Andrews is a once in a lifetime event for most, but to have done it twice, well that is truly special.
In fact, there have been only four players who have ever won both the Open Championship and the Senior Open Championship.
Gary Player, one of the greatest to have ever graced the fairway, won the Open Championship three times, in 1959, 1968, and in 1974. Fourteen years later, he took the 1988 Senior Open Championship before repeating in 1990 and 1997, to make it three wins apiece in either competition.
Bob Charles won the 1963 Open Championship and then took the 1989 and 1993 Senior Open Championship.
And the most impressive of them all was Tom Watson, who combined for eight titles here in Scotland! He won the Open in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, and 1983 before taking honors at the Senior Open in 2003, 2005, and 2007. What a run!
Now Darren Clarke is part of history as only the fourth person ever to win at both events. Slàinte Mhath, Mr Clarke. I raise my glass to you.