2011 Open Championship
2011 Open Championship
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2011 Open Championship

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2011 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates14–17 July 2011
LocationSandwich, England
CourseRoyal St George's Golf Club
Organized byThe R&A
ToursEuropean Tour
PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Statistics
Par70[1]
Length7,211 yards (6,594 m)[1]
Field156 players, 71 after cut
Cut143 (+3)
Prize fund£5,000,000
€5,553,000
$8,067,100
Winner's share£900,000
€999,540
$1,452,078
Champion
Northern Ireland Darren Clarke
275 (−5)
← 2010
2012 →
Sandwich  is located in England
Sandwich 
Sandwich 
Location in England
Sandwich is located in Kent
Sandwich
Sandwich
Location in Kent. England

The 2011 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 140th Open Championship, held from 14 to 17 July at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England. Darren Clarke won his first and to date only major championship, three strokes ahead of runners-up Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson.

Venue

[edit]
Main article: Royal St George's Golf Club

This was the fourteenth Open Championship at Royal St George's;[2][3] the last was in 2003 when Ben Curtis won his only major championship and finished as the only player under par at −1, a stroke clear of Vijay Singh and Thomas Bjørn.

The course was lengthened by 105 yards (96 m) and par returned to 70, having been 71 in 2003 when the fourth hole was a par five.[4]

Course layout

[edit]
Hole Yards Par    Hole Yards Par
1 444 4 10 415 4
2 417 4 11 243 3
3 240 3 12 381 4
4 495   4^ 13 459 4
5 419 4 14 547 5
6 178 3 15 496 4
7 564 5 16 163 3
8 453 4 17 426 4
9 412 4 18 459 4
Out 3,622 35 In 3,589 35
Source: Total 7,211 70

^ Hole No. 4 was a par 5 in 2003

Lengths of the course for previous Opens (since 1950):[1]

  • 2003: 7,106 yards (6,498 m), par 71
  • 1993: 6,860 yards (6,273 m), par 70
  • 1985: 6,857 yards (6,270 m), par 70
  • 1981: 6,827 yards (6,243 m), par 70

Field

[edit]

Each year, around two-thirds of The Open Championship field consists of players that are fully exempt from qualifying for the Open. The players who have already qualified for the 2011 Open Championship are listed below. Each player is classified according to the first category in which he qualified, but other categories are shown in parentheses.[5]

1. Past Open Champions aged 60 or under on 17 July 2011
Mark Calcavecchia, Stewart Cink (2,4,20), Ben Curtis (2,4), John Daly, David Duval (2), Ernie Els (2,4,6,7,16), Todd Hamilton (2), Pádraig Harrington (2,4,6,7,14,20), Paul Lawrie, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard (4), Sandy Lyle, Mark O'Meara, Louis Oosthuizen (2,4,5,6,7)

2. The Open Champions for 2001–2010

3. Past Open Champions born between 17 July 1945 and 19 July 1948
(This exemption category was introduced in 2008 when the age limit for past Open Champions was reduced from 65 to 60. It enabled those past Champions aged 60 to 65 at that time to continue playing until they were 65. Johnny Miller is now the only player in this category. He has not played in the Open since 1991.)

4. Past Open Champions finishing in the top 10 and tying for 10th place in The Open Championship 2006–2010
Tom Watson

5. First 10 and anyone tying for 10th place in the 2010 Open Championship
Paul Casey (6,7,8,16), Retief Goosen (6,7,16), Martin Kaymer (6,7,14,20), Rory McIlroy (6,7,12,20), Sean O'Hair, Robert Rock, Henrik Stenson (15), Nick Watney (6,16), Lee Westwood (6,7,20)

6. The first 50 players on the Official World Golf Rankings for Week 22, 2011
Robert Allenby (16), Jonathan Byrd, K. J. Choi (15,16), Ben Crane (16), Jason Day (16), Luke Donald (7,8,16,20), Rickie Fowler (20), Jim Furyk (16,20), Bill Haas, Anders Hansen (7), Peter Hanson (7,20), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (7,20), Dustin Johnson (16,20), Zach Johnson (13,16,20), Robert Karlsson (7), Kim Kyung-tae (24), Matt Kuchar (16,20), Martin Laird (16), Hunter Mahan (16,20), Matteo Manassero, Graeme McDowell (7,12,20), Phil Mickelson (13,16,20), Francesco Molinari (7,20), Edoardo Molinari (7,20), Ryan Moore (16), Geoff Ogilvy (16,22), Ryan Palmer (16), Ian Poulter (7,20), Álvaro Quirós (7), Justin Rose (16), Rory Sabbatini, Charl Schwartzel (7,13,23), Adam Scott (16), Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker (16,20), Bo Van Pelt (16), Bubba Watson (16,20), Yang Yong-eun (14)

7. First 30 in the European Tour Final Race to Dubai for 2010
Fredrik Andersson Hed, Darren Clarke, Rhys Davies, Ross Fisher (20), Stephen Gallacher, Richard Green, Grégory Havret, Thongchai Jaidee, Simon Khan (8), Joost Luiten, Danny Willett

8. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2009–2011

9. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt having applied above, in the top 20 of the 2011 European Tour Race to Dubai on completion of the 2011 BMW PGA Championship
Thomas Aiken, Raphaël Jacquelin

10. First 2 European Tour members and any European Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from all official European Tour events from the 2011 BMW PGA Championship up to and including the BMW International Open and including the U.S. Open
Sergio García, Pablo Larrazábal

11. The leading player, not exempt having applied above, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2011 Alstom Open de France and the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open
Thorbjørn Olesen, Scott Jamieson

12. The U.S. Open Champions for 2007–2011
Ángel Cabrera (13), Lucas Glover

13. The U.S. Masters Champions for 2007–2011
Trevor Immelman

14. The U.S. PGA Champions for 2006–2010

15. The U.S. PGA Tour Players Champions for 2009–2011

16. Top 30 on the Official 2010 PGA Tour FedEx Cup points list
Charley Hoffman, Kevin Na, Jeff Overton (20), Kevin Streelman, Camilo Villegas

17. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt having applied No. 6, in the top 20 of the FedEx Cup points list of the 2011 PGA Tour on completion of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Aaron Baddeley, Mark Wilson, Gary Woodland

18. First 2 PGA Tour members and any PGA Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from The Players Championship and the five PGA Tour events leading up to and including the 2011 AT&T National
Harrison Frazar, Freddie Jacobson

19. The leading player, not exempt having applied above, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2011 AT&T National and the 2011 John Deere Classic
Charles Howell III, Kyle Stanley

20. Playing members of the 2010 Ryder Cup teams

21. First place on the 2010 Asian Tour Order of Merit
Noh Seung-yul

22. First place on the 2010 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit

23. First place on the 2010 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit

24. The 2010 Japan Open Champion

25. First 2, not exempt, on the Official Money List of the Japan Golf Tour for 2010
Hiroyuki Fujita, Ryo Ishikawa

26. The leading 4 players, not exempt, in the 2011 Mizuno Open
Bae Sang-moon, Hwang Jung-gon, Brad Kennedy, Prayad Marksaeng

27. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, not exempt having applied (26) above, in a cumulative money list taken from all official 2011 Japan Golf Tour events up to and including the 2011 Mizuno Open
Hiroo Kawai, Tadahiro Takayama

28. The Senior British Open Champion for 2010
Bernhard Langer

29. The 2011 Amateur Champion
Bryden Macpherson (a)

30. The 2010 U.S. Amateur Champion
Peter Uihlein (a)

31. The 2010 European Individual Amateur Champion
Lucas Bjerregaard (a)

International Final Qualifying

Australasia: Kurt Barnes, Rick Kulacz, Matthew Millar[10]
Africa: Floris de Vries, Martin Maritz, Neil Schietekat[11]
Asia: Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Jason Knutzon, Lam Chih Bing, Prom Meesawat[12]
America: Chad Campbell, Brian Davis, Bob Estes, Nathan Green, Jerry Kelly, Spencer Levin, Davis Love III, Chris Tidland[13]
Europe: Grégory Bourdy, Gary Boyd, Alejandro Cañizares, George Coetzee, Kenneth Ferrie, Richard McEvoy, Alex Norén, Graeme Storm, Peter Whiteford[14]

Local Final Qualifying

Littlestone: Markus Brier, Lee Corfield, Andy Smith[16]
Prince's: Simon Edwards, Francis McGuirk, Tom Shadbolt[17]
Royal Cinque Ports: Craig Hinton (a), Andrew Johnston, Simon Lilly[18]
Rye: Mark Laskey, Tom Lewis (a), Adam Wootton[19]
  • (a) denotes amateur

Alternates
To make up the full entry of 156, additional players are drawn from the Official World Golf Rankings dated 3 July 2011[20] (provided the player was entered in the Open and did not withdraw from qualifying).[5]

  1. Webb Simpson (ranked 54) – As of 4 July 2011, a maximum of 151 players could qualify so the leading five players in the rankings not already qualified were offered places[21]
  2. J. B. Holmes (59)
  3. Vijay Singh (63) – subsequently withdrew with an injury.[22]
  4. Steve Marino (64)
  5. Yuta Ikeda (67)
  6. Jason Dufner (69) replaced Tiger Woods (Brendan Jones (68) declined the invitation)[6]
  7. Robert Garrigus (70) replaced Thomas Levet[15]
  8. Anthony Kim (72) replaced Tim Clark[7]
  9. Simon Dyson (73) replaced David Toms[8]
  10. Thomas Bjørn (75) replaced Vijay Singh[22]
  11. Ricky Barnes (81) replaced Nicolas Colsaerts (Scott Verplank (76) declined the invitation)[9]

Round summaries

[edit]

First round

[edit]

Thursday, 14 July 2011

Returning to the course where he led by three with four holes to play in 2003, Thomas Bjørn (who gained entry into the tournament as the fifth alternate) shot 65 (−5) in the morning to set the early pace.[23] Surprisingly, 20-year-old amateur Tom Lewis, a later starter, tied Bjørn's score to share the lead. Lewis was the first amateur to hold at least a share of the lead after 18 holes since Michael Bonallack in 1968.[24] He also carded the lowest single-round score by an amateur at The Open Championship.[25] 47-year-old Miguel Ángel Jiménez, 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, and Webb Simpson all shot 66, a stroke back. Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, the reigning U.S. Open champion, bogeyed his first hole and shot 71; world number one Luke Donald and number two Lee Westwood matched that score.[26] Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen struggled in the calmer afternoon conditions, managing only a 72. Dustin Johnson earned shot of the day honors late in the morning when he aced the par-3 16th hole, part of a five-under-par four hole stretch from 14 through 17; he finished at 70. The large group at 68, three off the leaders, included 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, and reigning PGA Championship champion Martin Kaymer.[27]

Place Player Score To par
T1 Denmark Thomas Bjørn 65 −5
England Tom Lewis (a)
T3 United States Lucas Glover 66 −4
Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez
United States Webb Simpson
T6 Sweden Fredrik Andersson Hed 68 −2
Australia Kurt Barnes
United States Ricky Barnes
Northern Ireland Darren Clarke
England Simon Dyson
South Korea Hwang Jung-gon
Germany Martin Kaymer
Spain Pablo Larrazábal
Northern Ireland Graeme McDowell
United States Jeff Overton
United States Ryan Palmer
United States Kyle Stanley

Second round

[edit]

Friday, 15 July 2011

In the morning's play, overnight co-leader Tom Lewis shot 74 to fade back into the chasing pack. The clubhouse lead was taken by Lucas Glover, who started the day one stroke back and posted a steady level-par 70 to stay at −4. He was soon matched by veteran Darren Clarke who reached the mark with a rare closing birdie. As the wind picked up in the afternoon, first round co-leader Thomas Bjørn struggled to an up-and-down 72 to finish at −3. At various times, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Simon Dyson took the lead, but struggled on their back nines; Jiménez finished at −3 and Dyson at E. Joining Bjørn and Jiménez one shot back were Chad Campbell and Martin Kaymer.

Tom Watson, playing with Tom Lewis, earned the second ace of the tournament, by holing out on the 6th hole for a hole in one. The 61-year-old Watson finished with a 70 to comfortably make the cut; he became the oldest ever player to make an Open cut. Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy played better on Friday shooting 69 for an even par 140, earning a third straight round alongside Rickie Fowler.[28] Notables who missed the cut included World No. 1 Luke Donald, World No.2 Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney, and Pádraig Harrington.[29]

Place Player Score To par
T1 Northern Ireland Darren Clarke 68-68=136 −4
United States Lucas Glover 66-70=136
T3 Denmark Thomas Bjørn 65-72=137 −3
United States Chad Campbell 69-68=137
Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez 66-71=137
Germany Martin Kaymer 68-69=137
T7 South Africa George Coetzee 69-69=138 −2
Denmark Anders Hansen 69-69=138
United States Dustin Johnson 70-68=138
Spain Pablo Larrazábal 68-70=138
United States Tom Lehman 71-67=138
United States Davis Love III 70-68=138
South Africa Charl Schwartzel 71-67=138

Amateurs: Lewis (−1), Uihlein (+2), Macpherson (+4), Bjerregaard (+8), Hinton (+29).

Third round

[edit]

Saturday, 16 July 2011

In wet and windy difficult morning conditions, some of the best play came from Tom Watson, using his 35 years of Open experience to survive the worst of the weather and move up the field with a +2 (72). Rickie Fowler shot a two-under 68, still battling much of the worst of the weather, to move into contention at −2. Co-leader Darren Clarke, in the final pairing, shot 69 to take the 54-hole lead at 205 (−5), a stroke behind was Dustin Johnson. Johnson was in the final Sunday pairing for the third time in six majors, after the U.S. Open and PGA Championship the previous year. Second round co-leader Lucas Glover shot 73 to fall back to 209 (−1). Four-time major winner Phil Mickelson had 71 for even par 210,[30] while Thomas Bjørn, repeating his strong showing at the 2003 Open on this course, shot 71 for 208 (−2).[31]

Place Player Score To par
1 Northern Ireland Darren Clarke 68-68-69=205 −5
2 United States Dustin Johnson 70-68-68=206 −4
T3 United States Rickie Fowler 70-70-68=208 −2
Denmark Thomas Bjørn 65-72-71=208
T5 Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez 66-71-72=209 −1
United States Lucas Glover 66-70-73=209
T7 United States Anthony Kim 72-68-70=210 E
United States Phil Mickelson 70-69-71=210
Denmark Anders Hansen 69-69-72=210
South Africa George Coetzee 69-69-72=210
United States Davis Love III 70-68-72=210
Germany Martin Kaymer 68-69-73=210

Final round

[edit]

Sunday, 17 July 2011

Playing in his twentieth Open, 42-year-old Darren Clarke shot an even-par 70 in the final round to win his first major championship by three shots.[32][33] Phil Mickelson, 41, began the day tied for seventh and five shots out of the lead. He charged to a 30 (−5) on the front nine, equalling his lowest nine-hole stretch in a major. Mickelson made eagle on the 7th hole to tie for the lead and added a birdie on the 10th to move to 6-under for the day. Clarke, the 54-hole leader in the final pairing a half-hour back, countered with his own eagle on the 7th to open up a two shot lead.[34] A short missed par putt stalled Mickelson's momentum, and he faded on the back nine with three further bogeys to finish with a 68 (−2), tied for second with Dustin Johnson.[35] Johnson, playing with Clarke, also made a strong challenge, and was two shots out of the lead on the tee of the par-5 14th hole. Johnson tried to reach the green with a 2 iron from the fairway, but pushed it right and out of bounds to end his chances with a double-bogey seven to fall four back. This gave Clarke a four-stroke cushion over his nearest rivals with four holes to play, and he cruised to victory even despite bogeys on his final two holes.[36]

Clarke became the third Northern Irish champion in the past six majors, as well as the oldest debut major-winner, and oldest Open Champion, since Roberto De Vicenzo in 1967. Earlier in the day, Sergio García, playing his 49th consecutive major, had threatened to go low after being −4 for his round late on his front nine, but faded to a 68 (−2), and tied for ninth place. His 68 matched the low round of the day with Mickelson. Thomas Bjørn, eight years from his Open drama, produced another steady round to finish alone in fourth. Tom Watson, at 61 the oldest player to complete all four days at an Open, fired his third 72 of the week and finished in a tie for 22nd. Simon Dyson tied for 9th to take honours as the low Englishman.[37][38][39]

Place Player Score To par Money (£)
1 Northern Ireland Darren Clarke 68-68-69-70=275 −5 900,000
T2 United States Dustin Johnson 70-68-68-72=278 −2 427,447
United States Phil Mickelson 70-69-71-68=278
4 Denmark Thomas Bjørn 65-72-71-71=279 −1 260,000
T5 United States Chad Campbell 69-68-74-69=280 E 181,666
United States Rickie Fowler 70-70-68-72=280
United States Anthony Kim 72-68-70-70=280
8 France Raphaël Jacquelin 74-67-71-69=281 +1 134,502
T9 England Simon Dyson 68-72-72-70=282 +2 104,333
Spain Sergio García 70-70-74-68=282
United States Davis Love III 70-68-72-72=282

Amateurs: Lewis (+9), Uihlein (+12).

Scorecard

[edit]
Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 3 4 4 3 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 5 4 3 4 4
Northern Ireland Clarke −5 −6 −6 −5 −5 −5 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −6 −5
United States Johnson −4 −4 −3 −3 −3 −2 −3 −3 −3 −4 −4 −5 −5 −3 −3 −3 −3 −2
United States Mickelson E −1 −1 −2 −2 −3 −5 −5 −5 −6 −5 −5 −4 −4 −3 −2 −2 −2
Denmark Bjørn −2 −2 −2 −1 −1 −2 −2 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −2 −2 −1 −1
United States Campbell +2 +1 E E E E −1 E +1 +1 +1 E E E E +1 +1 E
United States Fowler −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −1 −1 E E E
United States Kim E −1 −1 E E E −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −2 −2 −2 −1 −1 −1 E

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Eagle Birdie Bogey Double bogey

Source:[40]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2011 Open Championship

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The 2011 Open Championship was the 140th edition of this prestigious major golf tournament, contested from 14 to 17 July at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England.[1][2] Northern Irish professional Darren Clarke emerged victorious, carding a tournament total of 275 (-5) to claim the Claret Jug by three strokes ahead of runners-up Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who both finished at 278 (-2).[1][3] At 42 years old, Clarke secured his maiden major championship on his record 20th attempt to win The Open, becoming the oldest champion since Roberto De Vicenzo in 1967 and dedicating the triumph to his late wife, Heather, who died from breast cancer in 2006.[1][4][5] The event featured a field of 156 players vying for a £5 million purse, with Clarke earning £900,000 as the winner's share.[6][7] Harsh weather defined much of the championship, including gale-force winds and heavy rain on the third round that inflated scores and led to one of the toughest days in recent Open history, while the links course's notorious bunkers and rough further challenged the competitors.[8][1] Among the highlights, 20-year-old English amateur Tom Lewis made history by shooting a 65 in the opening round to share the lead with Thomas Bjørn, setting a new low-score record for an amateur at The Open.[1] Clarke's steady play, including a final-round 70, overcame early leaders and secured a popular victory that resonated deeply in Northern Ireland, following recent major wins by compatriots Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.[3][4]

Overview

Dates and Venue

The 140th Open Championship took place from 14 to 17 July 2011.[1] The tournament was hosted at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England, marking the 14th occasion the venue had staged the event.[9] Previous Open Championships at Royal St George's occurred in 1894, 1899, 1904, 1911, 1922, 1928, 1934, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1985, 1993, and 2003.[9] Founded in 1887, the club was the first course outside Scotland to host the Open, beginning with the 1894 edition won by John Henry Taylor.[9] The total purse for the 2011 championship was £5,000,000, an increase from £4,800,000 in 2010 and the first time it exceeded £5 million.[7] The winner's share was £900,000, up more than 5% from £850,000 the previous year.[7]

Course Details

The Royal St George's Golf Club course, located in Sandwich, Kent, England, was configured for the 2011 Open Championship to a total length of 7,211 yards, lengthened by more than 100 yards from the 2003 event.[10][11] This lengthening, achieved primarily through new back tees on several holes, was designed to challenge modern players with longer equipment while preserving the course's links heritage.[12] The par for the layout was set at 70, consisting of four par-3s, twelve par-4s, and two par-5s.[13] Notable setup changes emphasized the course's traditional links-style challenges, including deep pot bunkers—some of the deepest and most penal in championship golf—and undulating fairways exposed to coastal winds.[14][15] Fairways were widened slightly on select holes to promote strategic play, but the overall emphasis remained on accuracy over distance, with hazards like the infamous 40-foot-deep bunker on the 4th hole (par-4, 496 yards) demanding precise tee shots.[12][16] Key holes highlighted the course's quirky demands, such as the 3rd (par-3, 240 yards), which features a blind tee shot over a hill—lengthened by 30 yards for the event and notable as the only par-3 without bunkers—and the adjacent 4th, where players face another blind drive to navigate a massive dune and avoid the towering front bunker.[17][18] The 14th (par-5, 616 yards), known as the "Suez Canal" for its crossing ditch hazard.[19]

Qualification and Field

Qualification Criteria

The 2011 Open Championship featured a field of 156 players, assembled through a combination of exemptions and qualifying events administered by The R&A.[1] Exemption categories provided direct entry for established players, including all past champions of The Open who were under the age of 60.[20] Additional exemptions were granted to the top 10 finishers (including ties) from the 2010 Open Championship and the top 10 finishers from each of the 2010 major championships. The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of the rankings published on May 23, 2011, and June 20, 2011, also received exemptions, ensuring representation from the world's leading ranked professionals. Further exemptions included winners of PGA Tour events from the 2010 Open Championship through the week prior to the 2011 event, as well as the leading money winners from the 2010–11 seasons of the PGA Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and Sunshine Tour, subject to a minimum number of starts and top-50 money list placement where applicable. Players not exempt through these categories could earn spots via designated qualifying events. Ten places were awarded through International Final Qualifying held on June 28, 2011, at Sunningdale Golf Club, where competitors from Europe and beyond vied for entry in a 36-hole stroke-play format.[21] Four additional spots were allocated from Open Final Qualifying on July 7, 2011, conducted simultaneously at three venues: Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Sunningdale Golf Club, and West Lancashire Golf Club, each hosting 36 holes of stroke play. Two spots were reserved for the leading non-exempt finishers from the 2011 U.S. Open Championship, a reciprocal arrangement between The R&A and the USGA. After 36 holes, the field was reduced by the cut rule, which advanced the top 70 players and ties; in 2011, 71 players proceeded to the weekend rounds at +3.[22]

Notable Players

The defending champion was Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who had claimed the title in 2010 at St Andrews with a seven-stroke victory.[23] The field boasted an array of major champions, including Tiger Woods with 14 major titles, Phil Mickelson with four, Pádraig Harrington with three, Ernie Els with one Open win (2002) among his majors, and Rory McIlroy, fresh off his victory at the 2011 U.S. Open.[5][1][24] Among the entrants were promising rookies and amateurs, notably Tom Lewis, an 18-year-old Englishman and member of the host club Royal St George's, who qualified via the local exemption pathway.[1] No significant absences marred the lineup, with a robust European presence highlighted by 20 past Open winners in the field, alongside competitors from 21 countries overall.[1]

Tournament Rounds

First Round

The first round of the 2011 Open Championship took place on July 14 at Royal St George's Golf Club, where morning play benefited from calmer conditions before winds began to strengthen in the afternoon, impacting ball flight and drives on several holes.[25][26] Denmark's Thomas Bjørn carded a 5-under-par 65 to seize the early lead, fueled by a birdie run on the back nine that included consecutive birdies starting at the par-5 14th hole.[27] English amateur Tom Lewis matched Bjørn's score with his own 65, setting a new record for the lowest round by an amateur in Open history—surpassing the previous mark of 66 shared by Frank Stranahan, Tiger Woods, and Gary Wolstenholme—and becoming the first amateur to lead or co-lead the championship since Ken Bousfield in 1968.[1][25] Sweden's Peter Hanson posted a 4-under 66, positioning him one stroke off the lead and among the early pace-setters who gained an advantage for making the cut.[28] Among notable contenders, Rory McIlroy finished at 1-over 71 after a steady but unspectacular effort, while Darren Clarke opened solidly with a 2-under 68; Tiger Woods, returning from injury, managed a 2-over 72 amid the testing links setup.[29][24]

Second Round

The second round of the 2011 Open Championship took place on July 15 at Royal St George's Golf Club, where calmer conditions compared to the windy opening day allowed for more birdie opportunities, though gusts returned in the afternoon to challenge later groups.[30] Following the first-round tie between amateur Tom Lewis and Thomas Bjørn at 5-under par 65, the leaderboard tightened as several players capitalized on the improved morning weather.[31] Darren Clarke, starting the day at 2-under after a first-round 68, posted a steady 2-under 68 in the second round, highlighted by birdies on the par-5s and solid par saves, to reach 4-under 136 and claim a share of the lead.[31] Lucas Glover, who opened with a 66, carded an even-par 70 featuring a birdie on the 14th but bogeys on the 6th and 18th, also finishing at 4-under 136 to tie Clarke for the 36-hole lead.[1] The pair's position was notable in a bunched field, with seven players within three strokes. The cut fell at 3-over par 143, allowing 71 players to advance to the weekend.[32] Among those making the cut was Rory McIlroy, who rebounded from a 1-over 71 opener with a 1-under 69, including three birdies, to stand at even par 140 after 36 holes.[24] Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen, tied for 17th after a 72, added a solid even-par 70 with birdies on holes 3 and 14 offset by two bogeys, moving to 2-over 142.[1] Amateur Tom Lewis, sharing the first-round lead, faded with a 4-over 74 that included a double bogey on the 5th and bogeys on the 9th and 16th, dropping him to 1-under 139 but still in contention for low amateur honors.[24] The round's lower scoring in the morning— aided by lighter winds—saw eight players break 70, contrasting the tougher afternoon play where the average score climbed above 73.[30]

Third Round

The third round of the 2011 Open Championship took place on July 16 at Royal St George's Golf Club, where players faced challenging conditions that tested their resilience and links golf expertise. Gale-force winds gusting up to 35 mph, combined with heavy rain particularly in the morning, led to elevated scoring across the field, with many competitors struggling to maintain par on the par-70 layout.[33] The weather's severity was most pronounced for early starters, while later groups benefited from a slight easing of the elements around midday, allowing for some recovery in scores.[34] Darren Clarke, starting the day tied for the lead at 4-under par after two rounds of 68, navigated the blustery conditions effectively to card a 1-under-par 69, reaching 5-under 205 after 54 holes and securing a one-shot advantage heading into the final round.[24] His steady play, including birdies on the first and par saves amid the downpour, positioned him as the clear frontrunner. Dustin Johnson, lurking at 2-under entering the round, produced the day's standout performance with a 2-under 68, climbing to 4-under 206 and keeping pressure on Clarke with precise iron play and short game control in the wind.[34] Rickie Fowler also capitalized on the improving weather later in the day, firing a 2-under 68 highlighted by three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the back nine, to surge to 2-under 208 and join Thomas Bjørn in a tie for third.[34] Phil Mickelson, starting at 1-under, managed a 1-over 71 despite the morning rain, holding steady at even par 210 for a share of sixth place and remaining in contention with strong ball-striking that limited damage on exposed holes.[24] The round's high scores overall—only four players broke 70—underscored the course's demanding nature under duress, setting up a tense finale.[8]

Fourth Round

The final round of the 2011 Open Championship took place on July 17 at Royal St. George's Golf Club amid gusty winds and challenging conditions, with Darren Clarke entering the day holding a one-shot lead over Dustin Johnson.[35] Phil Mickelson, starting six shots behind Clarke, mounted an aggressive charge by playing the first seven holes in five under par, including a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh, to tie Clarke for the lead.[35][36] Clarke responded steadily, carding birdies on the fourth and 11th holes while maintaining composure, and he eagled the seventh to regain a two-stroke advantage over Mickelson.[37][35] His approach shot on the ninth hole notably hopped over a greenside bunker, setting up a par save that preserved his momentum, and he played a bogey-free back nine to close with a 1-under-par 70.[35][37] Mickelson reached six under through 10 holes but faltered with a bogey on the 11th after a three-putt from two feet, followed by four bogeys in his next six holes, finishing with a 3-under 68.[37][35][36] Johnson, paired with Clarke, birdied the 10th and 12th to draw within two strokes but suffered a critical double bogey on the par-5 14th after his 2-iron tee shot went out of bounds, derailing his challenge.[37][35] He added a bogey on the 18th after missing a par putt, ending with an even-par 72.[35] Clarke sealed his three-stroke victory at 5-under-par 275 by parring the 17th and 18th holes, lifting the Claret Jug for the first time in his career.[36][37] Johnson and Mickelson tied for second at 2-under 278.[35]

Results and Champion

Final Leaderboard

Darren Clarke won the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St. George's Golf Club with a total score of 275 (−5), securing his first and only major title by three strokes over the field.[38] The final leaderboard featured a mix of established stars and emerging talents, with Clarke's steady play holding off late charges from Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, who tied for second.[38]
PositionPlayerTotalTo ParR1R2R3R4Earnings (USD)
1Darren Clarke (NIR)275−568686970$1,452,078
T2Dustin Johnson (USA)278−270686872$689,737
T2Phil Mickelson (USA)278−270697168$689,737
4Thomas Bjørn (DEN)279−165727171$419,489
T5Chad Campbell (USA)280E69687469$293,105
T5Anthony Kim (USA)280E72687070$293,105
T5Rickie Fowler (USA)280E70706872$293,105
8Raphaël Jacquelin (FRA)281+174677169$235,360
T9Sergio Garcia (ESP)282+270707468$187,296
T9Davis Love III (USA)282+270687272$187,296
The lowest rounds of the tournament were 65s shot by Thomas Bjørn and amateur Tom Lewis in the first round, with Lewis setting a new record for the lowest score by an amateur in Open history.[1] The cut after 36 holes fell at +3 (143), with 71 players advancing to the weekend; notable misses included Tiger Woods (147, +7), world No. 1 Luke Donald (146, +6), world No. 2 Lee Westwood (144, +4), and Pádraig Harrington (144, +4).[39][38] The total purse was $8,067,100, with the top five finishers receiving the following: $1,452,078 to Clarke, $689,737 each to Johnson and Mickelson, $419,489 to Bjørn, and $293,105 each to the T5 trio of Campbell, Kim, and Fowler.[38]

Darren Clarke's Performance

Darren Clarke, a 42-year-old from Northern Ireland, captured his first major championship in his 20th appearance at The Open, finishing at 5-under-par 275 with round scores of 68-68-69-70.[1] After tying for the lead following a second-round 68, Clarke navigated the challenging windy and rainy conditions of the third round to shoot a 69 and take sole possession of the lead at 5-under.[1][34] In the final round, Clarke delivered a steady performance, carding an even-par 70 highlighted by a birdie on the second hole and an eagle on the seventh, followed by a stretch of pars, though he closed with bogeys on the 17th and 18th without dropping worse than bogey overall.[40] This controlled play allowed him to secure the victory by three strokes, finishing atop the leaderboard.[1] The win held deep personal significance for Clarke, who had become a widower in 2006 after his first wife, Heather, died from breast cancer; he dedicated the triumph to her memory and his two young sons, Conner and Tyrone, in an emotional post-round speech.[41] At 42, Clarke became the oldest winner of The Open since Roberto De Vicenzo in 1967 at age 44, marking a career-defining moment after years of near-misses in majors.[1][42]

Legacy and Notes

Weather Impact

The 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's experienced varied meteorological conditions that significantly shaped the tournament's progression. The first two rounds were relatively mild, with light winds of 5-10 mph and occasional showers allowing for more consistent play and lower scores, as evidenced by the second-round leaders benefiting from placid weather.[43][30] The third round, however, brought severe weather that dramatically altered the field's dynamics, featuring heavy rain and wind gusts up to 35 mph, which drove the day's scoring average to 74.69 and limited players to just three under-par rounds—Darren Clarke (69), Dustin Johnson (68), and Rickie Fowler (68).[8][34][33] These conditions particularly penalized early starters, with the first 29 players averaging 76.36 compared to 72.96 for the later groups, emphasizing the need for precision in approach shots and short game over raw distance due to the horizontal rain and swirling gusts that made long drives unreliable.[44][45] While no major play suspensions occurred, tee times were scheduled in waves to mitigate the forecast storm, ensuring the round completed without full-day interruption.[36] The fourth round saw calmer conditions overall, though lingering winds and intermittent showers resulted in a scoring average of 73.61, enabling steady performances like Clarke's even-par 70 that secured his victory by three strokes.[8] This shift favored players with controlled, tactical play, underscoring how the weekend's weather tested resilience and course management in a manner reminiscent of challenging Opens at the venue, though without the extreme disruptions of prior editions.[46]

Records and Milestones

Darren Clarke's victory at the 2011 Open Championship marked several notable milestones in the tournament's history. At age 42, he became the oldest winner since Roberto De Vicenzo in 1967.[1] This triumph came on his 20th appearance in the event, the most any player had needed to secure the Claret Jug.[36] Additionally, Clarke was the first golfer from Northern Ireland to win a major championship since Fred Daly claimed the 1947 Open.[47] The tournament also featured standout amateur performances, with England's Tom Lewis sharing the first-round lead after a 65, the lowest score ever recorded by an amateur in Open history and the first time an amateur had led or co-led after any round since Michael Bonallack in 1968. Lewis finished as the low amateur, earning the Silver Medal, and turned professional shortly after the event in September 2011.[48] Field statistics highlighted the demanding conditions at Royal St. George's, its 14th time hosting the Open. Only 71 of the 156 entrants made the cut at +3, the fewest since 2003.[24] The third round produced particularly high scores amid strong winds, underscoring the venue's reputation as a stern test of links golf.[8] Clarke’s win contributed to a remarkable period for Northern Irish golf, following Graeme McDowell's 2010 U.S. Open victory and Rory McIlroy's 2011 U.S. Open success, elevating the region's profile on the global stage with three majors claimed in just over a year.[49] The achievement enhanced Clarke's stature, paving the way for his subsequent roles as a vice-captain in the 2012 Ryder Cup.[50]

References

  1. 140th Open Royal St Georges 2011 - The Open Championship
  2. Leaderboard - 140th OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 - DP World Tour
  3. The Open 2011: Darren Clarke captures maiden major win - BBC
  4. The Open 2011: Darren Clarke wins first major aged 42
  5. https://www.pga.com/archive/news/news-feature/darren-clarke-wins-2011-open-championship
  6. Prize money at The Open | 1860-2023
  7. Prize fund increased for The Open Championship - DP World Tour
  8. The Open's Toughest Weather | Royal St George's 2011
  9. Royal St George's | Open Venues - The Open Championship
  10. Changes To Royal St. George's For 2011 British - Golf Digest
  11. Players to face longer Open test at Royal St George's - BBC Sport
  12. Fairways widened at Royal St George's for 2011 Open Championship
  13. Royal St Georges Course Guide Now Live - The Open Championship
  14. The Open 2011: how players handle the Royal St George's bunkers ...
  15. Pot Bunkers loom, doom at Royal St George's - Sports Illustrated
  16. The Open 2011: Giant bunker provides licence to thrill - The Guardian
  17. Royal St George Course Guide - Golf Vacations UK
  18. 3rd Hole - Royal St. George's Golf Club
  19. The Open: Royal St. George's, hole by hole - NBC Sports
  20. Age limit exemption for Open champions reduced to 55 - ESPN
  21. Changes to Open Championship entry criteria - DP World Tour
  22. 35 YEARS - Official World Golf Ranking
  23. OPEN INTERNATIONAL FINAL QUALIFYING AT SUNNINGDALE
  24. The Open 2011: The English competitors - BBC Sport
  25. Open Championship Winners: List of British Open champions by year
  26. 2011 British Open Winner and Scores - Golf Compendium
  27. The Open 2011: Amateur Tom Lewis shares lead with Bjorn - BBC
  28. British Open might move tees for wind - ESPN
  29. 2011 British Open -- Thomas Bjorn takes early lead with 5-under 65
  30. British Open 2011 Scores: Dissecting the Day 1 Leaderboard
  31. The Open 2011: Rory McIlroy in solid opening round 71 - BBC Sport
  32. Weather Clears, but Field Bunches Together - The New York Times
  33. The Open 2011: Darren Clarke & Lucas Glover share halfway lead
  34. Tough going for early starters - Articles - DP World Tour
  35. The Open 2011: Darren Clarke one shot ahead after R3 - BBC Sport
  36. Clarke Leads a Blustery Third Round - The New York Times
  37. Holding Steady on Dreary Day, Clarke Captures His First Major
  38. Royal St George's Recap 2011 | Darren Clarke's glorious victory
  39. 31 things you may not remember about the 2011 British Open at ...
  40. 2011 British Open leaderboard, results and prize money payouts
  41. The Open 2011: Donald and Westwood fail to make cut - BBC Sport
  42. The Open 2011: the final day - as it happened | Sport - The Guardian
  43. Darren Clarke dedicates Open victory to his children - BBC Sport
  44. Darren Clarke reflects on 2011 win at The Open at Royal St. George's
  45. British blog: Weather, tee times are important - Golfweek
  46. British Open leader Darren Clarke escapes worst of bad weather in ...
  47. Tom Watson cards early score of the day as bad weather bites
  48. The Open 2011: Weather allows unfancied to enjoy day in the sun
  49. Darren Clarke's win brings calls for Northern Ireland to host Open
  50. British Open leading amateur Lewis turns pro | Reuters
  51. Clarke stunned by Irish winning run - RTE
  52. Darren Clarke to captain Europeans - ABC7 Los Angeles
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