Hubbry Logo
2012 Open Championship2012 Open ChampionshipMain
Open search
2012 Open Championship
Community hub
2012 Open Championship
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
2012 Open Championship
2012 Open Championship
2012 Open Championship
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

2012 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates19–22 July 2012
LocationLytham St Annes,
Lancashire, England
CourseRoyal Lytham & St Annes
Golf Club
Organized byThe R&A
Tours
Statistics
Par70
Length7,086 yards (6,479 m)[1]
Field156 players, 83 after cut
Cut143 (+3)
Prize fund£5,000,000
€6,316,000
$7,810,500
Winner's share£900,000
€1,136,880
$1,405,890
Champion
South Africa Ernie Els
273 (−7)
← 2011
2013 →
Lytham & St Annes is located in England
Lytham & St Annes
Lytham &
St Annes
class=notpageimage|
Location in England
Lytham & St Annes is located in Lancashire
Lytham & St Annes
Lytham &
St Annes
class=notpageimage|
Location in Lancashire. England

The 2012 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 141st Open Championship, held from 19 to 22 July at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England. Ernie Els won his second Claret Jug, one stroke ahead of runner-up Adam Scott. Tiger Woods and Brandt Snedeker finished tied for third, four strokes behind Els, who gained his fourth major title.[2][3]

Scott was the leader after 54 holes at 199 (−11), with Els six strokes back, tied for fifth.[4] After a birdie at the 14th hole, Scott was four strokes ahead with four holes to play. Els, two groups ahead of Scott on the course, birdied the 18th hole for a score of 68 and the clubhouse lead at 273 (−7). When Scott agonizingly bogeyed each of the final four holes, he dropped to second and Els won the Championship by a single stroke.[4][5]

Entering the final round, Graeme McDowell and Snedeker were tied for second at 203 (−7), four strokes behind Scott.[4] McDowell shot a 75 (+5) and Snedeker a 74 to knock them out of contention; Woods had a triple bogey at the sixth hole and carded a 73 to tie for third with Snedeker.[4]

Venue

[edit]
Main article: Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club

The 2012 event was the eleventh Open Championship to be played at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The previous one was in 2001, when David Duval won his only major championship, three strokes clear of runner-up Niclas Fasth. Tom Lehman won the previous Open at the venue, in 1996.

Course layout

[edit]
Hole Yards Par    Hole Yards Par
1 205 3 10 387 4
2 481 4 11 598 5
3 478 4 12 198 3
4 392 4 13 355 4
5 219 3 14 444 4
6 492   4^ 15 462 4
7 592 5 16 336 4
8 416 4 17 453 4
9 165 3 18 413 4
Out 3,440 34 In 3,646 36
Source:[1][6] Total 7,086 70

^ Hole #6 was a par 5 in previous Opens.

7th hole green in 2009

Lengths of the course for The Open Championship (since 1950):[7]

Field

[edit]

Each player is classified according to the first category in which he qualified, but other categories are shown in parentheses.[8][9]

1. Past Open Champions aged 60 or under on 22 July 2012

2. The Open Champions for 2002–2011

3. Past Open Champions born between 22 July 1946 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 2007–2011

5. First 10 and anyone tying for 10th place in the 2011 Open Championship

6. The first 50 players on the Official World Golf Ranking for Week 20, 2012

7. First 30 in the European Tour Race to Dubai for 2011

8. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2010–2012

9. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt having applied above, in the top 20 of the 2012 PGA European Tour Race to Dubai on completion of the 2012 BMW PGA Championship

10. First 2 European Tour members and any European Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from the seven official European Tour events leading up to and including the 2012 Irish Open

11. The leading player, not exempt having applied above, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2012 Alstom Open de France and the 2012 Barclays Scottish Open[15]

12. The U.S. Open Champions for 2008–2012

13. The U.S. Masters Champions for 2008–2012

14. The U.S. PGA Champions for 2007–2011

15. The U.S. PGA Tour Players Champions for 2010–2012

16. The leading 30 qualifiers for the 2011 PGA Tour's Tour Championship

17. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt having applied from #6, in the top 20 of the FedEx Cup points list of the 2012 PGA Tour on completion of the HP Byron Nelson Championship

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 2012 Greenbrier Classic

19. The leading player, not exempt having applied above, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2012 Greenbrier Classic and the 2012 John Deere Classic[15]

20. Playing members of the 2011 Presidents Cup teams

21. First place on the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit

22. First place on the 2011 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit

23. First place on the 2011 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit

24. The 2011 Japan Open Champion

25. First 2, not exempt, on the Official Money List of the Japan Golf Tour for 2011

26. The leading 4 players, not exempt, in the 2012 Mizuno Open[15]

27. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, not exempt having applied (26) above, in a cumulative money list taken from all official 2012 Japan Golf Tour events up to and including the 2012 Mizuno Open

28. The Senior British Open Champion for 2011

29. The 2012 Amateur Champion

30. The 2011 U.S. Amateur Champion

31. The 2011 European Individual Amateur Champion

32. The Mark H. McCormack Medal winner for 2011

  • Patrick Cantlay forfeited his exemption by turning professional in June 2012.

Qualifying

[edit]

International Final Qualifying

[edit]

Local Final Qualifying

[edit]
  • (a) denotes amateur

Twenty players were appearing in their first major championship: Nick Cullen, Alan Dunbar, Harris English, Yoshinori Fujimoto, Andrew Georgiou, Ashley Hall, John Huh, Kodai Ichihara, Ian Keenan, Jbe' Kruger, Anirban Lahiri, Morten Ørum Madsen, Garth Mulroy, Steven O'Hara, Juvic Pagunsan, Ted Potter Jr., Aaron Townsend, Manuel Trappel, Grant Veenstra, and Dale Whitnell.

A further 12 players were appearing in their first Open Championship: Matthew Baldwin, Keegan Bradley, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Justin Hicks, Troy Kelly, Troy Matteson, James Morrison, Scott Pinckney, Chez Reavie, Michael Thompson, Johnson Wagner, and Sam Walker.

Notable absences included Mark O'Meara (who had appeared in the previous 17 Opens) and Henrik Stenson (who had appeared in the previous seven).

Alternates

[edit]

Where places are available to make up the full entry of 156, these additional places are allocated in ranking order from the Official World Golf Ranking. The alternates are allocated when it becomes clear that additional places are available (using the latest World Rankings), except that places allocated after the issue of Week 27 rankings (9 July) use those rankings.[27]

After the final qualifying events on 15 July there were 157 qualified players. The withdrawal of Robert Karlsson reduced the field size to the usual 156. Russ Cochran then withdrew and was replaced by Michael Thompson (ranked 56), as Ben Crane (ranked 54) chose not to travel.

Round summaries

[edit]

First round

[edit]

Thursday, 19 July 2012

The weather conditions during the first day of the tournament turned out to be less harsh than expected, with very little wind and cloudy skies. Adam Scott made eight birdies and only two bogeys en route to a 6-under-par 64, tying the course record. Tiger Woods shot a 3-under 67, hitting all but one fairway in regulation.[28]

Place Player Score To par
1 Australia Adam Scott 64 −6
T2 Belgium Nicolas Colsaerts 65 −5
United States Zach Johnson
Scotland Paul Lawrie
5 United States Brandt Snedeker 66 −4
T6 South Africa Ernie Els 67 −3
Sweden Peter Hanson
Northern Ireland Graeme McDowell
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy
Japan Toshinori Muto
United States Steve Stricker
United States Bubba Watson
United States Tiger Woods

Second round

[edit]

Friday, 20 July 2012

Some rain showers wet the course overnight and in the early morning hours, but the calm conditions continued into day two of the tournament. Brandt Snedeker fired a bogey-free round of 64 to vault to the top of the leaderboard, one shot ahead of Adam Scott, who shot 67. Tiger Woods, for the second straight round, only missed one fairway in regulation and shot another 3-under 67, including a holed green-side bunker shot for birdie on the 18th hole, to enter the weekend trailing the lead by four shots.

Tom Watson, at 62 years of age, set a new record as the oldest player to make the cut in the history of the Open Championship, beating his own record set in 2011.[29]

For the first time since 2003, no amateurs made the halfway cut.

Place Player Score To par
1 United States Brandt Snedeker 66-64=130 −10
2 Australia Adam Scott 64-67=131 −9
3 United States Tiger Woods 67-67=134 −6
4 Denmark Thorbjørn Olesen 69-66=135 −5
T5 South Africa Thomas Aiken 68-68=136 −4
United States Jason Dufner 70-66=136
United States Matt Kuchar 69-67=136
Scotland Paul Lawrie 65-71=136
Northern Ireland Graeme McDowell 67-69=136
10 South Africa Ernie Els 67-70=137 −3

Amateurs: Dunbar (+6), Trappel (+17).

Third round

[edit]

Saturday, 21 July 2012

In the third round, leader Brandt Snedeker faltered by shooting a 73 (3-over-par) to move him down to a tie for second with Graeme McDowell, who rose up to second place with a score of 67 (3-under-par).[30] Adam Scott, who entered the round one stroke behind Snedeker, shot a 68 (two under par) to move to eleven strokes under par, retaking the lead from Snedeker.[30] Tiger Woods shot an even par of 70 to stay at six strokes under par, moving him to fourth place behind Scott, McDowell, and Snedeker.[30]

Anirban Lahiri scored the first hole in one of the Championship at the 9th hole.[31]

Place Player Score To par
1 Australia Adam Scott 64-67-68=199 −11
T2 Northern Ireland Graeme McDowell 67-69-67=203 −7
United States Brandt Snedeker 66-64-73=203
4 United States Tiger Woods 67-67-70=204 −6
T5 South Africa Ernie Els 67-70-68=205 −5
United States Zach Johnson 65-74-66=205
7 Denmark Thorbjørn Olesen 69-66-71=206 −4
T8 South Africa Thomas Aiken 68-68-71=207 −3
United States Bill Haas 71-68-68=207
T10 United States Mark Calcavecchia 71-68-69=208 −2
United States Matt Kuchar 69-67-72=208
South Africa Louis Oosthuizen 72-68-68=208
United States Bubba Watson 67-73-68=208

Final round

[edit]

Sunday, 22 July 2012

In the fourth and final round, leader Adam Scott got off to a poor start on the front nine holes by scoring a 36 (2-over-par), bringing his score to nine-under par.[4] Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, and Tiger Woods entered the round within striking distance of Scott, but each faltered and sank out of contention.[4] McDowell shot a 75 (five-over-par), and fell to a tie for fifth with Luke Donald.[4] Snedeker double-bogeyed the seventh and eighth holes, leading to a final round score of 74 (4-over-par), in a tie for third with Woods. Woods had trouble with a greenside bunker on the sixth hole, and triple-bogeyed the hole which he had birdied in each of the three previous rounds. Woods scored a 73 to put him into a tie for third with Snedeker.[4]

Despite two bogeys on the front nine, Ernie Els got back to even par for the round with a birdie at the 12th hole and then birdied the 14th.[4] Scott also birdied the 14th but bogeyed the next three to leave him at 7-under, tied with Els, who had birdied the final hole.[4] On the tournament's 72nd hole, Scott put his tee shot into a bunker and had to exit sideways to the fairway. His third shot left him an 8-foot (2.4 m) par-saving putt to force a playoff, but it missed to the left. Els was bogey-free on the back nine with four birdies to card a 32 (−4) and win by one stroke.[4]

Place Player Score To par Money (£)
1 South Africa Ernie Els 67-70-68-68=273 −7 900,000
2 Australia Adam Scott 64-67-68-75=274 −6 520,000
T3 United States Brandt Snedeker 66-64-73-74=277 −3 297,500
United States Tiger Woods 67-67-70-73=277
T5 England Luke Donald 70-68-71-69=278 −2 195,000
Northern Ireland Graeme McDowell 67-69-67-75=278
T7 South Africa Thomas Aiken 68-68-71-72=279 −1 142,500
Belgium Nicolas Colsaerts 65-77-72-65=279
T9 United States Mark Calcavecchia 71-68-69-72=280 E 79,600
Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez 71-69-73-67=280
United States Dustin Johnson 73-68-68-71=280
United States Zach Johnson 65-74-66-75=280
United States Matt Kuchar 69-67-72-72=280
Sweden Alex Norén 71-71-69-69=280
Australia Geoff Ogilvy 72-68-73-67=280
Denmark Thorbjørn Olesen 69-66-71-74=280
England Ian Poulter 71-69-73-67=280
Fiji Vijay Singh 70-72-68-70=280

Scorecard

[edit]
Hole   1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10   11    12   13   14   15   16   17   18 
Par 3 4 4 4 3 4 5 4 3 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 4 4
South Africa Els −5 −4 −4 −4 −4 −4 −4 −4 −3 −4 −4 −5 −5 −6 −6 −6 −6 −7
Australia Scott −10 −11 −10 −10 −10 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9 −9 −10 −9 −8 −7 −6
United States Snedeker −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −7 −5 −3 −3 −4 −3 −2 −2 −2 −3 −4 −4 −3
United States Woods −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −3 −4 −4 −3 −4 −4 −5 −4 −3 −2 −2 −2 −3
England Donald −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 −1 E −1 E −1 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2
Northern Ireland McDowell −7 −6 −6 −6 −6 −5 −5 −6 −5 −4 −3 −3 −2 −2 −2 −3 −2 −2
South Africa Aiken −3 −2 −2 −3 −3 −3 −4 −3 −3 −3 −2 −2 −3 −3 −2 −2 −2 −1
Belgium Colsaerts +3 +3 +4 +4 +3 +3 +2 +2 +2 +1 E E E E E −1 −1 −1

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Eagle Birdie Bogey Double bogey Triple bogey+

Source:[32]

Notes and references

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

2012 Open Championship

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2012 was the 141st edition of golf's oldest major tournament, held from 19 to 22 July at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in , . South African professional claimed victory with a total score of 7-under-par 273, securing his fourth major title and second in a stunning comeback after trailing by six shots entering the final round. The tournament featured a field of 156 players competing over four rounds on the par-70 layout, known for its challenging bunkers and pot-style greens, with windy conditions adding to the difficulty on the links course. , who had led after 54 holes at 11-under-par, faltered with bogeys on four of the final six holes to finish one stroke back at 6-under 274, marking one of the most dramatic collapses in Open history. Els, playing in the group behind, carded a steady 2-under 68, highlighted by a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to clinch the win and earn £900,000 from the £5 million purse. Notable performances included American Brandt Snedeker's second-round 64, which tied the record for 36-hole score at 130, while finished tied for third at 3-under 277, his best Open result since 2006. The event, organized by , drew international attention for its high-stakes drama and Els' emotional triumph, dedicated in part to his autistic son.

Tournament overview

Dates and location

The 141st was held from 19 to 22 2012. This marked the tournament's traditional summer scheduling in mid-, aligning with the peak of the British summer to facilitate optimal playing conditions on courses. The event took place at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in , , . This was the club's eleventh time hosting , having previously done so in 1926, 1934, 1952, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1988, 1996, 2001, and 2006. The venue, located on the Coast near , features a classic layout characterized by sandy dunes, pot bunkers, and undulating fairways, which have historically tested players' accuracy and course management skills.

Format and prize fund

The 2012 Open Championship was contested in a standard format over 72 holes, with each of the four rounds consisting of 18 holes on the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club course. Play began on Thursday, July 19, and concluded on Sunday, July 22, following the traditional scheduling for the event. After the initial 36 holes, a cut was applied to reduce the field to the top 70 finishers and ties, allowing those players to advance to the final two rounds while eliminating the rest. This single-cut rule, in place since 1986, ensured a manageable field size for the weekend competition without a secondary cut after 54 holes, which had been discontinued earlier in the tournament's history. In 2012, 156 players started the tournament, and 83 made the cut at +5 or better. The total prize fund for the 2012 event stood at £5,000,000, unchanged from the previous year and distributed among all players who made the cut, with professionals receiving the full allocation and amateurs eligible only for travel and accommodation expenses. The winner, , received £900,000 for his victory, representing 18% of the purse and marking a continuation of the escalating rewards for top performers in the major. This amount reflected the R&A's commitment to competitive purses, though it would increase by £45,000 for the champion the following year.

Venue

Course layout

Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, host of the 2012 Open Championship, is a classic links course designed primarily by , spanning 7,086 yards with a par of 70. The layout emphasizes strategic play, with 204 pot bunkers scattered across the fairways and greens, narrow corridors flanked by the railway on one side and housing on the other, and constant exposure to from the nearby . Unlike many Open venues, it lacks direct sea views but tests accuracy and course management through its undulating terrain and deceptive greens. The course opens with a demanding par-3 and features a front nine that plays relatively shorter but tighter, transitioning to a back nine with longer par-4s and par-5s that reward precise positioning. Recent modifications for the 2012 event included lengthening several holes, adding back tees, and repositioning greens to increase the challenge, particularly on the closing stretch of six par-4s averaging over 400 yards each. The par-5s at holes 7 and 11 were extended to 592 and 598 yards, respectively, making them reachable but punishing for errant shots. Below is the hole-by-hole layout as configured for the 2012 Open Championship:
HoleParYardsDescription
13205Downwind opener over seven bunkers guarding a narrow green; demands precise iron play to avoid short-sided trouble.
24481Long par-4 with railway hugging the right and bunkers left; favors a controlled drive to set up a mid-iron approach.
34478Narrow fairway demands accuracy, with railway right and fairway bunkers; often plays longer into the wind.
44392Slight dogleg right with bunkers pinching the fairway; many players lay up short of hazards for a wedge in.
53219Eastward par-3 to a steeply bunkered green; wind can turn it into a two-club swing hole.
64492Dogleg left requiring a draw; bunkers short of the green complicate aggressive approaches.
75592Downwind par-5 with tightened fairway; second shot must navigate bunkers for a potential eagle chance.
84416Lay-up par-4 crossing railway tracks; elevated green demands a high, soft approach.
93165Short par-3 framed by houses, surrounded by nine bunkers; precision is key to avoid circling bogeys.
104387Blind tee shot to a new back tee; plays into headwind, rewarding a fade off the railway.
115598Lengthened par-5 with bunkers guarding the lay-up; wind makes the green elusive in two.
123198Cross-breeze par-3 with out-of-bounds right; bunkers front-left protect a tricky green.
134355Short dogleg right favoring an iron tee shot; bunkers challenge the aggressive driver.
144444Tight par-4 with deep bunkers right; requires a straight drive for a clear approach.
154462Into-the-wind par-4 with run-up green; fairway bunkers punish fades.
164336Risk-reward short par-4 with blind drive over new bunkers; birdie opportunity or disaster.
174453Signature dogleg left with 20 bunkers; plays as the toughest hole, demanding a lay-up or heroic carry.
184413Straightaway finisher with clubhouse view; crosswinds and bunkers test nerves under pressure.
Notable for its bunker density, the course's 204 hazards force conservative play, with the 17th standing out as a pivotal strategic test featuring a notorious cluster of pot s. The layout's evolution, including Colt's 1919 redesign and later tweaks by C.K. Cotton, has preserved its reputation as a fair but unforgiving examination of ing skill.

Weather conditions

The 2012 Open Championship, held at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club from July 19 to 22, featured weather that was milder than the often severe conditions typical of the event, with heavy pre-tournament rain softening the course but largely dry play during the rounds enabling several low scores. The prior weeks of near-constant rain had inundated the grounds, resulting in soggy fairways and standing water in several bunkers, and unusually soft greens on the eve of the tournament. This saturation persisted into the early rounds, altering shot trajectories and favoring players adept at managing wet links turf, though forecasts shifted toward drier conditions that improved the overall playing environment. The first round on Thursday, July 19, broke the dreary pre-tournament pattern with picture-perfect conditions, including sunny skies and minimal wind disruption, which allowed early leaders like to post a course-record-tying 64. Temperatures reached around 20°C (68°F), with breezes of 20–25 mph (32–40 km/h) that were less impactful than anticipated, contributing to a relatively forgiving start despite the lingering course softness. Friday's second round brought benign, calm weather with little to no significant rain during play—only overnight showers beforehand—and cool temperatures in the mid-teens , giving the event an uncharacteristically gentle feel that spurred aggressive scoring, including multiple 66s. The lack of wind exacerbated the effects of the waterlogged greens, making them hold shots more readily and suiting players like who thrived in the damp setup. Saturday's third round enjoyed ideal golf weather, with pleasant, mostly clear skies and moderate temperatures that continued to favor birdie opportunities and leaderboard shifts without extreme elements interfering. This mildness contrasted with the event's heritage, allowing contenders to attack the par-70 layout more freely amid the still-soft but drying conditions. The final round on introduced more traditional Open challenges, as gusty winds built to speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h), whipping across the Irish Sea-exposed course and testing accuracy on exposed holes like the par-3 12th. Temperatures remained cool, around 15–18°C (59–64°F), but the increasing breeze added difficulty, influencing the dramatic finish where capitalized on Adam Scott's late errors. Overall, the week's spared the major delays, unlike rain-plagued prior Opens, though the soft underfoot conditions throughout emphasized strategic play over brute power.

Field

Eligibility and exemptions

The field for the 2012 Open Championship consisted of 156 players, determined by a combination of automatic exemptions and successful qualification through designated events. Exemptions were awarded to prominent professionals and amateurs based on recent achievements in majors, tours, rankings, and amateur competitions, while non-exempt players could earn spots via local, regional, and final qualifying rounds. In late 2011, announced key updates to the exemption criteria specifically for the 2012 event at Royal Lytham & St Annes. A new automatic exemption was introduced for the leading player in the (WAGR), with the 2011 McCormack winner, , securing a spot as a result. Additionally, winners of the 2011 editions of the , U.S. Amateur Championship, and European Amateur Championship gained direct entry. Past champions of majors (excluding The Open) who were no longer automatically exempt were granted access to International Final Qualifying (IFQ) and Local Final Qualifying (LFQ) events for the first time. The exemption for past Open Champions was expanded to include those aged 60 or under on the first day of the championship (July 19, 2012), now covering individuals turning 60 during the 2012 season; this category had been established in when the age limit dropped from 65 to 60. Money list exemptions were refined to prioritize performance in the 2011 calendar year over the prior full season. The leading money earner on the , European Tour, and —who had participated in at least 10 official events each—received automatic qualification, replacing the previous year's blanket exemption for tour money leaders. Examples included top-30 finishers on the 2011 European Tour money list (such as , , and ) and the 2011 money list (such as ). The top three on the 2012 European Tour money list following the also qualified, exemplified by . Standard exemptions encompassed recent major winners, with five-year exemptions for victories in the , Masters, or (e.g., Simon Khan from his 2010 PGA win) and past Open winners from 2002 to 2011 were exempt, along with the top 10 finishers (and ties) from the 2011 Open at Royal St George's (e.g., Simon Dyson). The top 50 players in the as of specified cutoffs, such as immediately after and one week prior to the event, also bypassed qualifying. Winners of the 2011 European Tour Race to Dubai and the 2011 money list title further filled exempt spots. Non-exempt players pursued entry through a structured qualifying process. Local Final Qualifying featured 18-hole stroke-play events at four venues near —Hillside Golf Club, & Golf Club, St Annes Old Links, and Golf Club—on , 2012, awarding 12 spots (three per venue). International Final Qualifying occurred across five global sites earlier in the year: Kingston Heath (, January 10-11, 3 spots), Royal Johannesburg (, January 18-19, 3 spots), Amata Spring (, March 1-2, 4 spots), Gleneagles (USA, May 21, 8 spots), and (, June 25, 10 spots), providing 3 to 10 spots depending on the site via 36-hole competitions. Regional qualifying in the on June 20 preceded local events, offering additional pathways. This system ensured a mix of established stars and emerging talent in the field.

Qualifying process

The qualifying process for the 2012 Open Championship allowed non-exempt players to earn spots through the Open Qualifying Series (OQS) and Final Qualifying events, with the latter serving as the primary open qualification pathway leading directly into the main field. The OQS consisted of designated international tournaments across multiple tours, where the leading non-exempt finishers (typically the top three in each event) secured automatic entry. This series provided opportunities for players worldwide to qualify without needing to participate in regional or final open qualifiers. Final Qualifying was structured as 36-hole stroke-play competitions held in the months prior to the championship, open to professionals and low-handicap amateurs meeting entry requirements, including past major champions who were not otherwise exempt. These events were divided into Local Final Qualifying in the and International Final Qualifying at overseas venues. Local Final Qualifying occurred on July 3, 2012, at four links courses near Royal Lytham & St Annes: Hillside Golf Club, Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, St Annes Old Links, and West Lancashire Golf Club. Each venue hosted approximately 70-80 entrants competing for three spots, yielding a total of 12 qualifiers overall. For instance, at Southport & Ainsdale, 72 players vied for the available positions in challenging coastal conditions. International Final Qualifying events were scheduled earlier in the year to accommodate global participation. In , the event took place on June 25, , at in , , where 144 players competed for 10 spots; James Morrison topped the leaderboard at 8-under-par 131 over 36 holes, joined by nine others including and Thorbjørn Olesen. In America, qualifying was held on May 21, , at Gleneagles Country Club in , offering 8 spots to 144 entrants; PGA Tour rookie earned medalist honors with a 17-under-par total of 123, highlighted by a course-record 63 in the afternoon round. Additional International Final Qualifying rounds occurred on March 1-2 at Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok, (, 4 spots); January 10-11 at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, (Australasia, 3 spots); and January 18-19 at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, (Africa, 3 spots), based on field size and regional demand. These events collectively filled the remaining field positions beyond exemptions, resulting in 157 qualified players prior to final adjustments for withdrawals.

Alternates and withdrawals

Several notable players withdrew from the 2012 Open Championship before and at the start of the event. Former champion , the 1998 winner, withdrew on July 10 due to a lingering rib injury that had sidelined him since March. , a Swedish professional, pulled out on , explaining that his game required significant work ahead of the tournament at Royal Lytham & St Annes; this reduced the field to the standard limit of 156 players. Russ Cochran, the defending Senior British Open champion, withdrew on the morning of the first round, July 19, because of a sore back. The alternates list featured as the first reserve and Michael Thompson as the second. Crane, an American player, declined to join the field despite opportunities arising from the withdrawals, citing personal circumstances including a family vacation. Thompson, who had traveled to in anticipation, replaced Cochran and made his major championship debut, though he missed the cut with scores of 74-73.

Round summaries

First round

The first round of the 141st took place on 19 July 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club under surprisingly calm and benign conditions, with periods of sunshine that allowed for low scoring across the field. The par-70 layout, softened slightly by pre-tournament rain but not overly affected during play, rewarded accurate play off the tee and strong approach shots, leading to a scoring average below par. Later starters faced slightly tougher breezes, but overall, the weather favored aggressive scoring compared to the windier rounds that followed. Adam Scott of seized the lead with a flawless 64, six under par, equaling the Open Championship course record at Royal Lytham set by previous winners like and . His round featured eight birdies, including a hot streak with five in six holes from the 5th, and no bogeys, showcasing precise iron play and putting on the links turf. Scott's performance, starting early in the day, positioned him one stroke ahead of the chasing pack and highlighted his resurgence after a strong U.S. Open showing earlier that year. Three players shared second place at five under par 65: Belgium's , in his Open debut, fired seven birdies against two bogeys for a breakthrough major performance; Scotland's , the 1999 champion, carded six birdies and one bogey to thrill the home crowd; and American , the 2007 Masters winner, posted five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 11th with just one bogey. of the United States was alone in fifth at four under 66, blending four birdies with steady par play. A group of six players tied for sixth at three under 67, including South Africa's , who birdied four of his first six holes en route to a strong start; , the 14-time major winner, with birdies on the 4th, 12th, 14th, and 16th; Northern Ireland's ; American ; and . Defending champion struggled to a 73, while , the world No. 1, opened with a 71. The low scores set an optimistic tone, with 18 players under par after 18 holes.
PositionPlayerScore (to par)Notable
1 (AUS)64 (-6)Equaled Open course record; 8 birdies, 0 bogeys
T2 (BEL)65 (-5)Open debut; 7 birdies, 2 bogeys
T2 (SCO)65 (-5)6 birdies, 1 bogey
T2 (USA)65 (-5)Eagle on 11th; 5 birdies, 1 bogey
5 (USA)66 (-4)4 birdies, 0 bogeys
T6 (RSA)67 (-3)4 birdies in first 6 holes
T6 (USA)67 (-3)Birdies on back-nine par 3s
T6 (NIR)67 (-3)Steady play with 4 birdies
T6 (USA)67 (-3)Creative shot-making
T6 (USA)67 (-3)Consistent irons and putting

Second round

The second round of the 2012 Open Championship at was contested under benign conditions, with light winds, cool temperatures around 15–18°C (59–64°F), and soft greens resulting from overnight rain that filled some pot bunkers with puddles. These favorable circumstances allowed for low scoring, as 18 players broke par, contrasting with the more challenging weather forecast for later rounds. Brandt Snedeker seized the outright lead with a flawless second-round 64 (6 under par), featuring six birdies in his first 12 holes and no bogeys, to reach 10 under par overall (66-64). This performance matched the lowest 36-hole total in Open history at the time, equaling Nick Faldo's 130 from 1978 at the same venue. Snedeker's steady play, including precise iron shots and solid putting, positioned him one stroke ahead entering the weekend. First-round leader maintained contention with a 67 (3 under par), totaling 9 under (64-67), despite an opening bogey on the first hole after finding the fairway . He recovered with birdies on holes 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 18, the latter a clutch 10-foot putt that kept him in striking distance of Snedeker. Tiger Woods moved into third place at 6 under par with a second consecutive 67, highlighted by four birdies and strong driving accuracy (hitting 13 of 14 fairways). His round culminated in a memorable 30-foot shot for birdie on the 18th green, saving par potential after a wayward drive. Other notable performances included Thorbjørn Olesen's 66 to reach 3 under par, and both at 3 under, and steady at 3 under after a 70. The 36-hole cut fell at 3 over par (143), allowing 71 players to advance, while high-profile players like (7 over after a 75) and (level par after a 71) missed out.
PositionPlayerR1R2TotalTo Par
16664130-10
26467131-9
36767134-6
46769136-4
T5Thorbjørn Olesen7166137-3
T56968137-3
T57067137-3
T56770137-3
T56572137-3
T97068138-2
Scores sourced from official tournament records.

Third round

The third round at Royal Lytham & St Annes was contested under benign conditions, with light winds and dry fairways that encouraged aggressive play compared to the blustery opening days. , starting two shots behind the 36-hole leader, carded a bogey-free 68 featuring birdies on the par-5 third and 11th holes, reclaiming the outright lead at 11-under-par 199 and establishing a four-shot cushion heading into the final round. Brandt Snedeker, who had tied the major championship record with a 36-hole total of 130, faltered amid putting woes and three bogeys in a four-hole stretch midway through his round, settling for a 3-over 73 that dropped him to 7-under 203 and into a tie for second. surged into contention with a flawless 67, highlighted by birdies on five of the first seven holes, also reaching 7-under 203 to join Snedeker in second place. Tiger Woods, seeking his first major title in four years, grinded out a 1-under 70 with three birdies against two bogeys, climbing to 6-under 204 and solo fourth on the leaderboard. maintained his steady form with a 2-under 68, including birdies at the fourth and 12th, to sit at 5-under 205 in a group tied for fifth alongside players like . , meanwhile, struggled with accuracy off the tee and posted a 3-over 73, falling to 5-over and out of major contention. The leaderboard after 54 holes reflected Scott's command, with a clear separation from the chasing pack:
PositionPlayerScoreTo Par
1199-11
T2203-7
T2203-7
4204-6
T5205-5
T5205-5
7206-4
8214+4
T9Thomas Aiken207-3
T9207-3
This positioning set up a tense final round, with Scott favored but vulnerable on the links layout known for dramatic shifts.

Final round

Adam Scott began the final round at Royal Lytham & St Annes with a four-shot lead over the field at 11 under par, after posting scores of 64, 67, and 68 in the previous rounds. Six shots further back at 5 under par was , who had carded 67, 70, and 68, while sat at 6 under following 67, 67, and 70. and were tied for second at 7 under, setting up a tense chase on a course known for its demanding bunkers and undulating greens. Scott started steadily, birdieing the second hole to extend his lead to five shots, but a bogey on the third trimmed it back. He reached the turn at 9 under, still four ahead of the field, but his back nine unraveled dramatically with bogeys on the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, including a missed 8-foot par putt on the last to finish with a 5-over 75 and a total of 6 under par. This collapse, marked by errant approaches and putting woes, handed the advantage to the trailing group. Els, playing two groups ahead, delivered a composed 2-under 68, featuring birdies at the 10th, 12th, 14th, and crucially the 18th from 15 feet, to close at 7 under par and secure his fourth major victory. Woods, meanwhile, suffered an early setback with a triple bogey on the par-3 sixth after finding a greenside bunker, then added three consecutive bogeys from the 13th, limiting him to a 3-over 73 and a tie for third at 3 under par alongside Snedeker, who shot 74. The outcome evoked comparisons to past Open heartbreaks, with Els expressing sympathy for Scott post-round, calling him "a great friend."
PositionPlayerScore to ParTotalR4 Score
1-727368
2-627475
T3-327773
T3-327774

Aftermath

Winner's profile

, born Theodore Ernest Els on October 17, 1969, in , , is a renowned for his fluid swing, earning him the "The Big Easy." He began playing at a young age, excelling in multiple sports including , rugby, and , before winning the World Junior Golf Championship in at age 14 in 1984. Els turned professional in 1989 and quickly rose to prominence, securing his first professional victory that year on the Tour. Throughout his career, Els amassed 80 professional wins across five continents, including 19 victories and 28 European Tour triumphs, establishing himself as one of golf's elite players. He reached World No. 1 status and maintained a record 758 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the from 1994 to 2009. Prior to 2012, Els had already claimed three major championships: the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997, and in 2002 at , where he prevailed in a four-man playoff. His Open record was marked by consistency, with runner-up finishes in 1996, 2000, and 2004, alongside 42 career rounds in the 60s at the event—more than any other player. The 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes represented a dramatic resurgence for Els, ending a decade-long major drought at age 42. Entering the final round six strokes behind leader , Els posted a flawless 2-under 68, featuring a crucial 15-foot birdie putt to close his back nine strongly. He finished at 7-under par (67-70-68-68), one stroke ahead of Scott, who faltered with bogeys on the final four holes, including a missed 7-foot par putt on the 18th that would have forced a playoff. This victory marked Els' second and fourth major overall, achieved through steady play rather than leading until the very end—a course where he had previously contended in and without success. Post-2012, Els continued competing at a high level, joining the in 2020 and securing seven senior wins, including the 2025 Mitsubishi Electric Championship. Inducted into the in 2011, he has also been an advocate for autism awareness through the Els for Autism Foundation, founded in 2009 with his wife Liezl to support his son Ben. His 2012 triumph not only revitalized his legacy but underscored his resilience, propelling him back into the top 15 of the world rankings.

Impact on rankings and majors

' victory at the 2012 propelled him from 40th to 15th in the (OWGR), marking a significant resurgence for the South African who had been outside the top 30 for much of the prior year. , finishing tied for third, advanced from fourth to second in the OWGR, closing the gap on world No. 1 and signaling his return to form after injury-plagued seasons. Runner-up Adam Scott climbed to sixth in the OWGR, benefiting from his strong contention despite a late collapse, while Brandt Snedeker, tied for third, entered the top 10 for the first time, rising from 21st. These ranking shifts had implications for the subsequent , as the OWGR determines exemptions and pairings for majors; top performers like Woods and Scott secured stronger positioning at the event held just two weeks later at Kiawah Island. Rory McIlroy, who faded to a tie for 60th at Royal Lytham after an opening 67, used the disappointment as motivation to dominate the PGA, winning by eight strokes and extending his lead at No. 1 in the OWGR to end the year. Els' major triumph, his fourth overall, reaffirmed his status among elite players but did not lead to further major contention that season, as he finished tied for 48th at the PGA; however, the ranking boost ensured his invitations to high-profile events into 2013.

References

  1. https://www.theopen.com/previous-opens/141st-open-royal-lytham-st-annes-2012
  2. https://www.pga.com/archive/news/news-feature/ernie-els-wins-2012-open-championship
  3. https://thegolfnewsnet.com/2012-british-open-leaderboard-results-prize-money-payouts/
  4. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/open-championship-prize-money-announced/
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/20/the-open-2012-brandt-snedeker-nick-faldo
  6. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/141st-open-championship-2012/leaderboard
  7. https://www.golfcompendium.com/2018/11/2012-british-open.html
  8. https://www.theopen.com/latest/history-open-prize-money
  9. https://www.theopen.com/latest/2018/07/what-is-the-cut-line-at-the-open
  10. https://www.golfdonaldross.com/single-post/2017/07/17/history-of-the-open-championship
  11. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/23086398
  12. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2012/07/15/2012-open-championship-hole-hole-guide-royal-lytha/
  13. https://www.royallytham.org/golf/course-overview/
  14. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/sports/golf/rough-is-rougher-but-british-open-forecast-brightens.html
  15. https://archive.nytimes.com/onpar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/rain-softens-british-open-course-for-better-or-worse/
  16. https://africa.espn.com/golf/britishopen12/story/_/id/8176376/2012-open-championship-forecast-predicts-dry-weather-lytham
  17. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/all-about-weather-again-at-british-open/
  18. https://archive.nytimes.com/onpar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/live-blog-follow-the-british-open-first-round/
  19. https://archive.nytimes.com/onpar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/live-blog-follow-the-second-round-of-the-british-open/
  20. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/20/the-open-2012-paul-lawrie
  21. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2012/07/20/notes-olesen-blisters-royal-lythams-par-3s/
  22. https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/19/sport/golf/scott-open-woods-golf
  23. https://thepnga.org/news/the-2012-open-championship-the-rhythm-of-lytham/
  24. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/weather-forecast-for-sunday-at-the-british-open-calls-for-gusty-winds/
  25. https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/2012/07/23/loran-smith-winds-challenge-leaders-shape-final-round-british-open/15603341007/
  26. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/changes-to-open-championship-entry-criteria/
  27. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2011/11/30/cantlay-gains-exemption-2012-british-open/
  28. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/18878247
  29. https://www.nbcsports.com/golf/news/peter-uihlein-nick-dougherty-fail-qualify-2012-british-open
  30. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/changes-made-to-open-qualifying/
  31. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2012/06/25/morrison-leads-open-championship-qualifiers/
  32. https://www.espn.co.uk/golf/story/_/id/7957708/pga-rookie-harris-english-qualifies-british-open
  33. https://www.pga.com/archive/news/european-tour/anirban-lahiri-wins-british-open-qualifier-four-earn-their-spots-royal-lytham
  34. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2012/01/11/townsend-wins-australasian-british-open-qualifier/
  35. https://www.espn.com.sg/golf/britishopen12/story/_/id/7479058/2012-british-open-three-qualify-via-south-africa
  36. https://golf.sportingmemories.net/memory/1080-ian-keenan-final-qualifying-for-royal-lytham-2012/
  37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqna8YExfYY
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_1FmZfQ_9Q
  39. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/golf/o-meara-withdraws-from-british-open-idUSL3E8IA444/
  40. https://africa.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/8177032/2012-open-championship-robert-karlsson-withdraws-plans-take-weeks-off
  41. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/19/cochran-pulls-out-of-british-open-thompson-in/
  42. https://www.nbcsports.com/golf/news/first-alternate-ben-crane-misses-british-open-due-circumstances
  43. https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/pga/2012/07/20/british-open-benign-weather-leads/24147572007/
  44. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/18919128
  45. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/18913518
  46. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/20/the-open-2012-round-two-live
  47. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pga/2012/07/21/british-open-leaderboard/10701075007/
  48. https://www.theopen.com/latest/tiger-woods-record-the-open
  49. https://www.theopen.com/latest/ernie-els-record-the-open
  50. https://www.espn.com/golf/britishopen12/story/_/id/8186632/2012-open-championship-no-2-rory-mcilroy-cites-loss-faith-swing-73
  51. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/18948285
  52. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/22/the-open-2012-live-golf
  53. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/22/open-2012-ernie-els
  54. https://ernieels.com/profile-career-wins/
  55. https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions/player/06522/ernie-els
  56. https://www.theopen.com/players/ernie-els
  57. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/with-this-win-ernie-els-open-champion/
  58. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-16/woods-grouped-with-garcia-rose-in-try-for-fourth-british-open
  59. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2012/7/23/3177455/tiger-woods-british-open-2012-world-golf-ranking
  60. https://www.pgachampionship.com/news-media/rory-mcilroys-2012-victory-at-kiawah-island-proved-he-was-ready-to-become-one-of-the-games-next-superstars
  61. https://www.owgr.com/playerprofile/ernie-els-874?tab=events&year=2012
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.