The 2012 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 26th Senior Open Championship, held on 26–29 July at Turnberry Golf Resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. It was the 10th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

Fred Couples won two strokes ahead of Gary Hallberg. It was the second senior major championship victory for Couples.

The Ailsa Course at Turnberry, situated 80 kilometres south of Glasgow, Scotland, on headland along the Firth of Clyde, overlooking the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig, was initially opened with 13 holes in 1901, designed by Willie Fernie, and later completed to 18 holes. It was redesigned by Mackenzie Ross between 1949 and 1951.

It was the seventh Senior Open Championship played at Turnberry. The course had previously hosted The Open Championship four times; 1977, 1986, 1994 and 2009.

Ailsa Course

The field consisted of 144 competitors; 141 professionals and three amateurs.

18-hole stroke play qualifying rounds were held on Monday, 23 July, on three places in Scotland, for players who were not already exempt. The 28 leading players from the qualifying competitions joined the 116 exempt players for the championship.

The 76 players who made the 36-hole cut included 74 professionals and two amateurs. Chip Lutz finished leading amateur at tied 36th.