2015 Open Championship
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2015 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates16–20 July 2015
LocationSt Andrews, Scotland
56°20′35″N 2°48′11″W / 56.343°N 2.803°W / 56.343; -2.803
CourseOld Course
Organized byThe R&A
Tours
Statistics
Par72
Length7,297 yd (6,672 m)
Field156 players, 80 after cut
Cut144 (E)
Prize fund£6,300,000[1]
€8,717,310
$9,831,780
Winner's share£1,150,000[1]
€1,591,255
$1,794,690
Champion
United States Zach Johnson
273 (−15), playoff
Location map
St Andrews is located in the United Kingdom
St Andrews
St Andrews
Location in the United Kingdom
St Andrews is located in Scotland
St Andrews
St Andrews
Location in Scotland
St Andrews is located in Fife
St Andrews
St Andrews
Location in Fife
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 144th Open Championship, held from 16 to 20 July at the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. It was the 29th Open Championship played at the course and Zach Johnson won in a four-hole playoff for his second major title.

World number one Rory McIlroy withdrew prior to the tournament due to an off-course ankle injury; he was the first defending champion absent from the Open in over sixty years, since Ben Hogan opted not to participate in 1954. Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth attempted to win a third consecutive major and take over the top ranking.[2][3] He finished one stroke out of the playoff, in a tie for fourth.[4]

Inclement weather – which included heavy rain and very strong winds – forced play to be suspended twice, on Friday and Saturday, with the latter having play suspended for nearly most of the day. The third round was held on Sunday and the final round (and playoff) on Monday.

This was also the last Open Championship played under the then present TV deals with the BBC and ESPN each having their swan song. NBC and Sky Sports would take over coverage the following year at Royal Troon.

This was the final Open appearance for five-time champion Tom Watson and three-time champion Nick Faldo who played in his last major championship.

Venue

[edit]
Main article: Old Course at St Andrews

The 2015 event is the 29th Open Championship played at the Old Course at St Andrews. The most recent was in 2010 when Louis Oosthuizen won his only major title and became the second South African to win an Open Championship at St Andrews (Bobby Locke is the first, having won at St Andrews in 1957).

Hole Name Yards Par Hole Name Yards Par
1 Burn 375 4 10 Bobby Jones 386 4
2 Dyke 452 4 11 High (In) 174 3
3 Cartgate (Out) 398 4 12 Heathery (In) 348 4
4 Ginger Beer 480 4 13 Hole O'Cross (In) 465 4
5 Hole O'Cross (Out) 570 5 14 Long 614 5
6 Heathery (Out) 414 4 15 Cartgate (In) 455 4
7 High (Out) 371 4 16 Corner of the Dyke 418 4
8 Short 174 3 17 Road 495 4
9 End 352 4 18 Tom Morris 356 4
Out 3,586 36 In 3,711 36
Source:[5] Total 7,297 72

Previous lengths of the course for The Open Championship (since 1950):[6]

Field

[edit]

Criteria and exemptions

[edit]

Each player is classified according to the first category in which he qualified, but other categories are shown in parentheses.[7][8]

1. The Open Champions aged 60 or under on 19 July 2015

2. The Open Champions for 2005–2014

3. The Open Champions finishing in the first 10 and tying for 10th place in The Open Championship 2009–2014[a]

4. First 10 and anyone tying for 10th place in the 2014 Open Championship

5. The first 50 players on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for Week 21, 2015

6. First 30 in the Race to Dubai for 2014

7. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2013–2015

8. First 5 European Tour members and any European Tour members tying for 5th place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai on completion of the 2015 BMW International Open

9. The U.S. Open Champions for 2011–2015

10. The Masters Tournament Champions for 2011–2015

11. The PGA Champions for 2010–2014

12. The Players Champions for 2013–2015

13. The leading 30 qualifiers for the 2014 Tour Championship

14. First 5 PGA Tour members and any PGA Tour members tying for 5th place, not exempt in the top 20 of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup points list for 2015 on completion of the 2015 Travelers Championship

15. Playing members of the 2014 Ryder Cup teams

16. First and anyone tying for 1st place on the Order of Merit of the Asian Tour for 2014

17. First and anyone tying for 1st place on the Order of Merit of the PGA Tour of Australasia for 2014

18. First and anyone tying for 1st place on the Order of Merit of the Southern Africa PGA Sunshine Tour for 2014

19. The Japan Open Champion for 2014

20. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, not exempt, on the Official Money List of the Japan Golf Tour for 2014

21. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, in a cumulative money list taken from all official 2015 Japan Golf Tour events up to and including the 2015 Japan Golf Tour Championship

22. The Senior Open Champion for 2014

23. The Amateur Champion for 2015

24. The U.S. Amateur Champion for 2014

25. The European Amateur Champion for 2014

26. The Mark H. McCormack Medal winner for 2014

Open Qualifying Series

[edit]

The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) consisted of 10 events from the six major tours. Places were available to the leading players (not otherwise exempt) who finished in the top n and ties. In the event of ties, positions went to players ranked highest according to that week's OWGR.[13]

Location Tournament Date Spots Top Qualifiers
Australia Emirates Australian Open 30 Nov 3 10 Greg Chalmers (17), Rod Pampling, Brett Rumford
Thailand Thailand Golf Championship 14 Dec 4 12 Marcus Fraser, Scott Hend, Anirban Lahiri (5), Jonathan Moore
Africa Joburg Open 1 Mar 3 10 David Howell, Andy Sullivan, Anthony Wall
Japan Mizuno Open 31 May 4 12 Scott Strange, Tadahiro Takayama, Taichi Teshima, Shinji Tomimura
Ireland The Irish Open 31 May 3 10 Tyrrell Hatton, Søren Kjeldsen, Eddie Pepperell
USA Travelers Championship 28 Jun 4 12 Graham DeLaet, Luke Donald, Brian Harman, Carl Pettersson
France Alstom Open de France 5 Jul 3 10 Rafa Cabrera-Bello, James Morrison, Jaco van Zyl
USA Greenbrier Classic 5 Jul 4 12 James Hahn, David Hearn, Danny Lee, Greg Owen
Scotland Scottish Open 12 Jul 3 10 Daniel Brooks, Raphaël Jacquelin, Rikard Karlberg
USA John Deere Classic 12 Jul 1 5 Tom Gillis

Final Qualifying

[edit]

The Final Qualifying events were played on 30 June at four courses covering Scotland and the North-West, Central and South-coast regions of England. Three qualifying places were available at each location.[14]

Location Qualifiers[c][d]
Gailes Links Ryan Fox, Paul Kinnear (a, R), Mark Young (R)
Hillside Scott Arnold, Pelle Edberg, Jordan Niebrugge (a)
Royal Cinque Ports Alister Balcombe (a, R), Gary Boyd, Ben Taylor (a, R)
Woburn Robert Dinwiddie, Paul Dunne (a), Retief Goosen

Alternates

[edit]

To make up the full field of 156, additional places were allocated in ranking order from the Official World Golf Ranking at the time that these places were made available by the Championship Committee. Any places made available after the 5 July 2015 used the week 27 rankings.[7]

From the Week 26 (week ending 29 June) Official World Golf Ranking:[15]

From the Week 27 (week ending 5 July) Official World Golf Ranking:

Round summaries

[edit]

First round

[edit]

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Dustin Johnson posted a seven-under-par 65 on day one to lead by one shot from a group of six golfers.[17][18] Jordan Spieth was two shots off the lead after carding a 67.[19][20]

Place Player Score To par
1 United States Dustin Johnson 65 −7
T2 Australia Jason Day 66 −6
South Africa Retief Goosen
United States Zach Johnson
Scotland Paul Lawrie
United States Robert Streb
England Danny Willett
T8 United States Kevin Na 67 −5
United States Jordan Niebrugge (a)
South Africa Louis Oosthuizen
South Africa Charl Schwartzel
United States Jordan Spieth

*The last group completed play at approximately 9:36 pm. BST (UTC+1)

Second round

[edit]

Friday and Saturday, 17–18 July 2015

The first group teed-off at 6:32 am BST on Friday, but heavy rain caused localised flooding and play was suspended at 6:46 am. Restarted at 10 am; later tee times were delayed over three hours . The tee time for the 52nd and last group was delayed from the original 4:13 pm to 7:27 pm. The second round was not completed on Friday and 42 players returned early Saturday to finish their rounds.[21][22][23]

Dustin Johnson was the overnight leader on 10-under-par after 13 holes, a stroke ahead of Danny Willett.[24] The day marked the final Open appearance of five-time champion Tom Watson at age 65.[25]

Play resumed on Saturday at 7 am, with the third round due to start at 11 am. However, play was soon suspended at 7:32 am because a strong wind was moving stationary balls on some of the greens. Because it was a non-dangerous situation, players were allowed to complete the hole they were playing. Dustin Johnson had bogeyed the 14th to move back to 9-under-par, tied for the lead with Willett.

After a delay of several hours, it was decided that only the remainder of the second round would be competed on Saturday, with the third round scheduled for Sunday and the fourth round for Monday. Play finally resumed at 6 pm, a 10½ hour delay, and was completed after 9 pm. The 36-hole cut was at even par 144 and eighty players advanced to the third round.

Place Player Score To par
1 United States Dustin Johnson 65-69=134 −10
2 England Danny Willett 66-69=135 −9
3 Scotland Paul Lawrie 66-70=136 −8
T4 Australia Jason Day 66-71=137 −7
United States Zach Johnson 66-71=137
South Africa Louis Oosthuizen 67-70=137
Australia Adam Scott 70-67=137
United States Robert Streb 66-71=137
Scotland Marc Warren 68-69=137
T10 England Luke Donald 68-70=138 −6
Republic of Ireland Paul Dunne (a) 69-69=138
South Africa Retief Goosen 66-72=138
Japan Hideki Matsuyama 72-66=138

*The last group completed play Saturday at approximately 9:19 pm.

Amateurs: Dunne (−6), Niebrugge (−4), Langasque (−3), Schniederjans (−2), Chesters (−1), Kinnear (+2), Yang (+6), Balcombe (+6), Taylor (+11)

Third round

[edit]

Sunday, 19 July 2015

Amateur Paul Dunne was in a share of the lead after the third round along with Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day.[26] No amateur had led the Open after three rounds since 1927.[27]

Place Player Score To par
T1 Australia Jason Day 66-71-67=204 −12
Republic of Ireland Paul Dunne (a) 69-69-66=204
South Africa Louis Oosthuizen 67-70-67=204
4 United States Jordan Spieth 67-72-66=205 −11
5 Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington 72-69-65=206 −10
T6 Spain Sergio García 70-69-68=207 −9
South Africa Retief Goosen 66-72-69=207
United States Zach Johnson 66-71-70=207
Australia Marc Leishman 70-73-64=207
United States Jordan Niebrugge (a) 67-73-67=207
England Justin Rose 71-68-68=207
Australia Adam Scott 70-67-70=207
United States Robert Streb 66-71-70=207
England Danny Willett 66-69-72=207

*The last group completed play Sunday at approximately 7:04 pm.

Amateurs: Dunne (−12), Niebrugge (−9), Chesters (−6), Schniederjans (−4), Langasque (−4)

Final round

[edit]

Monday, 20 July 2015

Marc Leishman carded a 66 in the final round to have the lead in the clubhouse at −15 while the final pairings were beginning their back nine. Zach Johnson then birdied the 18th to also card a 66 and tie the clubhouse lead with Leishman. The second to last group of the round were Jason Day and Jordan Spieth. Day and Spieth both headed to the par-4 16th at −14, one shot back of Leishman and Johnson. Spieth hit a difficult putt to birdie to get to -15, while Day parred. On the famous par-4 17th "Road Hole," an errant approach shot by Spieth resulted in a bogey and he was back at −14. Day was unable to convert a difficult birdie putt and remained at −14 as well. At the 18th, Spieth's approach shot was short, in the "Valley of Sin" below the green; he almost holed the chip for birdie, but settled for par and 274 (−14). Day was left with a 15-foot (4.5 m) birdie putt to join the playoff, but could not convert and also ended a stroke back at 274.

The final pairing was Louis Oosthuizen and amateur Paul Dunne, who was at even par 36 out, but was four-over on the next four holes, fell out of contention, and tied for thirtieth place.[28] Oosthuizen played a solid round and needed a birdie at 18 to get into the playoff with Leishman and Johnson. His approach shot left him with a 10-foot (3 m) birdie putt, which he sunk. The Open Championship's rules dictated there would be a four-hole aggregate score playoff between Johnson, Leishman, and Oosthuizen. Johnson took the early lead on the first and never looked back, winning by a stroke over Oosthuizen.[29][30] The win was Johnson's second major championship victory; he won the Masters eight years earlier in 2007.[31]

Final leaderboard

[edit]
Champion
Silver Medal winner (low amateur)
(a) = amateur
(c) = past champion
Place Player Score To par Money (£)
T1 United States Zach Johnson 66-71-70-66=273 −15 Playoff
Australia Marc Leishman 70-73-64-66=273
South Africa Louis Oosthuizen (c) 67-70-67-69=273
T4 Australia Jason Day 66-71-67-70=274 −14 295,000
United States Jordan Spieth 67-72-66-69=274
T6 Spain Sergio García 70-69-68-70=277 −11 196,000
United States Jordan Niebrugge (a) 67-73-67-70=277 0
England Justin Rose 71-68-68-70=277 196,000
England Danny Willett 66-69-72-70=277
T10 United States Brooks Koepka 71-70-69-68=278 −10 138,500
Australia Adam Scott 70-67-70-71=278

Source:[28]

Scorecard

[edit]
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 4 4 4 4
United States Johnson −9 −10 −10 −11 −12 −12 −13 −13 −14 −15 −15 −16 −15 −15 −15 −15 −14 −15
Australia Leishman −10 −10 −11 −12 −13 −13 −13 −13 −14 −15 −15 −16 −16 −16 −16 −15 −15 −15
South Africa Oosthuizen −13 −13 −13 −13 −13 −14 −14 −13 −14 −14 −14 −15 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −15
Australia Day −12 −12 −12 −12 −13 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14
United States Spieth −12 −12 −12 −12 −13 −14 −14 −12 −13 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −14 −15 −14 −14
Spain García −10 −10 −11 −11 −12 −12 −13 −13 −13 −14 −14 −13 −12 −12 −12 −12 −11 −11
United States Niebrugge −9 −9 −9 −10 −11 −12 −12 −12 −12 −12 −12 −12 −12 −13 −12 −12 −11 −11
England Rose −9 −9 −9 −9 −10 −10 −10 −10 −10 −10 −10 −11 −10 −10 −10 −10 −10 −11
England Willett −10 −10 −10 −9 −9 −9 −9 −8 −8 −8 −9 −10 −11 −12 −12 −12 −11 −11
Republic of Ireland Harrington −11 −12 −12 −12 −13 −11 −11 −10 −10 −10 −11 −11 −11 −10 −9 −10 −8 −7
Republic of Ireland Dunne −11 −10 −11 −11 −12 −12 −12 −12 −12 −11 −11 −10 −8 −8 −8 −8 −7 −6

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Birdie Bogey Double bogey

Source:[28]

Playoff

[edit]

This was the ninth four-hole playoff at the Open Championship, first used in 1989. The last playoff at St Andrews was twenty years earlier in 1995.

Johnson and Oosthuizen birdied the first while Leishman bogeyed; Johnson birdied the second and then the routing switched over to the Road Hole (#17), which all three bogeyed. All three made par at 18 and Johnson won the Claret Jug by a stroke.

Place Player Score To par Money (£)
1 United States Zach Johnson 3-3-5-4=15 −1 1,150,000
T2 South Africa Louis Oosthuizen 3-4-5-4=16 E 536,500
Australia Marc Leishman 5-4-5-4=18 +2
  • Four-hole aggregate playoff on holes 1, 2, 17, and 18

Scorecard

[edit]
Hole   1     2    17   18 
Par 4 4 4 4
United States Johnson −1 −2 −1 −1
South Africa Oosthuizen −1 −1 E E
Australia Leishman +1 +1 +2 +2

Cumulative playoff scores, relative to par
Source:[28]

Notes

[edit]

References

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

2015 Open Championship

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The 2015 Open Championship, formally the 144th Open Championship, was a major professional golf tournament organized by The R&A and held from July 16 to 20 at the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, marking the venue's 29th hosting of the event and the first since 2010.[1][2] American golfer Zach Johnson emerged as the champion, defeating South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Australia's Marc Leishman in a four-hole aggregate playoff after all three finished regulation play at 15-under-par 273, with Johnson posting a 1-under 15 in the playoff to Oosthuizen's even-par 16 and Leishman's 2-over 18.[1][2][3] This victory marked Johnson's second major title and his first Open Championship, earning him $1,794,690 from a total purse of £6.3 million (approximately $9.9 million), while also securing five-year exemptions into future majors and The Open (through 2020).[2][4] The tournament was notably disrupted by severe weather, including heavy rain that caused flooding and a suspension of play on Friday, July 17, and gale-force winds on Saturday, July 18, that led to scores averaging over four-over par and prompted the rare extension of the event to Monday, July 20—the second such Monday finish in Open history after 1988.[1] These conditions tested the field of 156 players, including top-ranked Jordan Spieth and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, with Dustin Johnson firing an opening-round 65 to take the early lead before fading amid the wind.[1][2] Irish amateur Paul Dunne captured widespread attention by sharing the 54-hole lead after rounds of 69-69-66, becoming the first amateur to lead after 54 holes since 1927, though he finished T30 at 2-under.[1] Beyond the competition, the 2015 Open served as an emotional farewell for golf legends Tom Watson and Sir Nick Faldo, both playing their final competitive rounds at St Andrews, a venue where Faldo had won in 1990.[1] Johnson's win, achieved through steady play including a final-round 66, denied Spieth a potential calendar-year Grand Slam after his earlier Masters and U.S. Open triumphs, with Spieth and Jason Day tying for fourth at 14-under.[1][2] The event underscored the Old Course's timeless challenges, from its double greens and pot bunkers to the unpredictable North Sea weather, reinforcing its status as the oldest major in golf dating back to 1860.[1]

Venue

Course Details

The Old Course at St Andrews, configured for the 2015 Open Championship, measured 7,297 yards with a par of 72.[5] The layout features a classic links design with shared fairways, double greens, and strategic bunkering, emphasizing wind and undulations over length. Notable holes include the par-4 1st (Burn, 376 yards), a wide-opening tee shot crossing the Swilcan Burn; the par-5 14th (Long, 618 yards), the longest hole guarded by the infamous Hell Bunker; and the par-4 18th (Tom Morris, 357 yards), finishing beside the historic Swilcan Bridge and fronted by the Valley of Sin swale.[6]
HoleNameParYardsKey Features
1Burn4376Wide fairway; Swilcan Burn before green.
2Dyke4453Double green shared with 16th; recent bunker adjustments.
5Hole O'Cross5568Double green with 13th; Spectacles bunkers.
7High (Hole o' the Dyke)4371Narrow green; Shell Beach bunker.
8Short3174Valley-like green; pot bunkers.
11High Hole3174Strath bunker; elevated back shelf.
14Long5618Hell Bunker; Beardies headwall.
17Road4495Road Hole Bunker; railway ties.
18Tom Morris4357Swilcan Bridge; Valley of Sin.
The R&A oversaw setup specifications, including tees extended on holes like the 17th to 495 yards from a new back tee added in 2010, and greens recontoured for better pin placements, such as lowering the back of the 11th and reshaping the 17th front to funnel shots.[7] Bunker modifications included adding a new fairway bunker short-left on the 9th, widening the Road Hole Bunker on the 17th by 0.5 meters, and consolidating bunkers on the 4th into one larger hazard closer to the green; these changes, implemented in 2014 by architect Martin Hawtree, aimed to modernize playability while preserving tradition.[7] Rough consisted of fescues, bentgrass, sweet vernal grass, and crested dogstail, maintained non-uniform by design to mimic natural links variability, with first-cut rough aiding recovery shots.[8] Spectator facilities featured a record 10,000-seat two-tier grandstand at the 18th green—the first such structure in Open history—enhancing views of the closing holes and creating the largest arena for the event.[9] Broadcast coverage was provided by ESPN and ABC in the United States, offering extensive live telecasts, while the BBC handled UK rights with comprehensive commentary and aerial features.[10]

Host History

The Old Course at St Andrews has a storied history as a host venue for The Open Championship, having staged the event a record 29 times as of 2015, more than any other course.[11] The inaugural hosting occurred in 1873, marking the first Open played on an 18-hole layout, won by local golfer Tom Kidd.[1] Since then, St Andrews has welcomed the Championship at irregular but generally frequent intervals, often every five to ten years, reflecting its status as the "Home of Golf" and a rotational priority in the R&A's venue selection.[12] Notable gaps include longer periods in the early 20th century, but post-World War II hostings became more consistent, such as in 1955, 1960, 1964, and 1970.[13] This legacy includes triumphs by some of golf's most iconic figures. Jack Nicklaus captured the Claret Jug in 1970 during his first major victory at St Andrews, followed by a second win there in 1978.[1] Tiger Woods dominated in the modern era, securing victories in 2000 and 2005, with the 2000 win forming part of his "Tiger Slam" of four consecutive major titles.[1] Other luminaries like Bobby Jones (1927) and Seve Ballesteros (1984).[13] The 2015 edition marked the 144th Open Championship, underscoring St Andrews' enduring centrality to the tournament's heritage as the oldest major in professional golf.[1]

Qualification and Field

Exemptions and Entry Criteria

The exemptions for the 2015 Open Championship, the 144th edition held at the Old Course at St Andrews, were established by The R&A to assemble a competitive field of 156 players, prioritizing past champions, recent major performers, top-ranked professionals, and select amateurs.[14] These categories provided approximately 102 automatic slots, including 6 amateurs via specific championships, with the remainder filled through qualifying events.[14] Past winners of The Open Championship received lifetime exemptions if under the age of 60 on the final day of the tournament, ensuring legends like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods could participate without further qualification.[14] Additionally, the most recent 10 Open champions were exempt regardless of age, while those who finished tied for 10th or better in the previous six Opens (2009–2014) also qualified, including five-time winner Tom Watson, who received a special one-year extension to mark the 40th anniversary of his 1975 victory at St Andrews.[14][15] Recent major champions were granted exemptions for five years following their victory, covering the winners of the last five U.S. Opens, Masters Tournaments, and PGA Championships, such as Jordan Spieth (2015 Masters winner) and Jason Dufner (2013 PGA winner).[14] Top performers from the prior year's Open, including those tied for 10th or better at Royal Liverpool in 2014, were also exempt, highlighting players like Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia.[14] The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) played a key role, exempting the top 50 players as of the week before the tournament (Week 21, 2015), which included leading figures such as Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, with updates added closer to the event.[14] Tour-specific criteria filled additional spots, such as the top 30 in the 2014 Race to Dubai, the last three BMW PGA Championship winners, and the first five European Tour members in the top 20 of the 2015 Race to Dubai after the BMW International Open.[14] On the PGA Tour side, exemptions went to the last three Players Champions, the top 30 from the 2014 Tour Championship, and the first five PGA Tour members in the top 20 FedEx Cup standings after the Travelers Championship.[14] Members of the 2014 Ryder Cup teams from both Europe and the United States were likewise exempt.[14] International and regional tours contributed through their 2014 Order of Merit winners from the Asian, Australasian, and Sunshine Tours, as well as top finishers from the Japan Golf Tour, including the 2014 Japan Open winner and the leading two players from the 2014 and ongoing 2015 Japan Tour Order of Merit.[14] The 2014 Senior Open Champion and winners of major amateur events, such as the 2015 British Amateur (Romain Langasque), 2014 U.S. Amateur (Gunn Yang), 2014 European Amateur (Ashley Chesters), 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur (Scott Harvey), 2014 U.S. Public Links (Corey Schwarz), and the 2014 Mark H. McCormack Medal recipient (Oliver Schniederjans), secured spots for leading amateurs (6 total exempt).[14] No sponsor exemptions were granted for the main field, though special invitations like Watson's underscored The R&A's discretion for historic milestones.[15] Additional spots were available via the Open Qualifying Series and final qualifying events.[14]

Qualifying Pathways

The Open Qualifying Series provided a key pathway for non-exempt players to secure spots in the 2015 Open Championship field through performance in selected international tournaments. This series comprised 10 events across major tours, including the European Tour, PGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour, and PGA Tour of Australasia: Thailand Golf Championship (December 2014), Australian Open (January 2015), Joburg Open (March 2015), Houston Open (May 2015), Irish Open (May 2015), Open de France (May 2015), Omega European Masters (September 2014, carried over), Travelers Championship (June 2015), Quicken Loans National (June 2015), and Greenbrier Classic (June 2015). The leading non-exempt finishers qualified based on predefined criteria such as top 4 in the top 12 (or top 3 in top 10 for Joburg Open), yielding 24 players after adjustments for ties and prior exemptions.[14] Final Qualifying served as the primary open competition route, contested over 36 holes of stroke play at four venues in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2015. The sites were Gailes Links near Glasgow in Scotland, Hillside Golf Club in Southport, England, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal, Kent, and Woburn Golf Club in Bedfordshire, England, with three qualifying spots available at each location to accommodate the field's needs (12 total, including 3 amateurs: Paul Dunne, Jordan Niebrugge, Paul Kinnear). This process yielded 12 qualifiers in total, ensuring a diverse addition to the championship entrants.[14][16][17]

Final Field Composition

The final field for the 2015 Open Championship comprised 156 players, drawn from a combination of exemption categories, qualifying events, and additional selections to complete the roster.[18] The breakdown by qualification pathway reflected the tournament's emphasis on rewarding consistent performance across global tours and providing opportunities for emerging talent. Approximately 99 players were exempt (including 6 amateurs via specific championships, such as Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Romain Langasque, and Gunn Yang), the top 10 finishers from the 2014 Open, recent major winners (like 2014 Masters champion Bubba Watson), top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of week 21 in 2015, and leading money winners from the PGA Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and PGA Tour of Australasia. An additional 24 spots were allocated through the Open Qualifying Series (OQS), a global circuit of 10 co-sanctioned events where the top 3-4 non-exempt finishers (or ties) in each earned entry, featuring players like Tyrrell Hatton from the Omega European Masters and An Byeong-hun from the BMW PGA Championship. Twelve players advanced via final qualifying on June 30, 2015, at four UK venues (Gailes Links, Hillside, Royal Cinque Ports, and Woburn), with standout qualifiers including amateurs Paul Kinnear and Mark Young. In total, 9 amateurs participated (6 exempt + 3 from final qualifying, including Jordan Niebrugge). The remaining 21 spots were filled by higher-ranked players from the Official World Golf Ranking to reach the full capacity.[14][14][16][19]
Qualification PathwayNumber of PlayersExamples
Exemptions (past champions, rankings, tour winners; incl. 6 amateurs)99Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Romain Langasque
Open Qualifying Series24Tyrrell Hatton, An Byeong-hun
Final Qualifying (incl. 3 amateurs)12Paul Kinnear, Mark Young, Paul Dunne
Additional OWGR Selections21Various top-ranked professionals
Total156
Among the notable participants were defending champion Rory McIlroy, who had won the 2014 title at Royal Liverpool; world No. 1 Jordan Spieth, fresh off victories at the 2015 Masters and U.S. Open; and veteran major winners including Phil Mickelson (five-time major champion), Tiger Woods (14-time major winner), and Padraig Harrington (two-time Open winner). The field also featured a mix of international talent, with 28 countries represented, highlighting the event's global appeal.[20] To accommodate potential pre-tournament withdrawals, five alternates were designated based on Official World Golf Ranking positions as of the entry deadline: Francesco Molinari (No. 43), Matt Jones (No. 67), David Lingmerth (No. 72), Harris English (No. 74), and Daniel Berger (No. 75). In practice, Russell Knox replaced McIlroy after his withdrawal due to injury.[20]

Tournament Rounds

First Round

The first round of the 2015 Open Championship took place on July 16 at the Old Course at St Andrews under relatively calm and dry conditions, with temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and light winds that favored low scoring for early starters, though later groups faced increasing breezes.[21][22] There were no significant delays, allowing the full field of 156 players to complete their rounds.[23] Dustin Johnson seized the lead with a bogey-free 7-under-par 65, the lowest opening round at St Andrews in Open history, powered by aggressive play off the tee and sharp putting.[24][25] He opened with birdies on holes 2, an eagle on the par-5 5th after reaching the green in two, 7, and closed strongly with birdies on the 14th, 16th, and 18th to finish one stroke clear.[26][27][28] A group of six players shared second place at 6-under-par 66, including former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who birdied seven holes in a steady round, and two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen, who capitalized on the favorable morning conditions with precise iron play.[22][29] Jordan Spieth, seeking the calendar Grand Slam, posted a 5-under-par 67, staying within striking distance after birdieing four of his first six holes and the 11th, despite bogeys on the 13th and 17th.[26][29] The low scores early in the day suggested a projected cutline around even par 72, as 21 players finished under par and the field averaged just over 73, setting up a potentially lenient top-70-and-ties advancement for the weekend.[30][31]

Second Round

The second round of the 2015 Open Championship, held on July 17 at St Andrews, was severely disrupted by extreme weather, beginning with torrential rain that caused flooding on the course and led to a suspension of play for over three hours.[1] Gusty winds up to 40 mph later intensified the challenges, making the Old Course play significantly tougher than the first day, with balls oscillating on greens and contributing to slower scoring averages.[32] Play was halted again in the evening due to darkness and wind, with the round spilling over into Saturday morning for the first time since 1988, extending the total duration of the second round to nearly 39 hours from start to finish.[32] Despite the conditions, early starters benefited from calmer winds, posting strong scores before the weather worsened. Dustin Johnson, who led after the first round with a 65, carded a 3-under 69 in the second round to reach 10-under 134 after 36 holes, securing a one-stroke lead with birdies on holes 1, 3, and 18. England's Danny Willett fired a 3-under 69 to climb to 9-under, while Scotland's Paul Lawrie moved into second at 8-under with a 70. Jason Day, starting the day at 6-under, added a 1-under 71 to reach 7-under, positioning himself among the contenders despite battling vertigo symptoms earlier in the season. The cut fell at even par 144, with 80 players advancing to the weekend, the maximum allowed under tournament rules.[32] Notable among those who missed was Tiger Woods, who finished at 7-over 151—his worst 36-hole total in Open history—after rounds of 76 and 75, marked by inconsistent iron play and putting woes.[32] Defending champion Rory McIlroy had withdrawn prior to the tournament due to an ankle injury sustained off-course, becoming the first titleholder to miss the event since 1968.[1]

Third Round

The third round of the 2015 Open Championship began early on Saturday, July 18, at 7:10 a.m. BST, as officials advanced the start time by nearly four hours from the original schedule to preempt worsening weather forecasts that included heavy rain and strong winds later in the day.[33] However, play was suspended after just five groups teed off, due to gusts exceeding 40 mph that rendered the Old Course unplayable, forcing the remainder of the round to resume on Sunday, July 19, at 6:00 a.m. BST.[34] This adjustment marked only the second Monday finish in Open history after 1988 and highlighted the tournament's vulnerability to St. Andrews' variable coastal conditions.[35] When play resumed on Sunday, calmer winds of around 10-15 mph and dry conditions prevailed, enabling players to attack the firm, fast greens more aggressively and producing some of the lowest scores of the week.[36] The round featured birdie runs and strong putting displays, with approach shots benefiting from reduced wind resistance compared to earlier days. Jason Day fired a 5-under 67 to reach 12-under 204, joining amateur Paul Dunne (who carded a 6-under 66) and Louis Oosthuizen (5-under 67) in a three-way tie for the lead after 54 holes.[37] Jordan Spieth, seeking a third consecutive major victory, posted a 6-under 66 to climb to 11-under, one stroke back, while maintaining contention despite the pressure.[38] Other standout performances included Marc Leishman's course-record-tying 8-under 64, which vaulted him into the top 10, and Pádraig Harrington's 7-under 65, his best Open round in over a decade.[36] Sergio Garcia shot 4-under 68 and Zach Johnson 2-under 70, both reaching 9-under, positioning themselves solidly in the chasing pack amid the leaderboard shakeup.[37] These efforts underscored "moving day" drama, as 18 players finished the round under par, setting up a tense final day.[2]

Fourth Round

The fourth round of the 2015 Open Championship took place on July 20, 2015, at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, amid challenging weather conditions that included southeast winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph and intermittent rain showers. These elements contributed to the round being the most difficult of the tournament, with the field posting an average score 0.5 strokes over par.[39][40] Following the third-round leaders at 12 under par, the final day saw multiple shifts in the lead as contenders battled the elements and the links layout. Louis Oosthuizen seized an early advantage by birdieing the first hole to reach 13 under par, establishing a one-shot lead over the group that included Jordan Spieth, who started the round at 11 under.[41] Oosthuizen extended his lead to 14 under with a birdie on the 13th, but the position proved precarious as other players mounted charges on the back nine.[42] Spieth, paired in the penultimate group, surged into contention with aggressive play, reaching 15 under par after sinking a 50-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th hole to tie for the lead. His momentum stalled on the notoriously difficult par-4 17th (the Road Hole), where he bogeyed after missing an 8-foot par putt, falling back to 14 under. On the 18th, Spieth's approach shot rolled off the green, leading to another bogey and a final-round 69, leaving him tied for fourth at 14 under par overall.[43][44] Zach Johnson, beginning three shots behind the leaders after a third-round 70, delivered the round's standout performance with a bogey-free 66, relying on precise iron play and clutch par saves on the back nine, including several from off the greens. He capped his effort with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th to reach 15 under par.[43][42] Marc Leishman matched Johnson's score with his own 66, featuring birdies on the 10th and other back-nine opportunities to climb from nine under par to 15 under, highlighted by steady par play amid the wind.[43][42] Oosthuizen closed with a 69, maintaining composure with a wedge shot to 5 feet on the 18th for birdie to join Johnson and Leishman at 15 under par.[43]

Final Results

Leaderboard

The 2015 Open Championship concluded with Zach Johnson emerging as the champion after a four-hole aggregate playoff, posting a tournament total of 273 (−15). Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman tied for second place at the same score, while Jason Day and Jordan Spieth shared fourth at 274 (−14).[2][45] The following table summarizes the top 10 finishers, including round-by-round scores and totals:
PositionPlayerNationalityR1R2R3R4TotalTo Par
1Zach JohnsonUSA66717066273−15
T2Louis OosthuizenRSA67706769273−15
T2Marc LeishmanAUS70736466273−15
T4Jason DayAUS66716770274−14
T4Jordan SpiethUSA67726669274−14
T6Paul Dunne (a)IRL66697270277−11
T6Jordan Niebrugge (a)USA67736770277−11
T6Danny WillettENG66697270277−11
T6Sergio GarciaESP71716570277−11
T6Justin RoseENG71686870277−11
(a) denotes amateur. Paul Dunne, the low amateur, was awarded the Silver Medal for his tied sixth-place finish.[2][1][45] The total purse for the tournament was £6,300,000, with the winner receiving £1,150,000; the two playoff runners-up, tying for second, each earned £536,500 (splitting the prizes for second and third places); those tied for fourth each received £295,000 (splitting fourth and fifth). Amateurs did not receive monetary prizes but were eligible for the Silver Medal.[46][47][48] Of the 156 players in the field, 80 advanced past the 36-hole cut, which fell at even par due to challenging wind conditions on the second day.[49][50]

Playoff

The 2015 Open Championship concluded with a four-hole aggregate playoff on the Old Course at St Andrews, involving Zach Johnson, Marc Leishman, and Louis Oosthuizen, who had all finished regulation play at 15 under par.[43] The playoff format, standard for The Open when multiple players are tied, required the competitors to play holes 1, 2, 17, and 18, with the lowest cumulative score determining the winner.[1]
PlayerHole 1 (Par 4)Hole 2 (Par 4)Hole 17 (Par 4)Hole 18 (Par 4)Total
Zach Johnson3 (birdie)3 (birdie)5 (bogey)4 (par)15
Louis Oosthuizen3 (birdie)4 (par)5 (bogey)4 (par)16
Marc Leishman5 (bogey)4 (par)5 (bogey)4 (par)18
On the first playoff hole (par-4 first), Johnson and Oosthuizen each birdied from 12 feet and 15 feet, respectively, while Leishman's approach landed in a divot, leading to a bogey after a three-putt from 30 feet.[51] Johnson extended his lead on the second hole with an 18-foot birdie putt, as Oosthuizen and Leishman settled for pars. The third hole, the notoriously challenging par-4 17th (Road Hole), saw all three players bogey, with Johnson recovering from a mishit approach to save bogey from 3 feet, Oosthuizen three-putting, and Leishman missing a par putt.[43] On the final hole (par-4 18th), Johnson two-putted for par after missing a 15-foot birdie attempt, Leishman two-putted for par from 25 feet, and Oosthuizen's 12-foot birdie putt to force sudden death lipped out, handing Johnson the victory by one stroke over Oosthuizen.[52] The playoff unfolded under continued windy conditions that had plagued the tournament, forcing a Monday finish due to earlier delays from gales and flooding.[1] Bunkers and thick rough played pivotal roles, particularly on the 17th where errant approaches into the Road Hole Bunker and surrounding fescue amplified the hole's difficulty, contributing to the universal bogeys.[53] Johnson, securing his second major title, expressed profound gratitude in his immediate post-victory comments: "I'm grateful. I'm humbled and I'm honoured. This is the birthplace of the game and that jug means so much in sports."[43] Oosthuizen, reflecting on the narrow defeat, noted the course's toughness: "St Andrews showed its teeth today," while lamenting his missed opportunity on the 17th.[53] Leishman, who struggled from the outset in the playoff amid personal challenges including his wife's recent illness, remained philosophical: "I feel like even if I do have a bad day I can still go home and hopefully give my wife a hug and cuddle my two boys."[54]

Significance

Notable Events

The 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews commenced with the Champion Golfers' Challenge on the first day, featuring past champions including five-time winner Peter Thomson and seven-time major champion Arnold Palmer, who participated despite a recent shoulder injury.[1][55] Defending champion and world number one Rory McIlroy withdrew prior to the tournament due to a ruptured ligament in his left ankle, sustained while playing soccer with friends.[56][57] At least six other players also withdrew from the field before the tournament began, though McIlroy's absence marked the first time a defending Open champion had missed the event since 1983.[58] Challenging weather conditions affected the tournament week, including heavy rain that delayed the second round by over three hours on Friday and high winds that suspended play for nearly 10 hours on Saturday, ultimately requiring the final round to be completed on Monday.[59][60] These disruptions tested players' resilience but did not prevent a successful championship overall.[60] A highlight of the event was the performance of amateur Paul Dunne from Ireland, who shared the lead after 54 holes at 12-under par, becoming the first Irish amateur to lead a major championship and the first amateur overall to do so since Bobby Jones in 1927.[61][60] Dunne's achievement drew widespread attention, underscoring the competitive depth among non-professionals in the field of nine amateurs.[62]

Legacy and Impact

Zach Johnson's victory at the 2015 Open Championship marked his second major title, following his 2007 Masters win, and further entrenched his reputation as a master of steady, accurate play particularly in adverse conditions like the high winds that defined the tournament.[43][63] The win propelled him to a career-high world ranking of No. 5 and provided a significant financial boost, with the £1,150,000 winner's prize contributing to his career earnings, which exceeded $49 million as of 2025.[64][65][64] Jordan Spieth's tied fourth-place finish ended his bid for a calendar-year grand slam in 2015 but underscored his emergence as a generational talent, as he achieved top-five results in all four majors that year—winning the Masters and U.S. Open while finishing second at the PGA Championship.[66][67] This performance elevated Spieth's profile, positioning him as the youngest player since Jack Nicklaus to contend seriously for multiple majors in a single season and enhancing his marketability and endorsement opportunities.[68] The 2015 Open at St Andrews served as the venue's last hosting until the 150th edition in 2022, reinforcing the Old Course's status as a timeless test of golf amid challenging elements, exemplified by the tournament's gusts exceeding 40 mph that forced play suspensions and amplified strategic demands on precision over power.[69][70][34] Beyond individual careers, the event heightened discussions on mental resilience in major championships, with Johnson's composure under pressure in the playoff highlighting the value of unflappable focus in links golf, though it did not lead to any significant rule changes or lingering controversies in the sport's governance.[63][34]

References

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  51. British Open 2015: Australian Marc Leishman falls short in three-way ...
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  66. Jordan Spieth's awesome 2015 season in 15 unbelievable stats
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  68. St. Andrews Golf Links to next host The Open Championship in 2027
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