Hubbry Logo
2017 Open Championship2017 Open ChampionshipMain
Open search
2017 Open Championship
Community hub
2017 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.
2017 Open Championship
2017 Open Championship
2017 Open Championship
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

2017 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates20–23 July 2017
LocationSouthport, England
53°37′19″N 3°02′00″W / 53.622°N 3.0333°W / 53.622; -3.0333
CourseRoyal Birkdale Golf Club
Organized byThe R&A
Tours
Statistics
Par70
Length7,156 yards (6,543 m)
Field156 players, 77 after cut
Cut145 (+5)
Prize fund$10,250,000[1]
€8,935,572
£7,890,000 (est.)
Winner's share$1,845,000
€1,608,403
£1,420,000 (est.)
Champion
United States Jordan Spieth
268 (−12)
Location map
Royal Birkdale is located in England
Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale
Location in England
Royal Birkdale is located in Merseyside
Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale
Location in Southport, Merseyside,
north of Liverpool, England
← 2016
2018 →

The 2017 Open Championship was a major golf championship and the 146th Open Championship, held 20–23 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. It was the tenth Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, which held its first in 1954.[2]

Jordan Spieth shot four rounds in the sixties for 268 (−12), three strokes ahead of runner-up Matt Kuchar, for his third major title, and the second in which he led wire-to-wire (2015 Masters). In the third round, Branden Grace scored 62 to set a new major championship record.[3]

This was the first year that the prize money was paid in U.S. dollars, rather than British pounds.[4]

Media

[edit]

This was the second Open Championship televised domestically by Sky Sports.[5] In the United States, it is the second Open Championship to be televised by NBC (Golf Channel's parent network).[6]

Venue

[edit]
Main article: Royal Birkdale Golf Club

This was the tenth Open Championship at Royal Birkdale; the ninth in 2008 saw Pádraig Harrington successfully defend his 2007 title from Carnoustie.

Course layout

[edit]
Hole Yards Par    Hole Yards Par
1 448 4 10 402 4
2 422 4 11 436 4
3 451 4 12 183 3
4 199 3 13 499 4
5 346 4 14 200 3
6 499 4 15 542 5
7 177 3 16 438 4
8 458 4 17 567 5
9 416 4 18 473 4
Out 3,416 34 In 3,740 36
Source: Total 7,156 70

Lengths of the course for previous Opens:[7]

  • 2008: 7,173 yards (6,559 m), par 70
  • 1998: 7,018 yards (6,417 m), par 70
  • 1991: 6,940 yards (6,350 m), par 70
  • 1983: 6,968 yards (6,372 m), par 71
  • 1976: 7,001 yards (6,402 m), par 72
  • 1971: 7,080 yards (6,470 m), par 73
  • 1965: 7,037 yards (6,435 m), par 73
  • 1961: 6,844 yards (6,258 m), par 72[8]
  • 1954: 6,867 yards (6,279 m), par 73[2]

Field

[edit]

The Open Championship field was made up of 156 players, who gained entry through various exemption criteria and qualifying tournaments. The criteria included past Open champions, recent major winners, top ranked players in the world rankings and from the leading world tours, and winners and high finishers from various designated tournaments, including the Open Qualifying Series; the winners of designated amateur events, including The Amateur Championship and U.S. Amateur, also gained exemption provided they remain an amateur. Anyone not qualifying via exemption, and had a handicap of 0.4 or lower, could gain entry through regional and final qualifying events.

Criteria and exemptions

[edit]

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

1. The Open Champions aged 60 or under on 23 July 2017

2. The Open Champions for 2007–2016

3. Top 10 finishers and ties in the 2016 Open Championship

4. Top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for Week 21, 2017

5. Top 30 on the 2016 Race to Dubai

6. Last three BMW PGA Championship winners

7. Top 5 players, not already exempt, within the top 20 of the 2017 Race to Dubai through the BMW International Open

8. Last five U.S. Open winners

9. Last five Masters Tournament winners

10. Last five PGA Championship winners

11. Last three Players Championship winners

12. The 30 qualifiers for the 2016 Tour Championship

13. Top 5 players, not already exempt, within the top 20 of the 2017 FedEx Cup points list through the Travelers Championship

14. Winner of the 2016 Olympic Golf Tournament

15. Winner of the 2016 Open de Argentina

16. Winner and runner-up from the 2017 Korea Open

17. Playing members of the 2016 Ryder Cup teams

18. Winner of the 2016 Asian Tour Order of Merit

19. Winner of the 2016 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit

20. Winner of the 2016–17 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit

21. Winner of the 2016 Japan Open

22. Top 2 on the 2016 Japan Golf Tour Official Money List

23. Top 2, not already exempt, on the 2017 Japan Golf Tour Official Money List through the Japan Golf Tour Championship

24. Winner of the 2016 Senior Open Championship

25. Winner of the 2017 Amateur Championship

26. Winner of the 2016 U.S. Amateur

  • Curtis Luck forfeited his exemption after turning professional in April 2017.

27. Winners of the 2016 and 2017 editions of the European Amateur

28. Recipient of the 2016 Mark H. McCormack Medal

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.

Location Tournament Date Spots Top Qualifiers
Australia Emirates Australian Open 20 Nov 3 10 Aaron Baddeley, Ashley Hall, Cameron Smith
Singapore SMBC Singapore Open 22 Jan 4 12 Phachara Khongwatmai, Jbe' Kruger, Prayad Marksaeng, Song Young-han
South Africa Joburg Open 26 Feb 3 10 Darren Fichardt, Stuart Manley, Paul Waring
Japan Mizuno Open 28 May 4 12 Adam Bland, Michael Hendry, Chan Kim, Kim Kyung-tae
France HNA Open de France 2 Jul 3 10 Alexander Björk, Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Peter Uihlein
United States Quicken Loans National 2 Jul 4 12 Charles Howell III, Kang Sung-hoon, Martin Laird, Kyle Stanley
Ireland Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 9 Jul 3 10 David Drysdale, Ryan Fox, Richie Ramsay
United States Greenbrier Classic 9 Jul 4 12 Jamie Lovemark, Sebastián Muñoz, Xander Schauffele, Robert Streb
Scotland Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open 16 Jul 3 10 Andrew Dodt, Matthieu Pavon, Callum Shinkwin
United States John Deere Classic 16 Jul 1 5 Bryson DeChambeau

Final Qualifying

[edit]

The Final Qualifying events were played on 4 July at five courses covering Scotland and the North-West, Central and South-coast regions of England. Three qualifying places were available at each location.

Location Qualifiers[a][c]
Gailes Links Ryan McCarthy, Julian Suri, Connor Syme (a)
Hillside Adam Hodkinson, Nick McCarthy, Haydn McCullen
Notts (Hollinwell) Laurie Canter, Joe Dean, Mark Foster
Royal Cinque Ports Austin Connelly, Robert Dinwiddie, Matthew Southgate
Woburn Shiv Kapur, Ian Poulter, Toby Tree

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.

From the Week 26 (week ending 2 July) Official World Golf Ranking:
From the Week 27 (week ending 9 July) Official World Golf Ranking:

Round summaries

[edit]

First round

[edit]

Thursday, 20 July 2017

Three Americans – Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar, and Jordan Spieth – shared the lead after the first round on five under par, a shot clear of England's Paul Casey and Charl Schwartzel, with Ian Poulter a further shot back.[12] Reigning champion Henrik Stenson was one under after a 69. Rory McIlroy was five over par after six holes but recovered to finish with a one-over-par 71.[13][14]

Place Player Score To par
T1 United States Brooks Koepka 65 −5
United States Matt Kuchar
United States Jordan Spieth
T4 England Paul Casey 66 −4
South Africa Charl Schwartzel
T6 England Richard Bland 67 −3
Spain Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Canada Austin Connelly
United States Charley Hoffman
England Ian Poulter
United States Justin Thomas

Second round

[edit]

Friday, 21 July 2017

In difficult conditions, Jordan Spieth followed his first round 65 with a 69 to lead by two strokes from Matt Kuchar.[15] Only eight players scored under par for their second rounds, Zach Johnson's 66 being the best round of the day. Alfie Plant was the only amateur to make the cut. He eagled the par-five 15th on his way to a 73 and a 36-hole total of 144.[16]

Place Player Score To par
1 United States Jordan Spieth 65-69=134 −6
2 United States Matt Kuchar 65-71=136 −4
T3 United States Brooks Koepka 65-72=137 −3
England Ian Poulter 67-70=137
5 Scotland Richie Ramsay 68-70=138 −2
T6 England Richard Bland 67-72=139 −1
Canada Austin Connelly 67-72=139
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 71-68=139
United States Gary Woodland 70-69=139
T10 United States Kent Bulle 68-72=140 E
Spain Rafa Cabrera-Bello 67-73=140
United States Charley Hoffman 67-73=140
United States Russell Henley 70-70=140
United States Chan Kim 72-68=140
United States Jamie Lovemark 71-69=140
Netherlands Joost Luiten 68-72=140
Japan Hideki Matsuyama 68-72=140
Sweden Alex Norén 68-72=140
United States Bubba Watson 68-72=140

Amateurs: Plant (+4), Syme (+9), Cianchetti (+11), Ellis (+12), McNealy (+12)

Third round

[edit]

Saturday, 22 July 2017

Jordan Spieth shot a 65 to take a three-stroke lead over Matt Kuchar, who shot a 66. On an easier day of scoring, Branden Grace scored 62, breaking the long-standing men's major championship record of 63.[17] There were also low rounds from Dustin Johnson, with a 64, and Henrik Stenson, with a 65, both getting into a tie for 7th place.[18]

Place Player Score To par
1 United States Jordan Spieth 65-69-65=199 −11
2 United States Matt Kuchar 65-71-66=202 −8
T3 Canada Austin Connelly 67-72-66=205 −5
United States Brooks Koepka 65-72-68=205
T5 South Africa Branden Grace 70-74-62=206 −4
Japan Hideki Matsuyama 68-72-66=206
T7 Spain Rafa Cabrera-Bello 67-73-67=207 −3
United States Dustin Johnson 71-72-64=207
United States Chan Kim 72-68-67=207
Sweden Henrik Stenson 69-73-65=207

Grace 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 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 5 4
South Africa Grace −1 −1 −1 −2 −3 −3 −3 −4 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −6 −6 −7 −8 −8
Birdie

Final round

[edit]

Sunday, 23 July 2017

Beginning the round with a three-shot lead, Jordan Spieth bogeyed three of his first four holes to fall into a tie with Matt Kuchar.[19] A birdie at the 5th combined with a bogey by Kuchar at the 6th allowed Spieth to re-open a two-stroke advantage, but a bogey-birdie swing at the 9th evened the score heading to the back-nine. The score remained level until the 13th, when Spieth hit his tee shot well to the right of the fairway. Forced to take an unplayable lie and drop from the practice area, he managed to get up-and-down to save bogey while Kuchar took the lead by making par.[20] At the par-3 14th, however, Spieth nearly holed his tee shot and converted the birdie attempt to tie Kuchar.[21] Then at the par-5 15th, Spieth made a 48-foot (15 m) eagle putt to take the lead once again. With birdies on the next two holes Spieth played 14–17 in five-under to take a two-stroke lead heading to the last. When Kuchar found a greenside bunker and made bogey, Spieth was able to tap in for par and win the championship by three strokes.[22] Li Haotong birdied his last four holes for 63 (−7) and jump into third place at 274 (−6), the best finish for an Asian player at the Open Championship since Lu Liang-Huan in 1971, also at Royal Birkdale.[23] With the victory, Spieth joined Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers to win three legs of the career Grand Slam before the age of 24.[24]

Final leaderboard

[edit]
Champion
Silver Medal winner (low amateur)
(a) = amateur
(c) = past champion

Note: Top 10 and ties qualify for the 2018 Open Championship; top 4 and ties qualify for the 2018 Masters Tournament

Place Player Score To par Money ($)
1 United States Jordan Spieth 65-69-65-69=268 −12 1,845,000
2 United States Matt Kuchar 65-71-66-69=271 −9 1,067,000
3 China Li Haotong 69-73-69-63=274 −6 684,000
T4 Spain Rafa Cabrera-Bello 67-73-67-68=275 −5 480,000
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy (c) 71-68-69-67=275
T6 South Africa Branden Grace 70-74-62-70=276 −4 281,000
United States Brooks Koepka 65-72-68-71=276
Australia Marc Leishman 69-76-66-65=276
Sweden Alex Norén 68-72-69-67=276
England Matthew Southgate 72-72-67-65=276
Source:[25]

Scorecard

[edit]

Final round

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 5 4
United States Spieth −10 −10 −9 −8 −9 −9 −9 −9 −8 −8 −8 −8 −7 −8 −10 −11 −12 −12
United States Kuchar −8 −9 −8 −8 −8 −7 −7 −7 −8 −8 −8 −8 −8 −8 −9 −9 −10 −9
China Li +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 E −1 −1 −1 −2 −2 −2 −3 −4 −5 −6
Spain Cabrera-Bello −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −4 −4 −4 −3 −4 −4 −4 −4 −4 −5 −5
Northern Ireland McIlroy −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −3 −3 −4 −4 −4 −4 −3 −3 −5 −5

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Eagle Birdie Bogey

Source:[25]

Notes

[edit]

References

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

2017 Open Championship

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2017 Open Championship, formally the 146th and the final major tournament of the year, was contested from 20 to 23 July at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in , . American claimed the , finishing at 12 under par (268) after rounds of 65, 69, 65, and 69, to win by three strokes over runner-up . At age 23, Spieth's victory marked his third major title, following the 2015 Masters and 2015 U.S. Open, and made him the youngest player to win three majors since in 1966. The tournament drew a record 235,000 spectators to course, which had previously hosted the Open nine times, most recently in 2008. Spieth entered the final round three shots behind leader Kuchar but mounted a dramatic comeback, highlighted by a birdie on the 14th, an eagle on the 15th, and birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to secure the win. The event also featured historic moments, including South Africa's carding a third-round 62—the lowest score in major championship history and the first sub-63 round in a men's major. A field of 156 players competed for a total purse of $10.25 million, with Spieth earning $1.845 million as winner and Kuchar receiving $1.067 million for second place. went to China's Haotong Li at 6 under par (274), while England's Alfie Plant finished as the low amateur at 6 over par (286), earning the . The championship underscored Royal Birkdale's challenging conditions, with wind and firm fairways testing the world's top golfers, including notable finishes from (T4 at 5 under) and (T6 at 4 under).

Tournament overview

Dates and venue

The 146th Open Championship took place from July 20 to 23, 2017, at in , , . This marked the 10th occasion that Royal Birkdale hosted the event, having previously done so in 1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998, and 2008. Practice rounds were held on July 18 and 19, allowing players to familiarize themselves with course ahead of the competitive play. The introduced a notable logistical change by announcing the prize fund in dollars for the first time, with a total purse of $10.25 million and $1.845 million allocated to the winner. Weather conditions were challenging and windy throughout the event, testing players' adaptability on the exposed coastal layout. The second round on featured particularly severe gusts exceeding 30 mph accompanied by , while the third round on saw milder winds of 3 to 12 mph under drier skies.

Course details

The 2017 Open Championship was held at in , , a classic links course measuring 7,156 yards with a par of 70. The layout features undulating fairways framed by towering sand dunes, dense gorse, and numerous pot bunkers that demand precise shot-making, while the coastal position exposes players to variable winds from the , often amplifying the challenge on exposed holes. No significant alterations were made to the course for 2017 beyond standard tournament preparations, preserving its traditional character established by architect Frederick G. Hawtree in the 1950s. Key holes exemplify the course's strategic demands, such as the par-3 7th (177 yards), where a narrow green is guarded by bunkers and wind can push shots toward the out-of-bounds railway line on the left, and the closing par-4 18th (473 yards), which plays through a dune-lined corridor with staggered fairway bunkers and a green tilted toward the gorse, requiring a controlled approach to avoid rolling into trouble. The setup emphasized firm, fast-running fairways and penal rough, with tees positioned to extend select holes for added length and to counter prevailing winds, heightening the test of links golf fundamentals like low ball flight and creativity around the greens. Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open Championship nine times prior to 2017, beginning in 1954 when Peter Thomson claimed victory, followed by wins from in 1961, Thomson again in 1965, in 1971, in 1976, Tom Watson in 1983, in 1991, in 1998, and in 2008. The venue holds historical records including multiple single-round scores of 65, underscoring its reputation for rewarding bold play amid natural hazards.

Prize fund and format

The 2017 Open Championship offered a total prize purse of $10.25 million, the first time the event's payout was denominated in U.S. dollars instead of British pounds sterling, reflecting the tournament's growing international appeal. The winner received $1.845 million from this fund. The tournament followed the standard format of 72 holes of for a field of 156 players. After 36 holes, the cut advanced the top 70 players and ties, set at +5 (145) for this edition, with 77 players proceeding to the final two rounds. No playoff was required, as secured a three-stroke . Professionals entering via qualifying events paid fees ranging from $200 to $400, while amateurs were exempt from these costs to encourage broader participation. The for any post-72-hole deadlock was a four-hole aggregate playoff on holes 1, 2, 17, and 18, followed by sudden-death if necessary, though it went unused in 2017.

Qualification and field

Entry criteria and exemptions

The entry criteria for the 2017 Open Championship were established by to ensure a competitive field of 156 players, primarily through automatic exemptions based on recent achievements, world rankings, and representation from global tours. Exemption categories encompassed past Open champions aged 60 or under on July 23, 2017, the last 10 Open winners regardless of age, and top-10 finishers (including ties) from the 2016 Open. Recent major winners were also exempt, including the last five champions of the , U.S. Open, and , as well as the last three winners. The (OWGR) provided exemptions for the top 50 players as of the week ending May 21, 2017, alongside spots for the top 30 qualifiers from the 2016 season and the top 30 from the 2016 Race to Dubai on the European Tour. For the European Tour, additional exemptions went to the last three winners and the top five non-exempt members following the 2017 , reflecting a 2017 emphasis on prior-season performance from that circuit. Leading amateurs earned spots via the 2017 British Amateur champion, the 2016 U.S. Amateur and European Amateur champions (if remaining amateur), and the recipient of the 2016 for the top-ranked amateur. Representation from developing golf nations was supported through exemptions for 2016 Order of Merit winners from the , , , and top performers on the . Past Open champions did not receive lifetime exemptions, with eligibility restricted to those under 60 years old; this policy applied uniformly, though historical rules prior to had offered broader access for British winners. Overall, these categories filled approximately 30 spots through past champions and rankings alone, with the remainder via other exemptions and the Open Qualifying Series.

Qualifying events

The Open Qualifying Series for the 2017 Open Championship comprised 12 tournaments held across 10 countries from November 2016 to July 2017, offering spots to the leading non-exempt finishers in each event. These included the Emirates Australian Open (November 17–20, 2016), SMBC Singapore Open (January 19–22), Joburg Open (February 23–26), Ho Tram Players Championship (April 13–16, though later postponed and replaced), Mizuno Open (May 25–28), HNA Open de France (July 1–4), Quicken Loans National (June 29–July 2), Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (July 6–9), (July 6–9), (July 13–16), and (July 13–16). In total, 12 players earned entry through the series by placing in the top three (or equivalent positions adjusted for ties and exemptions) in these co-sanctioned professional events. Final Qualifying took place on July 4, 2017, across five venues in 36-hole stroke-play format, awarding 15 spots to the low scorers at each site. The venues were Woburn Golf & Country Club (), Royal Cinque Ports (), Gailes Links (, ), Hillside Golf Club (), and Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell course, ), with three places available per location. Notable qualifiers included England's , who advanced from Woburn with scores of 70-68 to earn his 18th Open appearance, and Indian professional Shiv Kapur, who posted 71-65 at the same site. At Gailes Links, 21-year-old Scottish amateur secured a spot with a 4-under total, while at Hillside, England's Haydn McCullen led the qualifiers with a course-record 64. Canadian Austin Connelly also advanced from Woburn via a playoff birdie for the final spot there. Four first alternates were selected from the Final Qualifying results to fill any late withdrawals, with two ultimately playing in the tournament due to pullouts before the first round. This process ensured the field reached its full capacity of 156 players at Royal Birkdale.

Final field composition

The final field for the 2017 Open Championship comprised 156 players drawn from qualification exemptions and events, with 77 advancing to the weekend rounds after the 36-hole cut at +5 or better. Players represented 28 countries, underscoring the tournament's international appeal, with the leading in participation at 36 entrants, followed by (12) and (9). Among the notable professionals were defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who sought to repeat his 2016 victory, alongside multiple major winners including Rory McIlroy (four-time major champion), Phil Mickelson (five-time major champion), and Jason Day (2015 PGA Championship winner). The field also featured five amateurs: Alfie Plant and Harry Ellis of England, Connor Syme of Scotland, Luca Cianchetti of Italy, and Maverick McNealy of the United States, with Plant ultimately earning the Silver Medal as the low amateur. Two pre-tournament withdrawals occurred due to injury: 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis, replaced by alternate , and , replaced by alternate .

Rounds and play

First round

The first round of the 2017 Open Championship was held on , 2017, at in , . Weather conditions varied throughout the day, starting with cool temperatures around 15°C (59°F), scattered rain showers, and gusty winds up to 20 mph in the morning that challenged early starters, before improving to mostly calm with light winds, sunshine, and drier conditions by the afternoon. Three American players—Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Matt Kuchar—shared the lead at five under par 65, the lowest scores of the day on the par-70 layout stretching 7,086 yards. Spieth delivered a bogey-free round, making six birdies, including a strong sequence on the back nine where he birdied holes 11, 12, 14, and 16 to surge into contention. Koepka reached the lead briefly with an eagle on the par-5 17th, holing out from a greenside after a bogey on the previous hole, while Kuchar relied on consistent iron play and putting for his steady 65. of was one stroke back at four under 66. Rory McIlroy, a pre-tournament favorite, finished at one over par 71 after a challenging start with three bogeys in his first seven holes for a front-nine 39, but he rallied on the back nine with four birdies, including a 25-foot putt on the par-5 15th, for a 32 to remain in contention. The three amateurs in the field—England's Alfie Plant and Scott Gregory, and Scotland's —struggled overall, posting scores of 74 (+4), 77 (+7), and 78 (+8) respectively, averaging seven over par amid the links challenges. The par-5 holes (3rd, 15th, and 17th) yielded low scores, accounting for many of the day's birdies and eagles as players capitalized on the softened greens from morning rain. Notable highlights included 's birdie on the 15th to reach three under, and multiple eagles across the par-5s, such as 's on the 17th and another on the 3rd by , contributing to 39 players finishing under par.

Second round

The second round of the 2017 Open Championship took place on amid deteriorating weather conditions, with winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour and intermittent that prompted a 15-minute suspension of play to clear standing water from the greens. These elements transformed Royal Birkdale into a stern test, resulting in a field scoring average well above par and severely limiting birdie chances—only eight players managed sub-par rounds, underscoring the wind's impact on ball flight and green access. Jordan Spieth maintained his lead from the first round, navigating the challenges with a 1-under 69 that included an eagle on the par-5 18th hole after a precise long iron approach, finishing at 6-under-par 134 overall and two strokes clear of at 4-under 136. Spieth's resilience was evident in his recovery from a bogey at the 9th, where he steadied with key par saves amid the gusts to preserve his position at the top. Meanwhile, emerging contenders made significant moves: fired the day's lowest score of 66 to surge 100 positions into contention at 1-under, while carded a 68—third-best of the round—to climb 52 spots to 3-under, capitalizing on calmer spells early in his back nine. The 36-hole cut was set at 5-over-par 145, allowing 77 players (the top 70 plus ties) to advance to the weekend rounds. Notable casualties included major winners (10-over after a second-round 77), (7-over following an 80), and (8-over), whose struggles with the wind-swept rough and firm greens epitomized the round's brutality. Delays remained brief beyond the initial rain pause, enabling the field to complete play without further interruption.

Third round

The third round of the 2017 Open Championship was held on July 22 at , under significantly improved weather conditions from the previous day. Light winds of 3 to 5 mph prevailed, accompanied by sunny skies and mostly dry play, which softened the course and facilitated aggressive scoring across the field. Jordan Spieth, holding a two-shot lead after 36 holes at 6-under par, capitalized on the benign setup with a 5-under-par 65, highlighted by strong putting and precise iron play, to reach 11-under for the tournament and extend his advantage to three strokes. The round's defining moment belonged to South Africa's Branden Grace, who produced the lowest score in men's major championship history with an 8-under-par 62 on the par-70 layout—the first sub-63 round in 440 majors dating back to 1860. Starting the day at 4-over par after scraping through the cut, Grace played a flawless, bogey-free card with eight birdies, going out in 29 on the front nine (5-under relative to its par of 34) before coming home in 33 (3-under relative to par 36). His birdies came at holes 1 (16 feet), 4 (35 feet), 5 (drivable par-4, iron off the tee followed by a pitch-in), 8, 9 (to complete a 29), 14, 16, and 17 (two-putt on the par-5 after reaching the green in two with a 3-iron); he closed with a par at 18 after a 60-foot lag putt to 3 feet. Grace's hot streak featured birdies on five of his last six holes on the front nine and three birdies amid the tougher back nine, vaulting him to a tie for sixth at 4-under overall.
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Par444344344344434354543670
Score344234333294434253443362
Relative to Par-100-1-100-1-1-50000-10-1-10-3-8
*Note: Course played as par 70 for tournament scoring purposes due to setup changes including hole 7 as par 3; standard layout par 71. moved into second place with a 4-under 66, reaching 8-under par and trailing Spieth by three shots, thanks to consistent ball-striking and five birdies. Other challengers included Austin Connelly and , both at 5-under after 66s, while added a 1-under 69 to sit at 2-under overall, hampered by a few missed opportunities on the greens. Despite the favorable conditions, some contenders faltered, including , who carded a 3-over 73 to drop to 1-under, citing putting woes in the softer setup. No notable withdrawals occurred during the round, though the field saw low scores from 14 players under par, underscoring the course's vulnerability.

Final round

The final round of the 2017 Open Championship was contested on July 23, 2017, amid calmer winds that eased the challenges at compared to the blustery conditions of the previous day. , who held a three-shot lead over after 54 holes, teed off in the final pairing alongside Kuchar at 2:30 p.m. BST. The par-3 fourth hole, known for its difficulty with its north-facing exposure to the elements, yielded no birdies during the round, underscoring its toughness even in milder weather. Spieth's round began unsteadily, with bogeys on the first, second, and fifth holes dropping him one stroke behind Kuchar through six holes. He regrouped on the front nine but faced a critical test on the par-4 13th, where his errant tee shot landed in deep rough, forcing him to declare an unplayable lie and drop near the driving range; remarkably, he chipped to six feet and saved par. Kuchar capitalized with a birdie on the same hole to seize a one-shot lead, setting up a tense battle for the . The momentum shifted decisively on the back nine as Spieth birdied the par-3 14th—his tee shot finishing inches from the cup for a near hole-in-one—to tie Kuchar. He then poured in a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th to take the lead, followed by birdies on the 16th from 20 feet and the 17th, playing the final five holes in 5-under par. Kuchar maintained a steady performance with a 1-under 69, finishing at 9-under for the tournament. Spieth closed with a par on the 18th for his own 69, securing a three-stroke and a total score of 12-under 268. Immediately after holing his final putt, Spieth was presented with the on the 18th green by R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, who hailed his resilience in becoming the youngest three-time major winner since . The ceremony included the traditional donning of the iconic trophy, which Spieth kissed in celebration before addressing the crowd and media.

Results and records

Final leaderboard

won the 2017 Open Championship at , finishing at 12 under par (268) to claim the and his third major title. He finished three strokes ahead of runner-up , who ended at 9 under par (271). The total purse was $10.25 million, with Spieth earning $1.845 million for the victory and Kuchar receiving $1.067 million for second place. The following table shows the top 10 finishers and ties on the final leaderboard:
PositionPlayerCountryScoresTotalTo ParEarnings
1United States65-69-65-69268-12$1,845,000
2United States65-71-66-69271-9$1,067,000
3Haotong Li69-73-69-63274-6$684,000
T471-68-69-67275-5$480,000
T4Rafa Cabrera-Bello67-73-67-68275-5$480,000
T6South Africa72-69-62-75276-4$281,000
T6United States65-72-68-71276-4$281,000
T6Australia69-76-66-65276-4$281,000
T6Sweden68-72-69-67276-4$281,000
T6England69-69-70-68276-4$281,000
Several high-profile players missed the cut at +5, including world No. 2 Jason Day (73-75) and world No. 4 Justin Thomas (73-78). Other notable exclusions were Rickie Fowler (72-76), Phil Mickelson (73-74), and Sergio Garcia (74-75). Among the amateurs, England's Alfie Plant earned the Silver Medal as the low amateur, finishing tied for 62nd at 6 over par (71-73-69-73) after making the cut as the only amateur to do so. Scott Gregory, the 2016 British Amateur champion, missed the cut with scores of 72-76 (+8).

Notable achievements

Jordan Spieth's triumph at the 2017 Open Championship represented his third major victory at the age of 23, a feat that made him the only player alongside to claim three different majors by that age, with the last to achieve three majors before turning 24 in 1923. This win also marked Spieth's second wire-to-wire major championship performance, following his 2015 U.S. Open victory, and solidified his status as a generational talent in professional golf. In the third round, etched his name in history by a bogey-free 62, the first such score in a men's major championship and a new course record at Royal Birkdale, surpassing the previous mark of 63 set by Jodie Mudd in 1983. The tournament introduced several milestones in its organization and diversity. For the first time, the purse was awarded in U.S. dollars, totaling $10,250,000, with Spieth earning $1,845,000 as champion. The field showcased unprecedented international representation, with players from a record 28 countries competing at Royal Birkdale. Among the amateurs, Alfie Plant earned the as the low amateur, finishing tied for 62nd at 6-over par, the strongest showing by an amateur since 1994. Weather played a significant role, with strong winds gusting up to 40 mph on the second day ballooning scores and contributing to a 9-minute suspension of play due to in the third round; notably, no albatrosses were recorded across the event, underscoring the challenging conditions.

Post-tournament notes

Jordan Spieth's victory elevated him to No. 2 in the (OWGR), behind only , marking a significant resurgence following his earlier major successes. This achievement solidified his position among the elite, contributing to his end-of-year ranking as the second-highest points earner in the system. Additionally, the win granted Spieth a five-year exemption into the , ensuring his participation in the 2018 event at Augusta National alongside other major exemptions for the U.S. Open and . Royal Birkdale's hosting of the 2017 Open marked its tenth time staging the championship, a record surpassed only by among non-Scottish venues, underscoring the course's enduring prestige since its debut in 1954. The venue's challenging layout, tested by variable coastal winds, has produced iconic moments across its Open history, and it is scheduled to host the event again in as part of the R&A's rotation. The tournament saw minor controversies related to rulings on wind-affected shots, including delays for gusts exceeding 35 mph that prompted brief suspensions and debates over ball movement, though no penalties were issued in high-profile cases such as Jon Rahm's incident. Spieth's extended drop procedure on the 13th in the final round, lasting over 20 minutes due to unplayable lies exacerbated by wind, was deemed legal under despite drawing scrutiny for pace of play. Overall, these issues remained procedural and did not overshadow the competition. As of 2025, the 2017 Open's records, including Branden Grace's historic 62 in the third round—the lowest score ever in a men's major—continue to stand unchallenged amid subsequent championships. No major updates or revisions to the event's outcomes have emerged in the intervening years, preserving its legacy within the broader context of modern majors.

Media coverage

Television broadcast

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports provided exclusive live television coverage of the 2017 Open Championship, broadcasting all four rounds from between July 20 and 23. The network offered extensive programming, including pre-round analysis, on-course reporting, and featured groups coverage to capture key player performances throughout the tournament. The complemented this with daily highlights shows, featuring commentary from veteran broadcaster alongside Ken Brown and , while also providing live radio coverage via . In the United States, Group aired the event across its networks, with handling Thursday and Friday coverage from 1:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, and taking over for the weekend rounds starting early morning on Saturday and Sunday. The total live television output exceeded 40 hours, including supplementary streaming options on GolfChannel.com and the NBC Sports app for featured groups and additional holes. served as a lead analyst for , offering insights during the broadcast. The final round drew an average of 4.97 million viewers across and NBC Sports digital platforms, marking the most-watched Open finale since 2009 and peaking at 7.33 million during Spieth's victory charge. Internationally, the 2017 Open Championship reached an estimated 600 million households across more than 100 countries, facilitated by European Tour Productions as the host broadcaster and distributed through partners like in . This global reach underscored the tournament's status as a premier event, with localized feeds adapting the world feed for regional audiences while maintaining core elements like English-language commentary options. Print and digital media coverage of the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale emphasized the tournament's dramatic weather challenges, historic individual performances, and the resurgence of key players, drawing significant attention from major outlets. BBC Sport offered comprehensive live text updates across all four rounds, providing hole-by-hole commentary and analysis that captured the event's unfolding drama for online audiences. Golf Digest's pre-tournament previews highlighted Jordan Spieth's exceptional form in majors, ranking him first in performance average since 2008 with an equivalent of a fourth-place finish per start, positioning him as a leading contender based on his 2015 successes and consistent contention. The Guardian focused on British players' prospects, spotlighting local hero Tommy Fleetwood's rise to world No. 14 and the pressures he faced as a Southport native, alongside coverage of Ian Poulter's crowd-favored efforts and Rory McIlroy's struggles in benign conditions. Central narratives in print and online reporting revolved around standout rounds and personal growth amid adversity. Branden Grace's third-round 62, the first sub-63 score in men's major history with eight birdies and no bogeys, dominated headlines as a landmark achievement under favorable morning conditions, earning widespread acclaim as one of the tournament's defining moments. Coverage also underscored Spieth's maturity following his 2016 slump, portraying his victory as a testament to resilience after overcoming early final-round struggles, with observers like noting he was "better than he was" at age 24 after securing three majors. Digital platforms amplified real-time engagement, with buzzing over the second round's severe wind delays—gusts up to 40 mph that suspended play and battered scores, prompting viral videos and discussions on the links' unforgiving elements. The Open's official website featured interactive shot trackers powered by , allowing users to follow player trajectories and course flyovers in detail since the partnership began in 2013. Attendance figures further fueled media interest, with a record 235,000 spectators—surpassing the 200,000 mark and the prior non-St Andrews high of 230,000—creating an electric atmosphere that enhanced global coverage. Pre-tournament media day highlighted administrative shifts, as R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers announced the prize fund's conversion to US dollars—totaling $10.25 million, with $1.845 million for the winner—to align with global standards amid post-Brexit currency fluctuations, a move covered extensively in international outlets.

References

  1. https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/2017/the-open-championship/R2017100/past-results
  2. https://www.theopen.com/previous-opens/146th-open-royal-birkdale-2017
  3. https://www.espn.com/golf/theopen17/story/_/id/19975308/the-open-2017-tournament-schedule-news-live-scores-results
  4. https://www.amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/19751/Plant-finishes-6-over--wins-Open-Championship-Silver-Medal
  5. https://www.bbc.com/storyworks/a-year-of-great-events/2017-open-championship
  6. https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/galleries/a-british-championship-links-tour-royal-birkdale-golf-club-site-of-the-146th-open
  7. https://www.sports.legal/2017/07/the-open-championship-at-royal-birkdale-an-open-open/
  8. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/19/2017-british-open-thursday-tee-times-tv-schedule-more/486434001/
  9. https://www.nbcsports.com/golf/news/146th-open-at-royal-birkdale-wednesday
  10. https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/19844187/british-open-pay-american-dollars
  11. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/7/18/15988162/british-open-purse-2017-prize-money-payout-totals
  12. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/40507313
  13. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2017-british-open-weather-report-rain-wind-in-the-forecast-for-fridays-round-2/
  14. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/21/jordan-spieth-rolls-others-falter-weather-stricken-british-open/500817001/
  15. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2017-why-the-randa-might-have-been-fine-with-the-low-scores-at-birkdale
  16. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/19/british-open-2017-royal-birkdale-hole-by-hole/76641996007/
  17. https://www.theopen.com/latest/royal-birkdale-champion-golfers-winners
  18. https://www.theopen.com/records-and-statistics
  19. https://www.theopen.com/latest/history-open-prize-money
  20. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/7/23/16001488/2017-british-open-payout-prize-money
  21. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/7/21/16011486/2017-british-open-scores-results-leaderboard-jordan-spieth-wind-rain
  22. https://www.golfcompendium.com/2020/02/british-open-playoff-format-rules.html
  23. https://thegolfnewsnet.com/ryan_ballengee/2017/05/23/2017-british-open-championship-field-qualify-earn-exemptions-105064/
  24. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2016/11/04/two-events-added-to-2017-british-open-qualifying-series-royal-birkdale/
  25. https://www.nbcsports.com/golf/news/article-golf-central-blog-two-new-events-added-17-open-qualifying-series
  26. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/final-qualifying-for-the-open-includes-assorted-happiness-and-heartbreak
  27. https://www.amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/19587/VIDEO--2017-British-Open-Final-Qualifying-Roundup
  28. https://www.golfcanada.ca/articles/canadas-austin-connelly-qualifies-for-british-open/
  29. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/7/17/15980624/british-open-field-2017-final-qualifiers-royal-birkdale
  30. https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/open-championship-cut-explained-how-it-works
  31. https://progolfnow.com/2017/06/19/2017-open-championship-field/
  32. https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/the-open-championship-2017-full-field/
  33. https://progolfnow.com/2017/07/20/open-championship-amateurs/
  34. https://www.sportsnet.ca/golf/former-champ-curtis-british-open-finau-field/
  35. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/british-open-2017-brandt-snedeker-withdraws-from-royal-birkdale-with-rib-injury/
  36. https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2017/07/20/what-you-need-to-know-the-open-championship-round-1
  37. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2017-jordan-spieth-matt-kuchar-brooks-koepka-tied-for-first-round-lead
  38. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/other-sports/the-open-championship-2017-weather-forecast-from-royal-birkdale-a3592766.html
  39. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2017-jordan-spieth-proves-he-can-putt-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time-after-an-opening-65-at-birkdale
  40. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/jul/20/the-open-2017-first-round-live
  41. https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/21/golf/british-open-2017-royal-birkdale-jordan-spieth-round-two
  42. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/21/zach-johnson-beats-wind-fires-second-round-66-british/499024001/
  43. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/40683602
  44. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2017-british-open-cut-list-phil-mickelson-justin-thomas-among-stars-out-of-field/
  45. https://www.pga.com/archive/news/pga-tour/2017-open-championship-9-takeaways-friday-royal-birkdale
  46. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/22/sunnier-weather-johnson-falters-british-opens-third-round/502183001/
  47. https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2017/7/22/16013870/2017-british-open-championship-weather-forecast-royal-birkdale
  48. http://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard?tournamentId=2710
  49. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/golf-spieth-in-charge-after-amazing-grace-shoots-62-idUSKBN1A802A/
  50. https://www.espn.com/golf/theopen17/story/_/id/20130534/branden-grace-shoots-first-62-golf-major
  51. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/75491-lowest-score-in-a-round-of-golf-at-the-open-championships
  52. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/sports/golf/branden-grace-62-british-open.html
  53. https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/long-form/2018/07/17/branden-grace-historic-round-lowest-score-majors-the-open-championship
  54. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/the-open-2017-rory-mcilroy-shoots-gutsy-68-in-round-2-to-move-up-leaderboard/
  55. https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/daily-wrapup/2017/07/23/british-open-jordan-spieth-victorious-at-the-open
  56. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/40634505
  57. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2017-jordan-spieth-wins-146th-open-championship-at-royal-birkdale
  58. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/40698276
  59. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/jul/23/the-open-2017-final-round-live-golf
  60. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2017-british-open-prize-money-purse-payouts-for-golfers-from-10-25-million-pool/
  61. https://fansided.com/2017/07/21/british-open-2017-biggest-names-miss-the-cut/
  62. https://www.golfcompendium.com/2018/11/2017-british-open.html
  63. https://www.theopen.com/latest/wire-to-wire-open-champions
  64. https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/40693192
  65. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/22/branden-grace-shoots-62-official-british-open-scorecard/76641386007/
  66. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-champion-will-receive-record-payout-in-2017-with-randa-awarding-prize-money-for-first-time-in-dollars
  67. https://fansided.com/2017/07/18/british-open-countries-represented/
  68. https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/146th-open-championship-2017/leaderboard
  69. https://albanyherald.com/sports/spieth-takes-charge-as-weather-balloons-scores-at-open-championship/
  70. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/golf/831602/The-Open-2017-Jordan-Spieth-weather-Ian-Poulter-Matt-Kuchar
  71. https://www.owgr.com/news/2017/july/week-29
  72. https://www.golfcompendium.com/2021/01/2017-world-golf-rankings.html
  73. https://golf.com/news/money-exemptions-and-more-what-you-get-for-winning-the-british-open/
  74. https://www.perrygolf.com/theopen/british-golf-the-open-championship-future-venues.php
  75. https://www.golfersjournal.com/editorial/remembering-jordan-spieths-wild-ride-at-the-2017-open-championship/
  76. https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/golf/2017/07/24/jordan-spieths-open-drop-lengthy-but-legal/506442001/
  77. https://www.amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/32301/The-Pursuit-of-Perfection--The-Lowest-Rounds-in-Golf-History-
  78. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/03/sky-sports-buys-open-championship-golf-bbc
  79. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08zhzzd
  80. https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2017-british-open-tv-schedule-channel-live-stream-online-coverage-viewers-guide/
  81. https://www.nbcsports.com/golf/news/article-press-releases-most-watched-final-round-open-eight-years-0
  82. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/golf/2017/07/19/bbc-coverage-tired-outdated-says-martin-slumbers/
  83. https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/golf/38520878
  84. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2017-preview-who-performs-best-in-majors-crunching-the-numbers-in-the-post-tiger-era
  85. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/17/tommy-fleetwood-pressure-the-open-royal-birkdale
  86. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/23/rory-mcilroy-hopes-fortunes-turned-europeans-rally-open
  87. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/22/branden-grace-lowest-round-major-open-2017
  88. https://thegolfnewsnet.com/ryan_ballengee/2020/05/29/book-excerpt-how-jordan-spieth-turned-his-2016-masters-meltdown-into-his-2017-open-title-119319/
  89. https://www.thesun.ie/sport/golf/1309461/jack-nicklaus-praises-2017-british-open-winner-jordan-spieth-after-he-joined-him-in-winning-three-majors-before-the-age-of-24/
  90. https://fansided.com/2017/07/21/open-championship-wind-video/
  91. https://www.nttdata.com/global/en/about-us/ntt-data-the-open
  92. https://www.theopen.com/latest/2017/record-setting-attendance-at-royal-birkdale-for-the-146th-open
  93. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/r-a-switch-open-prize-money-currency/uiuvqrzec
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.