From James Braid to Jack Nicklaus: Past Muirfield winners

Muirfield has a history of letting the cream rise to the top when it comes to former Open champions. 

Below is a list of all those who have previously conquered the Scottish links to claim the Claret Jug.

1892 Harold Hilton One of only four amateurs to have won The Open, the Englishman who smoked while he played shot 78, 81, 72, 74 to win the first of his two Opens, by three.

1896 Harry Vardon A 36-hole play-off sees Vardon beat JH Taylor by four shots, for the first of his record six Open titles.

1901 James Braid The Scot holds off Taylor and Vardon, and eventually wins by three shots, to win the first of his five Opens.

1906 James Braid Braid proves he’s a Muirfield specialist, by winning again, this time by four, defending his title from 1905, when he won at St Andrews.

1912 Ted Ray The genial, pipe-smoking Channel Islander wins by four shots, eight years before winning the US Open.

1929 Walter Hagen The showman American wins comfortably by six shots to pick up his fourth and last Open title.

1935 Alf Perry A record-equalling third-round 67 inspires the club professional from Leatherhead to his sole major title.

1948 Henry Cotton The 41 year old hits 56 drives and finds 56 fairways, wins by five, and picks up his third title (and £150 prize money).

1959 Gary Player The South African came to the last needing a four for a 66, and made a double bogey. He thought he had blown it, but actually won by two.

1966 Jack Nicklaus The Golden Bear’s first Open marked his Grand Slam of majors. No wonder he called a course Muirfield Village.

1972 Lee Trevino Four chip-ins during the week, including a crucial one on the penultimate hole, put paid to Tony Jacklin.

1980 Tom Watson He beat compatriot Lee Trevino by four shots in a wild-weather Open by holing every putt he looked at.

1987 Nick Faldo The Englishman’s first major came after a final round, when he parred every hole, to beat Paul Azinger by a shot.

1992 Nick Faldo Opening rounds of 66 and 64 broke all records. Eventually won by a stroke after birdies at two of last four holes.

2002 Ernie Els The South African wins a four-man four-hole play-off against Stuart Appleby, Thomas Levet and Steve Elkington