The Open Championship Quiz

How much will golf's stars know about The Open Championship as we quiz them on its history?

Does being a professional golfer make you a scholar of the game’s oldest Major? We quizzed some of the game’s biggest names to find out who knows the most about The Open.

Today’s Golfer’s 2022 Major coverage is brought to you in association with TaylorMade.

The Open Championship is arguably the greatest golf tournament in the world so, as we head into the 150th tournament at St Andrews, we thought it was a good time to find out just how much some of golf’s stars know about the oldest Major.

Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Davis Love II, Jason Day, Stewart Cink, Matt Fitzpatrick, Luke Donald, Charley Hoffman, and Justin Rose each faced the same ten questions, and while we couldn’t offer the Claret Jug to the winner, there was pride at stake.

While some shone, it was clear that others need to spend more time boning up on their golf history.

1. Who is the defending Open champion?

MK Jack Nicklaus… Arnold Palmer… Johnny Miller… (stalling for time tactics). Collin Morikawa (too late!).

BS Gosh, I wanna say Shane Lowry. No, it’s Collin Morikawa.

DL (Long pause). I’m not good at one word answers.

JD Collin Morikawa.

SC Collin Morikawa. 

MF Collin Morikawa.

LD Collin Morikawa.

CH Collin Morikawa.

JR Collin Morikawa.

THE OPEN: Morikawa: My debut win wasn’t a fluke

2. What is the only course on The Open rota outside the mainland?

MK We went to Ireland a couple of years ago. Royal Portrush.

BS It’s a lovely course I’ve played in Ireland… Royal County Down.

DL (Long pause). That would be Portrush.

JD Royal Portrush.

SC That’s Portrush.

MF Royal Portrush.

LD I’m going to go with where Shane Lowry won but I can’t remember the name.

CH Royal Portrush.

JR Royal Portrush.

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3. What is the name of the Open trophy?

MK Claret Jug.

BS No way. Sorry, I’m slow and dumb today.

DL The Claret Jug.

JD Claret Jug.

SC Claret Jug.

MF Claret Jug.

LD Claret Jug.

CH I don’t know, is it the Claret Jug?

JR The Claret Jug.

THE OPEN: The history of the Claret Jug

4. How many Opens has Tom Watson won?

MK Five.

BS Five.

DL Five

JD It’s either four or five. I’ll say four?

SC Five, almost six – he had a good run against someone at Turnberry.

MF Six times.

LD Five.

CH Three? I’ve no idea.

JR Five.

THE OPEN: Tom Watson – The Modern Game’s Greatest Champion

5. Can you name the only Open venue in the south of England?

MK Birkdale. No, Hoylake. 

BS Sandwich.

DL Southport & Ainsdale.

JD Ah, no! Where we were last year? Sandwich.

SC St George’s.

MF Royal St George’s.

LD Royal St George’s.

CH Is that Royal Liverpool?

JR Royal St George’s.

6. Which course has staged the most Opens?

MK Let’s go with…Prestwick.

BS It’s got to be St Andrews… I hope!

DL The Old Course.

JD It’s got to be St Andrews, right?

SC (Long pause) It’s St Andrews. I thought that might be a trick question.

MF St Andrews.

LD St Andrews.

CH I’d assume St Andrews.

JR St Andrews.

THE OPEN: Hole-by-hole guide to The Old Course

7. Which number Open is being held at St Andrews this month?

MK 150th.

BS 150th.

DL 150th.

JD You’ve got me there. One hundred and forty…

SC 150th.

MF 149.

LD 150th.

CH I’m pretty sure that it’s the 100th.

JR 150th.

8. Where was the first Open played?

MK Prestwick.

BS Where I played the British Amateur – Prestwick.

DL I want to say Prestwick. If not, Musselburgh.

JD St Andrews. I’m not great on history.

SC Oh, now this is a tough one. I’m going to have to say Prestwick.

MF I know it, it’s not Prestwick but somewhere near there.

LD Prestwick.

CH I’d assume St Andrews, though I don’t actually think that’s right.

JR Prestwick.

THE OPEN: Courses, history and winners

9. Can you name the Great Triumvirate members?

MK No, I cannot even start on this one.

BS Is Old Tom Morris one of them? I can’t even take a guess.

DL Young Tom, Old Tom (Morris), Harry Vardon. You’ve got me on this one.

JD All I can think of is Old and Young Tom Morris.

SC Take your pick from Young Tom Morris, Old Tom, Vardon, Braid.

MF Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones and then pass.

LD I’ll go with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

CH Nicklaus, Palmer and Player, but I don’t think that’s right.

JR Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen… I really should know this.

10. Who did John Daly dramatically beat in the 1995 play-off at St Andrews?

MK Costantino Rocca.

BS Costantino Rocca.

DL Rocca.

JD Rocca.

SC Rocca.

MF Pass.

LD Rocco Mediate, no Costantino Rocca.

CH Oh… I’m struggling with this one.

JR Costantino Rocca

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The Open Quiz: Answers

1. Collin Morikawa.

2. Royal Portrush.

3. The Claret Jug.

4. Five.

5. Royal St George’s.

6. St Andrews.

7. 150th.

8. Prestwick.

9. Harry Vardon, James Braid & J.H. Taylor.

10. Costantino Rocca.

The Open Quiz: And the winners are…

The spoils are shared between Justin Rose, who famously took low amateur honours in The Open in 1998, and Stewart Cink, who famously beat Tom Watson in a play-off to lift the Claret Jug in 2009, who both scored an impressive nine out of ten.

Then came Davis Love II and Luke Donald on seven, followed by Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Jason Day, all on six. Matt Fitzpatrick, the low amateur at the 2013 Open and new US Open champion, needs to do some revision having only managed five correct answers, but the Englishman’s blushes were saved by charley Hoffman, who only scored four out of 10.

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