Lowest 72-Hole Scores in Senior British Open

The record-low final score in the Senior British Open is 263. That score has, so far, been posted by two golfers in the tournament's history. Unfortunately for one of those golfers, he lost a playoff to the other one.

Tom Watson currently shares the record for lowest winning score in the Senior Open at 263. He set the record in the 2003 tournament, but he didn't win that year in regulation: At the end of 72 holes, Watson was tied at 263 by Carl Mason, so Mason shared the record with Watson. But Watson is the one who won the sudden-death playoff and the tournament. Watson and Mason matched fours on the first extra hole, then Watson won with a 4 to Mason's 5 on the second playoff hole.

Lowest Senior British Open Scores, Four Rounds

An asterisk (*) indicates that golfer did not win the tournament.

• 263 — Tom Watson, 2003, 17-under-par at Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
• 263 — Carl Mason*, 2003, 17-under at Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
• 264 — Marco Dawson, 2015, 16-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 264 — Bruce Summerhays*, 2003, 16-under at Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
• 265 — Bernhard Langer*, 2015, 15-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 266 — Bernhard Langer, 2014, 18-under at Royal Porthcawl
• 266 — Tom Kite*, 2003, 14-under at Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
• 267 — Stephen Dodd, 2021, 14-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 267 — Colin Montgomerie*, 2015, 13-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 268 — Loren Roberts, 2009, 12-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 268 — Miguel Angel Jimenez*, 2021, 12-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 268 — Mark McNulty*, 2009, 12-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)
• 268 — Fred Funk*, 2009, 12-under at Sunningdale (Old Course)

You may have noticed that eight of the best total scores ever in the Senior Open happened at Sunningdale Golf Club. Another four of them were recorded at Turnberry.

There's also another playoff on the list, in addition to the Watson-Mason one from 2003. In the 2009 Senior Open, Roberts, McNulty and Funk tied at 268. The sudden-death playoff lasted three holes, although Funk was eliminated on the first. On the third hole, Roberts won the tournament with a 4 to McNulty's 5.

Also worth pointing out is Langer's victory in 2014, which must rank as one of the all-time great showings in senior golf. Langer set the 72-hole tournament record for most strokes under par, winning at 18-under 266. Only one other golfer managed to finish in fewer than 280 strokes — Langer won by 13.

Related articles:

• Golfers who won both British Open and Senior Open
• Full list of Senior British Open winners