In the Open Championship’s illustrious 163-year history, players of 15 different nationalities have secured the honour of being named the “champion golfer of the year."
However, seven players hold the distinction of being the only men from their respective nations to have lifted the Claret Jug. We look at the history-making golfers whose achievements have yet to be matched by their compatriots.
The magnitude of Massy’s Open triumph, at Royal Liverpool in 1907, was only increased by the passage of time. Not only was the Frenchman the first overseas winner of the championship, it would be another 72 years before Spain’s Seve Ballesteros became the next player from continental Europe to prevail.
In a period dominated by the “Great Triumvirate” of Harry Vardon, James Braid and JH Taylor, Massy sensationally outplayed all three men to triumph by two strokes with a score of 312. He also made a playoff at Royal St George’s in 1911, only for Vardon to win comfortably.
France has twice come agonisingly close to celebrating a second Open winner. Jean van de Velde famously fell just short at Carnoustie in 1999, when he triple-bogeyed the 72nd hole before losing to Paul Lawrie in a playoff, and Thomas Levet was the runner-up to Ernie Els at Muirfield three years later when extra holes were once again required.
A putting masterclass in the 92nd Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1963 helped Charles become New Zealand’s only “champion golfer” to date.
Charles overcame Phil Rodgers in what would prove to be the championship’s last 36-hole playoff, after both men had finished on 3 under par, a solitary stroke clear of Jack Nicklaus.
In the playoff, Charles was red-hot on the greens and ultimately finished eight shots ahead of Rodgers. As well as being the first New Zealander to win the Open, he was also the first left-handed player to triumph. Phil Mickelson followed suit exactly 50 years later.
Charles went on to suffer playoff heartbreak at Carnoustie in 1968 and on his return to Lytham the following year. Since then, Simon Owen and Michael Campbell have come the closest to earning another win for New Zealand. Owen was tied-second behind Nicklaus at St Andrews in 1978, and Campbell finished one shot out of the eventual playoff at the same venue in 1995.
Read about the five other players who are the only “champion golfers” from their respective countries HERE.
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