The Lowest Scores In Open Championship History Including 72-Hole Record, Lowest 18-Hole, 36-Hole & 54-Hole Scores

The Open Championship is one of the most prestigious competitions in golf, but what exactly is the lowest score in Open Championship history and who holds the record?

Join us as we examine the lowest scores in Open Championship history. This includes the lowest, 18, 36, 54 and 72-hole scores at the Open Championship golf tournament over the years.

Lowest Scores In Open Championship History

The Open Championship is one of professional golf’s four majors. You have The Masters in April, the PGA Championship in May, the US Open in June and finally the Open Championship in July. These are the four biggest tournaments in world golf. Period.

When it comes to setting records, low rounds in the 60’s are fairly rare at each of these majors. Some fans would argue certain majors are more difficult than others, but at the end of the day really low rounds in majors simply aren’t meant to happen.

The courses are generally more difficult for majors, where players are faced with longer courses, narrower fairways, more treacherous rough, tough greens and incredibly difficult greens.

With the 153rd Open Championship date now fast approaching, the fourth and final major of 2025, here at SportsCasting we have examined the lowest scores in Open Championship history.

Below you will find out all you need to know about the lowest scores ever recorded at the Open Championship golf tournament since it’s inception.

This includes the lowest 72-hole scores that have resulted in winning the tournament, as well as the lowest 18-hole, 36-hole and 54-hole Open Championship scoring records too.

So without further ado, here are the lowest ever scores in Open Championship history over the years.

Open Championship Lowest 72-Hole Tournament Scores

Henrick Stenson’s triumph last year at the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon back in 2016 is officially the lowest Open Championship score in history.

The Swede set the new 72-hole record at The Open thanks to his four rounds of 68, 65, 68 and 63. Stenson finished on -20 par, having taken just 264 strokes to win the Claret Jug back in 2016.

To this day, this remains the lowest 72-hole score in Open Championship history, both in strokes and to par.

The next lowest score at The Open belongs to Collin Morikawa, who’s net worth has surpassed $8m, who won the 2021 tournament at Royal St George’s with 265 strokes to finish on -15 par.

Ironically, there have been several rounds lower than Morikawa’s to par, but in terms of actual strokes taken, this is the second lowest 72-hole score in Open Championship history.

Three players have recorded 72-hole scores of 267 strokes at the Open Championship over the years. Phil Mickelson, who missed out on becoming the seventh career Grand Slam winner at the US Open, shot a 72-hole score of 267 shots back in 2016 at the 145th Open.

Jordan Spieth in 2021 and Greg Norman in 1993 also recorded 72-hole scores of 267 strokes. Ironically, Spieth didn’t even win with his display!

Four players have recorded 72-hole scores of 268 at The Open, meanwhile seven players have shot 269 shots at the Open Championship. A whole host of players have shot 270 strokes at The Open, with some even winning the Claret Jug with scores in the 280s!

It is of course worth mentioning that the various courses The Open is played at all have different pars and vary in difficulty. However, for the purpose of these records and statistics, the only thing we are factoring in is the amount of strokes.

The table below outlines the top 10 lowest 72-hole scores in Open Championship history, including ties.

Lowest 72-Hole Open Championship Scores – Top 10 (& Ties)

Open Championship Lowest 18-Hole Scores

Just one man has ever shot an 18-hole score of 62 at the Open Championship. That man in Branden Grace, who shot a -8 round on Saturday at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale. To this day, this remains the lowest 18-hole score in Open Championship history.

A total of 13 players have shot rounds of 63 at The Open, varying in scores to par. Despite Grace’s record 62 being -8 par, players such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Paul Broadhurst have actually shot better to par (-9), but still one shot off Grace’s record.

The first round of 63 strokes came back in 1977 when Mark Hayes shot this at the 106th Open Championship at Turnberry. The last player to shoot 63 at an Open was Spaniard Jon Rahm, who’s net worth has surpassed $100m, recording this score in his third round at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Will anyone equal Branden Grace’s record of 62 or even better this year at The Open 2025? If they do, that will become the new lowest 18-hole score in Open Championship history.

Lowest 18-Hole Open Championship Scores – Top 5 (& Ties)

Lowest 36-Hole Scores In Open Championship History

The lowest 36-hole score in Open Championship history belongs to former Claret Jug winner Louis Oosthuizen.

The South African holds the record for the lowest 36-hole score with just 129 strokes at The Open 2021 at Royal St George’s. Oosthuizen’s -11 par score after 36-holes isn’t actually the lowest score to par after two rounds, but is the lowest in terms of actual strokes.

Both Nick Faldo and Brandt Snedeker have carded 36-holes scores of 130 at The Open. Faldo’s came in 1992 at Muirfield, whilst Snedeker’s came at the 141st Open Championship back in 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Making up the top five lowest 36-hole scores in Open Championship history are former Claret Jug winners in Cameron Smith and Collin Morikawa.

Both men shot 36-hole scores of 131 strokes. Smith’s came at the 150th Open Championship at the home of golf, St Andrews Old Course, back in 2022. Morikawa’s came a year prior at Royal St George’s in 2021.

Several players have shot 36-hole scores of 132 in Open Championship history, just missing out on the top five.

Lowest 36-Hole Open Championship Scores – Top 5

Lowest 54-Hole Scores In Open Championship History

The lowest 54-hole scores in Open Championship history, with three rounds of major championship golf having been played, are an example of elite performance on the course.

Although the tournament is not won after 54-holes, being in contention and at the top end of the leaderboard gives a player every chance of going on to win the trophy.

When it comes to the Open Championship, no one has scored better though three rounds than Shane Lowry. The Irishman took just 197 shots (-16) at Royal Portrush Golf Club back in 2019 with two rounds of 67 before a quite remarkable 63 on Saturday.

Two players have recorded 54-hole scores of 198 strokes at The Open over the years. Tom Lehman (1996) and Louis Oosthuizen (2021) both total 198 shots after three rounds of Open Championship action respectively.

A further four players have carded 54-hole scores of 199 strokes at The Open for their first three rounds. Nick Faldo in both 1990 and 1992, Collin Morikawa (2021) and Jordan Spieth (2017), who is the 10th highest earning golfer of all time, all recorded 54-hole scores at the Open Championship of 199 shots.

Lowest 54-Hole Open Championship Scores – Top 5 (& Ties)

Be sure to check out the SportsCasting site for the best golf betting sites ahead of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.