1968 Open Championship

Summary

The 1968 Open Championship was the 97th Open Championship, played 10–13 July at Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland. Gary Player won the second of his three Open titles, two strokes ahead of runners-up Bob Charles and Jack Nicklaus.[2] It was the fifth of Player's nine major titles.

1968 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates10–13 July 1968
LocationAngus, Scotland
Course(s)Carnoustie Golf Links
Championship Course
Statistics
Par72[1]
Length7,252 yards (6,631 m)[1]
Field130 players
70 after 1st cut
45 after 2nd cut[1]
Cut155 (+11) (1st cut)
228 (+12) (2nd cut)[1]
Prize fund£20,000[1]
Winner's share£3,000
$7,200
Champion
South Africa Gary Player
289 (+1)
← 1967
1969 →
Carnoustie is located in Scotland
Carnoustie
Carnoustie
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Location in Scotland
Carnoustie is located in Angus
Carnoustie
Carnoustie
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Location in Angus, Scotland

This Open introduced the second cut at 54 holes, used through 1985. In addition, starting with this Championship all past Open champions were exempt from qualifying (though, eventually, an age restriction was placed on past champions).

The inaugural Greater Milwaukee Open was held in the United States during the same week, with a first prize of $40,000, over five times the winner's share of the Open Championship, which was $7,200 (£3,000).

The PGA Championship was played the next week in San Antonio, Texas, the fifth and final time in the 1960s that these two majors were played in consecutive weeks in July. The PGA Championship moved permanently to August in 1969 (except 1971, when it was played in late February) and remained there until 2019, when it moved to May between The Masters and U.S. Open.

Course edit

Carnoustie Golf Links - Championship Course

Hole Name Yards Par Hole Name Yards Par
1 Cup 406 4 10 South America 446 4
2 Gulley 468 4 11 Dyke 370 4
3 Jockie's Burn 343 4 12 Southward Ho 473 4
4 Hillocks 429 4 13 Whins 168 3
5 Brae 389 4 14 Spectacles 485 5
6 Long 565 5 15 Lucky Slap 460 4
7 Plantation 386 4 16 Barry Burn 243 3
8 Short 163 3 17 Island 458 4
9 Railway 475 4 18 Home 525 5
Out 3,624 36 In 3,628 36
  Total 7,252 72

Round summaries edit

First round edit

Wednesday, 10 July 1968

Place Player Score To par
T1   Brian Barnes 70 −2
  Michael Bonallack (a)
T3   Maurice Bembridge 71 −1
  Peter Mills
T5   Billy Casper 72 E
  Bob Charles
  Tony Jacklin
  Paddy Skerritt
T9   Peter Alliss 73 +1
  Billy Casper
  Sebastián Miguel
  Sandy Wilson

Second round edit

Thursday, 11 July 1968

Place Player Score To par
1   Billy Casper 72-68=140 −4
T2   Brian Barnes 70-74=144 E
  Bob Charles 72-72=144
  Tony Jacklin 72-72=144
T5   Jack Nicklaus 76-69=145 +1
  Gary Player 74-71=145
  Paddy Skerritt 72-73=145
T8   Maurice Bembridge 71-75=146 +2
  Dave Thomas 75-71=146
T10   Harry Bannerman 74-73=147 +3
  Michael Bonallack (a) 70-77=147
  Gay Brewer 74-73=147
  Brian Huggett 76-71=147
  Peter Mills 71-76=147

Amateurs: Bonallack (+3), Monguzzi (+8), O'Connor (+12), Sweeny Jr (+12), Shade (+13), Oosterhuis (+16), Saddler (+16).

Third round edit

Friday, 13 July 1968

Place Player Score To par
1   Billy Casper 72-68-74=214 −2
2   Bob Charles 72-72-71=215 −1
3   Gary Player 74-71-71=216 E
4   Jack Nicklaus 76-69-73=218 +2
T5   Maurice Bembridge 71-75-73=219 +3
  Gay Brewer 74-73-72=219
  Tony Jacklin 72-72-75=219
8   Arnold Palmer 77-71-72=220 +4
9   Michael Bonallack (a) 70-77-74=221 +5
T10   Neil Coles 75-76-71=222 +6
  Bruce Devlin 77-73-72=222
  Brian Huggett 76-71-75=222
  Paddy Skerritt 72-73-77=222

Amateurs: Bonallack (+5), Monguzzi (+18).

Final round edit

Saturday, 13 July 1968

Place Player Score To par Money (£)
1   Gary Player 74-71-71-73=289 +1 3,000
T2   Bob Charles 72-72-71-76=291 +3 1,738
  Jack Nicklaus 76-69-73-73=291
4   Billy Casper 72-68-74-78=292 +4 1,225
5   Maurice Bembridge 71-75-73-74=293 +5 1,000
T6   Brian Barnes 70-74-80-71=295 +7 658
  Gay Brewer 74-73-72-76=295
  Neil Coles 75-76-71-73=295
9   Al Balding 74-76-74-72=296 +8 475
T10   Roberto De Vicenzo 77-72-74-74=297 +9 402
  Bruce Devlin 77-73-72-75=297
  Arnold Palmer 77-71-72-77=297

Amateurs: Bonallack (+12).

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. pp. 68, 203–8. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  2. ^ Brown, Gwilym S . (22 July 1968). "A sweet win on a sour links". Sports Illustrated. p. 20.

External links edit

  • Carnoustie 1968 (Official site)

56°29′49″N 2°43′01″W / 56.497°N 2.717°W / 56.497; -2.717