1974 Open Championship

1974 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates10–13 July 1974
LocationLancashire, England
Course(s)Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Tour(s)European Tour
PGA Tour
Statistics
Par71[1]
Length6,822 yards (6,238 m)[1]
Field154 players
81 after 1st cut
60 after 2nd cut[1]
Cut156 (+14) (1st cut)
231 (+18) (2nd cut)[1]
Prize fund£50,000[1]
$120,000
Winner's share£5,500[1]
$13,200
Champion
South Africa Gary Player
282 (−2)
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Lytham & St Annes is located in England
Lytham & St Annes
Lytham &
St Annes
Lytham & St Annes is located in Lancashire
Lytham & St Annes
Lytham &
St Annes
Location in Lancashire. England

The 1974 Open Championship was the 103rd Open Championship, held from 10 to 13 July at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England. Gary Player won his third Open Championship, four strokes ahead of runner-up Peter Oosterhuis.[2][3] It was the eighth of his nine major titles and second of the year; he won the Masters in April.[4] In the other two majors in 1974, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, Player had top ten finishes.

The use of the larger "American ball" (diameter 1.68 in, 42.67 mm) was made compulsory. In previous Opens, players could use the smaller "British ball" (1.62 in, 41.15 mm).[5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. pp. 62, 203. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. ^ Jenkins, Dan (22 July 1974). "Gary Player's Expo". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.
  3. ^ "Player wins Open, sets sights on Jack". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. 14 July 1974. p. 1B.
  4. ^ "Player determined to be No. 1". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. 15 July 2012. p. 3, sec 2.
  5. ^ "R&A made bigger ball compulsory". The Times. 22 January 1974. p. 10.
  6. ^ Jacobs, Raymond (22 January 1974). "American-size ball compulsory in Open". Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Manufacturers criticize Open ball decision". Glasgow Herald. 23 January 1974. p. 4.