| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18–21 July 2002 |
| Location | Gullane, Scotland |
| Course(s) | Muirfield Golf Links |
| Tour(s) | European Tour PGA Tour Japan Golf Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71[1] |
| Length | 7,034 yards (6,432 m)[1] |
| Field | 156 players, 83 after cut[1] |
| Cut | 144 (+2)[1] |
| Prize fund | £3,800,000 €5,947,076 $6,004,760 |
| Winner's share | £700,000 €1,095,514 $1,106,140 |
| Champion | |
 Ernie Els | |
| 278 (−6), playoff | |
The 2002 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 131st Open Championship, held from 18 to 21 July at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Ernie Els won his first Claret Jug and third major title in a playoff over Stuart Appleby, Steve Elkington, and ultimately in a sudden-death playoff over Thomas Levet.[2][3]
Tiger Woods' bid for the Grand Slam came to a halt on Saturday with the worst round of his career up to that time, an 81 (+10) in cold, gusty rain.[4] It took him and others out of contention, but he rebounded on Sunday with a six-under 65 and finished at even par, six strokes back. Woods was the first in thirty years to win the first two legs (Masters, U.S. Open), last done by Jack Nicklaus in 1972.[5] Nicklaus' grand slam bid also ended at Muirfield, runner-up by one stroke to Lee Trevino in 1972. The only one to win the first three was Ben Hogan in 1953. Entering the championship, Woods had won seven of the previous eleven majors.[6]
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
ocmg11was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Rushin, Steve (29 July 2002). "Brutish Open". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (22 July 2002). "Someone Els wins Open title". Associated Press. p. C-1.
- ^ Dahlberg, Tim (21 July 2002). "British field gets blown away". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. p. 1D.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (16 July 2002). "British Open next test for Tiger". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. p. E1.
- ^ Whicker, Mark (18 July 2002). "Incomparable, really". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Orange County Register). p. D1.