1980 Open Championship

1980 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates17–20 July 1980
LocationGullane, Scotland
Course(s)Muirfield
Tour(s)European Tour
PGA Tour
Statistics
Par71[1]
Length6,926 yards (6,333 m)[1]
Field151 players
87 after 1st cut
65 after 2nd cut[1]
Cut149 (+7) (1st cut)
219 (+6) (2nd cut)[1]
Prize fund£200,000
$480,000
Winner's share£25,000
$60,000
Champion
United States Tom Watson
271 (−13)
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Muirfield is located in Scotland
Muirfield
Muirfield

The 1980 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 109th Open Championship, held from 17 to 20 July at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, Scotland. Tom Watson won his third Open Championship, four strokes ahead of runner-up Lee Trevino.[2][3] It was the fourth of Watson's eight major titles; he won two additional Opens in 1982 and 1983. It was Watson's first win in a major in three years.[4]

Trevino, 40, had won the last Open played at Muirfield in 1972, successfully defending his 1971 title and ending the grand slam bid of Jack Nicklaus.[5] Nicklaus, also 40, tied for fourth. He won at Muirfield in 1966 and was runner-up by a stroke in 1972.

This was the first Open scheduled to end on a Sunday, with a Thursday start. The Open previously began on Wednesday and ended on Saturday. Prior to 1966, the final two rounds were scheduled for Friday. In 1970 and 1975, 18-hole playoffs were held on Sunday.

  1. ^ a b c d "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. pp. 56, 203. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Watson wants the ones he hasn't won yet". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. 21 July 1980. p. 1C.
  3. ^ Jenkins, Dan (28 July 1980). "Elementary at least for Watson". Sports Illustrated. p. 22.
  4. ^ "It's Watson in waltz to British Open title". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. 21 July 1980. p. 1-part 2.
  5. ^ "Watson earns emotional win at Muirfield". The Palm Beach Post. wire services. 21 July 1980. p. B3.