2015 Open Championship

2015 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates16–20 July 2015
LocationSt Andrews, Scotland
56°20′35″N 2°48′11″W / 56.343°N 2.803°W / 56.343; -2.803
Course(s)Old Course
Organized byThe R&A
Tour(s)
Statistics
Par72
Length7,297 yd (6,672 m)
Field156 players, 80 after cut
Cut144 (E)
Prize fund£6,300,000[1]
8,717,310
$9,831,780
Winner's share£1,150,000[1]
€1,591,255
$1,794,690
Champion
United States Zach Johnson
273 (−15), playoff
Location map
St Andrews is located in the United Kingdom
St Andrews
St Andrews
Location in the United Kingdom
St Andrews is located in Scotland
St Andrews
St Andrews
Location in Scotland
St Andrews is located in Fife
St Andrews
St Andrews
Location in Fife
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The 2015 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 144th Open Championship, held from 16 to 20 July at the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. It was the 29th Open Championship played at the course and Zach Johnson won in a four-hole playoff for his second major title.

World number one Rory McIlroy withdrew prior to the tournament due to an off-course ankle injury; he was the first defending champion absent from the Open in over sixty years, since Ben Hogan opted not to participate in 1954. Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth attempted to win a third consecutive major and take over the top ranking.[2][3] He finished one stroke out of the playoff, in a tie for fourth.[4]

Inclement weather – which included heavy rain and very strong winds – forced play to be suspended twice, on Friday and Saturday, with the latter having play suspended for nearly most of the day. The third round was held on Sunday and the final round (and playoff) on Monday.

This was also the last Open Championship played under the then present TV deals with the BBC and ESPN each having their swan song. NBC and Sky Sports would take over coverage the following year at Royal Troon.

This was the final Open appearance for five-time champion Tom Watson and three-time champion Nick Faldo who played in his last major championship.

  1. ^ a b "The Champion Golfer of the Year will win more than £1 million at The Open". The Open. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Rory McIlroy pulls out of Open title defence at St Andrews through injury". The Guardian. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Jordan Spieth warns Open 2015 rivals: 'My putting is awesome right now'". The Guardian. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. ^ Dawkes, Phil (20 July 2015). "Open 2015: Zach Johnson triumphs in play-off at St Andrews". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2015.