Open facts and figures

Courier Sport tees up the 146th Open Championship with a round of 18 facts and figures.

1 – world No 1 Dustin Johnson has three top-10 finishes at the Open but has yet to win the tournament.

2 -–Peter Thomson twice won the Open at this year’s venue, Royal Birkdale. The Australian won the event five times in all.

3 – the last time Birkdale hosted the Open, in 2008, was the only time this century that nobody has finished under par – Padraig Harrington’s winning score was three over.

4 – the most consecutive Open wins, by Young Tom Morris from 1868 to 1872.

5 – Thomson and Tom Watson each won their fifth Open at Royal Birkdale.

6 – only Harry Vardon has more Open titles than that duo, with a record half-dozen wins between 1896 and 1914.

7 – the last seven major championships have seen first-time major winners, from Jason Day’s success at the 2015 US PGA Championship to Brooks Koepka’s recent US Open win.

8 – there were eight players in the first ever Open, in 1860. This year there will be 156.

9 - the lowest round in relation to par at an Open Championship is nine under, by Paul Broadhurst in 1990 and Rory McIlroy in 2010.

10 – this will be the 10th Open contested at Royal Birkdale.

11 – Koepka’s current world ranking as he prepares for his first major championship since his maiden win in such an event.

12 – early Open Championships were played over a 12-hole course, with three rounds.

13 - the record winning margin at the Open, by Old Tom Morris in 1862 over the 36-hole format.

14 – the number of courses to have hosted the Open.

15 – if a play-off is required in this year’s tournament, it will be played over four holes starting at the 15th.

16 – the 16th is marked by a plaque commemorating Arnold Palmer’s 1961 victory.

17 – the longest hole at Royal Birkdale, at 567 yards.

18 – it is 18 years since Jean van de Velde’s memorable meltdown allowed Scot Paul Lawrie to claim victory at Carnoustie.