1975 Open Championship


The 1975 Open Championship was the 104th Open Championship, played 9–13 July at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. In his first Open, Tom Watson won an 18-hole playoff by one stroke over Jack Newton to win the first of his eight major titles, which included five Open Championships.

Final round

After three days of calm weather, the wind kicked up during the final round on Saturday and scores went up. Bobby Cole, the leader at 54 holes after back-to-back rounds of 66, shot a four-over 76 and missed the playoff by a stroke. Watson managed an even-par 72, capped with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to tie Newton, who shot 74.

Playoff

The Sunday playoff was back-and-forth in the rain, and included a chip-in eagle by Watson at the 14th hole, the short par-5 named "Spectacles." Newton had chipped to within inches and tapped in for birdie. The two were tied at the 18th tee, the par-4 "Home" with the meandering Barry Burn. Watson was on the 90th green in two with about for birdie, but Newton's approach ended in the front left bunker. Newton's lengthy sand shot ran past the hole. After Watson had safely two-putted for par, Newton's putt to save par and extend the match missed left and Watson won the title.
This was the second and final 18-hole playoff at the Open; the first was in 1970, won by Jack Nicklaus. The format was changed to a four-hole aggregate playoff in 1985, first used in 1989. Prior to 1964, the playoff at the Open was 36 holes.

Course layout

Carnoustie Golf Links – Championship Course
^ The 6th hole was renamed Hogan's Alley in 2003
Lengths of the course for previous Opens:

Past champions in the field

Made both cuts

Missed the second cut

Missed the first cut

Round summaries

First round

Wednesday, 9 July 1975
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Peter Oosterhuis68−4
T2David Huish69−3
T2Hale Irwin69−3
T2Jack Newton69−3
T2Jack Nicklaus69−3
T2Andries Oosthuizen69−3
T2Bob Shearer69−3
T8Danny Edwards70−2
T8Simon Hobday70−2
T8Paul Leonard70−2
T8Alan Tapie70−2

Second round

Thursday, 10 July 1975
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1David Huish69-67=136−8
T2Bobby Cole72-66=138−6
T2Peter Oosterhuis68-70=138−6
T2Andries Oosthuizen69-69=138−6
T2Tom Watson71-67=138−6
T6Bernard Gallacher72-67=139−5
T6Hale Irwin69-70=139−5
T6Paul Leonard70-69=139−5
T6John Mahaffey71-68=139−5
T6Graham Marsh72-67=139−5

Source:
Amateurs: Stephen, Poxon, Stadler , Price, Levenson.

Third round

Friday, 11 July 1975
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Bobby Cole72-66-66=204−12
2Jack Newton69-71-65=205−11
3Johnny Miller71-69-66=206−10
4Tom Watson71-67-69=207−9
T5Neil Coles72-69-67=208−8
T5Jack Nicklaus69-71-68=208−8
T5Hale Irwin69-70-69=208−8
T5John Mahaffey71-68-69=208−8
T5Andries Oosthuizen69-69-70=208−8
T10Alan Tapie70-72-67=209−7
T10Peter Oosterhuis68-70-71=209−7

Amateurs: Stadler, Stephen, Poxon.

Final round

Saturday, 12 July 1975
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney
T1Tom Watson71-67-69-72=279−9Playoff
T1Jack Newton69-71-65-74=279−9Playoff
T3Jack Nicklaus69-71-68-72=280−83,867
T3Johnny Miller71-69-66-74=280−83,867
T3Bobby Cole72-66-66-76=280−83,867
6Graham Marsh72-67-71-71=281−73,000
T7Peter Oosterhuis68-70-71-73=282−62,700
T7Neil Coles72-69-67-74=282−62,700
9Hale Irwin69-70-69-75=283−52,400
T10George Burns71-73-69-71=284−42,125
T10John Mahaffey71-68-69-76=284−42,125

Source:

Playoff

Sunday, 13 July 1975
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney
1Tom Watson36-35=71−17,500
2Jack Newton36-36=72E6,000

Scorecard

Source: