Sandwich, England · Links
15 major championships hosted since 1894
Established
1887
Designer
Dr. Laidlaw Purves
Par
70
Championship Yardage
7,204 yds
Royal St George's in Sandwich, Kent, was the first course in England to host The Open, in 1894. Its rumpled, dune-laced fairways and deep bunkers — including one of the deepest in championship golf at the 4th — make it one of the most natural and unpredictable links on the rota.
The course inspired the fictional St Marks in Ian Fleming's golf match between James Bond and Goldfinger. It has crowned a varied list of champions, from Walter Hagen to surprise winners Ben Curtis and Darren Clarke, to Collin Morikawa's record-setting 2021 victory.
Lowest scoring marks recorded in major championship competition at Royal St George's.
Course Record (round)
63
Several (Open rounds)
Lowest 72-Hole Total
265 (−15)
Collin Morikawa, 2021
First Major Hosted
1894
Total Majors Hosted
15
Every major championship staged at Royal St George's, by championship and year.
| Championship | Times | Years |
|---|---|---|
| The Open | 15 | 1894, 1899, 1904, 1911, 1922, 1928, 1934, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1985, 1993, 2003, 2011, 2021 |
Defining rounds and championship moments in the history of Royal St George's.
Sandy Lyle became the first British winner of The Open in 16 years.
Greg Norman closed with a 64 to win at 13-under 267, a round Gene Sarazen called the finest he had ever seen.
Ben Curtis, ranked 396th and playing his first major, stunned the field to win The Open.
Darren Clarke held off Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson to win an emotional Open at 42.
Collin Morikawa won in just his second Open start, setting the course's 72-hole record at 15-under 265.
Collin Morikawa set the record at 15-under-par 265 when he won the 2021 Open Championship.
In 1894 it became the first course outside Scotland to stage The Open Championship.
Champions include Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Bobby Locke, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, Ben Curtis, Darren Clarke and Collin Morikawa.