The 2025 Open Championship is upon us, as we gear up for the final major of the golfing year.
It’s a highly anticipated Open Championship at Royal Portrush, as the Northern Irish fans hope to see hometown favourite Rory McIlroy win his second Open title against the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau.
We have seen some incredible rounds of golf played at the championship over its storied history. Here, we take a look at some of the best.
5. Shane Lowry – 2019 Royal Portrush, Third Round
On his way to claiming the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Shane Lowry caught fire to shoot 63 and storm into the tournament lead. He later said it was the only time he had ever been “in the zone”.
In front of a raucous Northern Irish crowd cheering him on, he set a new course record since a course remodelling in 2016. He made eight birdies and did not drop a shot, hitting 17 out of 18 greens in regulation.
He even came close to a ninth birdie on the 18th, which would have matched the record score in a major. After the round, he said, “Honestly, that’s the most incredible day I’ve ever had on the golf course.”
The following day, Lowry navigated tricky conditions to run away with the championship, winning by six strokes.
4. Phil Mickelson – 2013 Muirfield, Final Round
Phil Mickelson, entering the final day five shots back of the lead, played what he described as the “by far the best round I’ve ever played” to win his first Open Championship.
He started with four straight birdies on the way to a score of 66. By hole 10 he was just two shots back of the lead, then the American ran through the finishing tape with four birdies in his last six holes to win.
Mickelson won his only Open by three shots, forcing an eight-shot swing against Lee Westwood for the victory.
3. Paul Lawrie – 1999 Carnoustie, Final Round
Paul Lawrie started the Final Round of the 1999 Open Championship 10 shots back, but shot an immense 67 in horrific conditions to force a playoff hole, and eventually won the championship.
He wasn’t even in the top 10 at the start of the day, demonstrating just how impressive his four-under performance was on the links of Scotland.
The 1999 Open will be remembered as the “Collapse at Carnoustie”, as Jean Van De Velde tripled the 18th to force a three-way playoff. But Lawrie’s performance should also be remembered, and he willed his way into contention and then stole the victory.
2. Branden Grace – 2017 Royal Birkdale, Third Round
In 2017, Branden Grace became the first player in major championship history to shoot a score of 62. He made an incredible eight birdies in a flawless Third Round performance.
On his way to the record, he birdied holes 16 and 17, before calmly parring the final hole to secure the major record, and the course record at Royal Birkdale.
Grace now has ‘62’ engraved on his irons as a reminder of his remarkable round
1. Henrik Stenson – 2016 Royal Troon, Final Round
Henrik Stenson went head-to-head with the legendary Phil Mickelson in 2016, and shot a sensational 63 to win The Open Championship. It was the second-ever Final Round 63 to win the Claret Jug.
The Swede made four birdies in the final five holes and 11 birdies on the day. That gave him a championship-winning score of 20 under, which is the best winning score in The Open Championship’s storied history.
Mickelson shot one of the best-ever final rounds in an Open, too, making a score of 65. It was a truly titanic battle between two players at the very top of their games.