2006 Open Championship

2006 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates 20–23 July 2006
Location Merseyside, England
Course(s) Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Tour(s) European Tour
PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Statistics
Par 72[1]
Length 7,258 yards (6,637 m)[1]
Field 156 players, 71 after cut[1]
Cut 143 (–1)[1]
Prize fund £4,000,000
5,797,724
$7,300,000
Winner's share £720,000
€1,045,966
$1,338,480
Champion
United States Tiger Woods
270 (–18)
«2005
2007»
Hoylake
Location in England
Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, Merseyside,
west of Liverpool, England

The 2006 Open Championship was the 135th Open Championship, played from 20–23 July at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Tiger Woods held off Chris DiMarco, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, and Sergio García for a two-shot victory. The win was his second consecutive Open Championship title and third overall. It was also Woods' first major tournament win since the death of his father, Earl Woods, in May.

The purse was £4,000,000, and the winner received £720,000. Using conversion rates at the time of the tournament, the purse was 5,797,724 for the European Tour's Order of Merit rankings and $7,300,000 for the PGA Tour's money list.

History of The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool

Royal Liverpool first hosted The Open Championship in 1897 and the 2006 Open was the 11th to be held at Royal Liverpool. This was the first Open at Royal Liverpool since 1967, a thirty nine year absence. Royal Liverpool's list of champions includes Harold Hilton (1897), Sandy Herd (1902), Arnaud Massy (1907), John Henry Taylor (1913), 11 time major winner Walter Hagen (1924), seven time major winner and amateur Bobby Jones, Alf Padgham (1936), Fred Daly (1947), Peter Thomson (1956), and Roberto De Vicenzo (1967).

Course

HoleNameYardsPar HoleNameYardsPar
117 - Royal4544 10 8 - Far5345
218 - Stand436411 9 - Punch Bowl3934
3 1 - Course42941210 - Dee4484
4 2 - Road37241311 - Alps1983
5 3 - Long52851412 - Hilbre4564
6 4 - New20231513 - Rushes1613
7 5 - Telegraph45341614 - Field5545
8 6 - Briars42341715 - Lake4594
9 7 - Dowie19831816 - Dun5605
Out3,49535In3,76337
Total7,25872

Lengths of the course for previous Opens (since 1947):[1]

Field

1. First 10 and anyone tying for 10th place in the 2005 Open Championship
Michael Campbell (3,4,9,17), Fred Couples (3,17), Sergio García (3,4,13), Retief Goosen (3,4,9,13,17), Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie (3,4), Geoff Ogilvy (3,9), José María Olazábal (3,4), Vijay Singh (3,11,13,17), Tiger Woods (2,3,9,10,13,17)

2. Past Open Champions aged 65 or under on 23 July 2006
Seve Ballesteros, Mark Calcavecchia (21), Ben Curtis, John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els (3,4), Nick Faldo, Todd Hamilton, Paul Lawrie, Tom Lehman (3), Sandy Lyle, Mark O'Meara, Tom Watson (26)

3. The first 50 players on the OWGR for Week 22, 2006
Robert Allenby, Stephen Ames (12), Stuart Appleby (17), Thomas Bjørn (4), Bart Bryant (13), Ángel Cabrera (4,5,17), Chad Campbell (13), Paul Casey (6), K. J. Choi, Stewart Cink (17), Tim Clark (17), Darren Clarke (4), Ben Crane (13), Chris DiMarco (13,17), Luke Donald (4,13), Jim Furyk (9,13,17), Lucas Glover, Pádraig Harrington (13), Tim Herron, David Howell (4,5), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (4), Brandt Jobe, Zach Johnson, Shingo Katayama (22), Davis Love III (13,17), Paul McGinley (4), Phil Mickelson (10,11,13,17), Arron Oberholser (14), Nick O'Hern (17,19), Rod Pampling (14), Kenny Perry (13,17), Carl Pettersson, Rory Sabbatini (14), Adam Scott (12,13,17,19), Henrik Stenson (4), Scott Verplank (13,17), Mike Weir (10,17)

4. First 20 in the European Tour Final Order of Merit for 2005
Stephen Dodd, Nick Dougherty, Bradley Dredge, Niclas Fasth, Kenneth Ferrie, Ian Poulter

5. The BMW Championship winners for 2004–06
Scott Drummond

6. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt, in the top 20 of the European Tour Order of Merit for 2006 on completion of the 2006 BMW Championship
Paul Broadhurst, Johan Edfors

7. First 2 European Tour members and any European Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from all official European Tour events from the British Masters up to and including the Open de France and including The U.S. Open
John Bickerton, Robert Karlsson

8. The leading player, not exempt, in the first 10 and ties of each of the 2006 Open de France, 2006 European Open and the 2006 Scottish Open
Marcus Fraser, Andrés Romero, Anthony Wall

9. The U.S. Open Champions for 2002–06

10. The Masters Champions for 2002–06

11. The PGA Champions for 2001–05
Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel

12. The Players Champions for 2004–06
Fred Funk (13,17)

13. First 20 on the Official Money List of the PGA Tour for 2005
Sean O'Hair

14. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt, in the top 20 of the Official Money List of the PGA Tour for 2006 on completion of the FedEx St. Jude Classic

15. First 2 PGA Tour members and any PGA Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from the Players Championship and the five PGA Tour events leading up to and including the 2006 Western Open
Billy Andrade, J. J. Henry

16. The leading player, not exempt having applied (15) above, in the first 10 and ties of each of the 2006 Buick Championship, the 2006 Western Open and the 2006 John Deere Classic
Mathew Goggin, Hunter Mahan, John Senden

17. Playing members of the 2005 Presidents Cup teams
Mark Hensby, Peter Lonard

18. First and anyone tying for 1st place on the Order of Merit of the Asian Tour for 2005
Thaworn Wiratchant

19. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place on the Order of Merit of the PGA Tour of Australasia for 2005

20. First and anyone tying for 1st place on the Order of Merit of the Sunshine Tour for 2005/2006
Charl Schwartzel

21. The Canadian Open Champion for 2005

22. The Japan Open Champion for 2005

23. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, not exempt, on the Official Money List of the Japan Golf Tour for 2005
Keiichiro Fukabori, Yasuharu Imano

24. The leading 4 players, not exempt, in the 2006 Mizuno Open
Hur Suk-ho, Tatsuhiko Ichihara, Wayne Perske, David Smail

25. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, not exempt having applied (24) above, in a cumulative money list taken from all official Japan Golf Tour events from the 2006 Japan PGA Championship up to and including the 2006 Mizuno Open
Toshinori Muto, Hideto Tanihara

26. The Senior Open Champion for 2005

27. The Amateur Champion for 2006
Julien Guerrier (a)

28. The U.S. Amateur Champion for 2005
Edoardo Molinari (a)

29. The European Amateur Champion for 2005
Marius Thorp (a)

International Final Qualifying

Africa: Warren Abery, Thomas Aiken, Bruce Vaughan, Ross Wellington
Australasia: Adam Bland, Ben Bunny, Bradley Hughes, Michael Wright
Asia: Shiv Kapur, Jarrod Lyle, Unho Park
America: Aaron Baddeley, Steve Elkington, J. B. Holmes, Jerry Kelly, Jeff Maggert, Greg Owen, Tom Pernice, Jr., Ted Purdy, Brett Quigley, Vaughn Taylor, Bo Van Pelt, Lee Westwood, Brett Wetterich
Europe: Jamie Donaldson, Simon Dyson, Richard Green, Peter Hedblom, Søren Kjeldsen, Barry Lane, Sam Little, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, Mark Pilkington, Phillip Price, Robert Rock, Carlos Rodiles, Marco Ruiz, Brett Rumford, Lee Slattery, Richard Sterne, Simon Wakefield

Local Final Qualifying

Conwy (Caernavonshire): John Bevan, Warren Bladon, Mikko Ilonen
Formby: Andrew Marshall, Darren Parris, Jim Payne
Wallasey: Markus Brier, Gary Day, Daniel Denison (a)
West Lancashire: Adam Frayne, Gary Lockerbie, Nick Ludwell

Alternates
The OWGR from 9 July was used to determine alternates. Four alternates gained places in the field:

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Tiger Woods  United States 2000, 2005 67 65 71 67 270 –18 1
Ernie Els  South Africa 2002 68 65 71 71 275 –13 3
Mark Calcavecchia  United States 1989 71 68 68 80 287 –1 T41
Tom Watson  United States 1975, 1977,
1980, 1982, 1983
72 70 75 71 288 E T48
David Duval  United States 2001 70 70 78 71 289 +1 T56
Mark O'Meara  United States 1998 71 70 77 73 291 +3 T63
Todd Hamilton  United States 2004 72 71 74 78 295 +7 T68

Missed the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 Total To par
John Daly  United States 1995 72 73 145 +1
Tom Lehman  United States 1996 68 77 145 +1
Ben Curtis  United States 2003 73 73 146 +2
Sandy Lyle  Scotland 1985 73 73 146 +2
Nick Faldo  England 1987, 1990, 1992 77 71 148 +4
Paul Lawrie  Scotland 1999 76 74 150 +6
Seve Ballesteros  Spain 1979, 1984, 1988 74 77 151 +7

Source:[3]

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, 20 July 2006

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland was the opening round leader at 66, which broke the course record set by Roberto De Vicenzo in 1967. Defending champion Tiger Woods led a group of five others at 67. There were the 67 rounds under par, with 32 rounds in the 60s, which broke the record of 59 sub-par rounds in the first round of the Open Championship at St Andrews in 1995 (the PGA Tour began keeping records in relation to par in 1956).

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Graeme McDowell Northern Ireland66–6
T2Tiger Woods United States67–5
Anthony Wall England
Greg Owen England
Miguel Ángel Jiménez Spain
Keiichiro Fukabori Japan
T7Ben Crane United States68–4
Ernie Els South Africa
Marcus Fraser Australia
Jim Furyk United States
Sergio García Spain
Mark Hensby Australia
S.K. Ho South Korea
Mikko Ilonen Finland
Tom Lehman United States
Carl Pettersson Sweden
Brett Rumford Australia
Adam Scott Australia
Mike Weir Canada

Second round

Friday, 21 July 2006

Tiger Woods stormed into the lead at twelve-under with a 65 (–7), which included an eagle from 209 yards (191 m) on the 14th hole, one of the toughest holes at Royal Liverpool. Ernie Els also shot 65 and was one shot behind Woods, who was 6-0 when leading after 36 holes. Chris DiMarco, whose mother died suddenly of a heart attack 4 July, emerged from his slump with a 65 and was three shots behind at 135 (–9). Seventy one players made 36-hole cut at 143 (–1) or better.

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Tiger Woods United States 67-65=132 –12
2Ernie Els South Africa 68-65=133 –11
3Chris DiMarco United States 70-65=135 –9
4Retief Goosen South Africa 70-66=136 –8
T5Mikko Ilonen Finland 68-69=137 –7
Miguel Ángel Jiménez Spain 67-70=137
Adam Scott Australia 68-69=137
8Robert Rock England 69-69=138 –6
T9Robert Allenby Australia69-70=139 –5
Ángel Cabrera Argentina 71-68=139
Mark Calcavecchia United States 71-68=139
Ben Crane United States 68-71=139
Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño Spain 70-69=139
Marcus Fraser Australia 68-71=139
Jim Furyk United States 68-71=139
Sergio García Spain 68-71=139
Jerry Kelly United States 72-67=139
Graeme McDowell Northern Ireland 66-73=139
Brett Rumford Australia 68-71=139
Rory Sabbatini South Africa 69-70=139
Thaworn Wiratchant Thailand 71-68=139

Amateurs: Thorp (–2), Molinari (–1), Guerrier (+3), Denison (+10).

Third round

Saturday, 22 July 2006

Moving day ended with Tiger Woods still holding a one-shot lead, but with three golfers right on his heels. Ernie Els, in the final pairing, matched Woods with an identical 71. Chris DiMarco and Sergio García were also within one shot. García holed out a 9-iron from 167 yards (153 m) for eagle on the second hole, and took only 29 shots on the outward nine to finish with a seven-under 65.

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Tiger Woods United States 67-65-71=203 –13
T2Chris DiMarco United States 70-65-69=204 –12
Ernie Els South Africa 68-65-71=204
Sergio García Spain 68-71-65=204
T5Ángel Cabrera Argentina 71-68-66=205 –11
Jim Furyk United States 68-71-66=205
7Hideto Tanihara Japan 72-68-66=206 –10
T8Mark Calcavecchia United States 71-68-68=207 –9
Adam Scott Australia 68-69-70=207
T10Robert Allenby Australia 69-70-69=208 –8
Retief Goosen South Africa 70-66-72=208
Jerry Kelly United States 72-67-69=208
Peter Lonard Australia 71-69-68=208
Greg Owen England 67-73-68=208
Andrés Romero Argentina 70-70-68=208

Final round

Sunday, 23 July 2006

Woods fought off three of the best golfers in the world to win his third Open Championship title. While Els and García faded, DiMarco made a gritty rally to close with a 68 for a solo runner-up finish, two strokes back. After the clinching putt, Woods buried his head in the shoulder of caddie Steve Williams and sobbed uncontrollably, having won his first major since the passing of his father Earl Woods two months earlier. On the way to victory, Woods hit 86 percent of fairways and tied the lowest Open Championship score of 270. Woods became the first player since Tom Watson in 198283 to win golf's oldest championship in consecutive years. Woods improved his perfect record in majors to 11-0 when entering the final round with the lead.

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney (£)
1Tiger Woods United States 67-65-71-67=270 –18 720,000
2Chris DiMarco United States 70-65-69-68=272 –16 430,000
3Ernie Els South Africa 68-65-71-71=275 –13 275,000
4Jim Furyk United States 68-71-66-71=276 –12 210,000
T5Sergio García Spain 68-71-65-73=277 –11 159,500
Hideto Tanihara Japan 72-68-66-71=277
7Ángel Cabrera Argentina71-68-66-73=278–10128,025
T8Carl Pettersson Sweden68-72-70-69=279–995,350
Andrés Romero Argentina70-70-68-71=279
Adam Scott Australia68-69-70-72=279

Amateurs: Thorp (E), Molinari (+7).

Source:[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. pp. 23, 203. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  2. "Set par of 68 for British Open". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. 30 June 1947. p. 9.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "2006 Open Championship results". databasegolf.com. Retrieved 1 July 2012.

External links

Preceded by
2006 U.S. Open
Major Championships Succeeded by
2006 PGA Championship

Coordinates: 53°23′06″N 3°11′24″W / 53.385°N 3.190°W