The winner receives the Golf Champion Trophy, more commonly referred to as the Claret Jug. The champion also receives a gold medal, which they are allowed to permanenty keep. Up until 1870, the champion also received the Challenge Belt, however when Young Tom Morris won the Open Championship three straight years he was given the belt to keep which necessitated the need for a new trophy.
Harry Vardon holds the record for most Open Championship wins with six. The oldest winner was Old Tom Morris, who was 46 when he won in 1867. His son, Young Tom Morris, is the youngest winner at 17 years of age in 1868. He also holds the record for most consecutive wins with four from 1868 - 1872. Greg Norman holds the record for lowest 72 hole score (267) in 1993 while Tiger Woods holds the mark for most strokes under par over 72 holes (-19) in 2000. Six players have led wire-to-wire to win the Open championship, the last being Tiger Woods in 2005.
2013 [ Muirfield ] - Phil Mickelson, United States - 281 (-3)
2012 [ Royal Lytham & St Annes ] - Ernie Els, South Africa - 273 (-7)
2011 [ Royal St. George's ]- Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland - 275 (-5)
2010 [ St. Andrews ]- Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa - 272 (-16)
2009 [ Turnberry ]- Stewart Cink, United States - 278 (-2) * defeated Tom Watson in playoff
2008 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Padraig Harrington, Ireland - 283 (+3)
2007 [ Carnoustie ]- Padraig Harrington, Ireland - 277 (-7) * defeated Sergio Garcia in playoff
2006 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Tiger Woods, United States - 270 (-18)
2005 [ St. Andrews ]- Tiger Woods, United States - 274 (-14)
2004 [ Royal Troon ]- Todd Hamilton, United States - 274 (-10) * defeated Ernie Els in playoff
2003 [ Royal St. George's ]- Ben Curtis, United States - 283 (-1)
2002 [ Muirfield ]- Ernie Els, South Africa - 278 (-6) * defeated Thomas Levet, Steve Elkington and Stuart Appleby in playoff
2001 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- David Duval, United States - 274 (-10)
2000 [ St. Andrews ]- Tiger Woods, United States - 269 (-19)
1999 [ Carnoustie ]- Paul Lawrie, Scotland - 290 (+6) * defeated Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard in playoff
1998 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Mark O'Meara, United States - 280 (E) * defeated Brian Watts in playoff
1997 [ Royal Troon ]- Justin Leonard, United States - 272 (-12)
1996 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Tom Lehman, United States - 271 (-13)
1995 [ St. Andrews ]- John Daly, United States - 282 (-6) * defeated Constantino Rocca in playoff
1994 [ Turnberry ]- Nick Price, Zimbabwe - 270 (-18)
1993 [ Royal St. George's ]- Greg Norman, Australia - 267 (-13)
1992 [ Muirfield ]- Nick Faldo, England - 272 (-12)
1991 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Ian Baker-Finch, Australia - 272 (-8)
1990 [ St. Andrews ]- Nick Faldo, England - 270 (-18)
1989 [ Royal Troon ]- Mark Calcavecchia, United States - 275 (-13) * defeated Wayne Grady and Greg Norman in playoff
1988 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Seve Ballesteros, Spain - 273 (-11)
1987 [ Muirfield ]- Nick Faldo, England - 279 (-5)
1986 [ Turnberry ]- Greg Norman, Australia - 280 (E)
1985 [ Royal St. George's ]- Sandy Lyle, Scotland - 282 (+2)
1984 [ St. Andrews ]- Seve Ballesteros, Spain - 276 (-12)
1983 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Tom Watson, United States - 275 (-9)
1982 [ Royal Troon ]- Tom Watson, United States - 284 (-4)
1981 [ Royal St. George's ]- Bill Rogers, United States - 276 (-4)
1980 [ Muirfield ]- Tom Watson, United States - 271 (-13)
1979 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Seve Ballesteros, Spain - 283 (-1)
1978 [ St. Andrews ]- Jack Nicklaus, United States - 281 (-7)
1977 [ Turnberry ]- Tom Watson, United States - 283 (-5)
1976 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Johnny Miller, United States - 279 (-9)
1975 [ Carnoustie ]- Tom Watson, United States - 279 (-5) * defeated Jack Newton in playoff
1974 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Gary Player, South Africa - 282 (-2)
1973 [ Royal Troon ]- Tom Weiskopf, United States - 276 (-12)
1972 [ Muirfield ]- Lee Trevino, United States - 278 (-6)
1971 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Lee Trevino, United States - 278 (-10)
1970 [ St. Andrews ]- Jack Nicklaus, United States - 283 (-5) * defeated Doug Sanders in playoff
1969 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Tony Jacklin, England - 280 (-4)
1968 [ Carnoustie ]- Gary Player, South Africa - 289 (+1)
1967 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Roberto de Vicenzo, Argentina - 278 (-10)
1966 [ Muirfield ]- Jack Nicklaus, United States - 282 (-2)
1965 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Peter Thomson, Australia - 285 (-3)
1964 [ St. Andrews ]- Tony Lema, United States - 279 (-9)
1963 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Bob Charles, New Zealand - 277 (-7) * defeated Phil Rodgers in playoff
1962 [ Royal Troon ]- Arnold Palmer, United States - 276 (-12)
1961 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Arnold Palmer, United States - 284 (-4)
1960 [ St. Andrews ]- Kel Nagle, Australia - 278 (-10)
1959 [ Muirfield ]- Gary Player, South Africa - 284 (E)
1958 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Peter Thomson, Australia - 274 (-10) * defeated Dave Thomas in playoff
1957 [ St. Andrews ]- Bobby Locke, South Africa - 279 (-9)
1956 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Peter Thomson, Australia - 286 (-2)
1955 [ St. Andrews ]- Peter Thomson, Australia - 281 (-7)
1954 [ Royal Birkdale ]- Peter Thomson, Australia - 283 (-3)
1953 [ Carnoustie ]- Ben Hogan, United States - 282 (-2)
1952 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- Bobby Locke, South Africa - 287 (+3)
1951 [ Royal Portrush ]- Max Faulkner, England - 285 (-3)
1950 [ Royal Troon ]- Bobby Locke, South Africa - 279 (-9)
1949 [ Royal St. George's ]- Bobby Locke, South Africa - 283 (+3) * defeated Harry Bradshaw in playoff
1948 [ Muirfield ]- Henry Cotton, England - 284 (E)
1947 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Fred Daly, Northern Ireland - 293 (+5)
1946 [ St. Andrews ]- Sam Snead, United States - 290 (+2)
1940-45 - Tournament not played due to World War II
1939 [ St. Andrews ]- Richard Burton, England - 290 (+2)
1938 [ Royal St. George's ]- R.A. Whitcombe, England - 295 (+15)
1937 [ Carnoustie ]- Henry Cotton, England - 290 (+6)
1936 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Alfred Padgham, England - 287 (-1)
1935 [ Muirfield ]- Alfred Perry, England - 283 (-1)
1934 [ Royal St. George's ]- Henry Cotton, England - 283 (+3)
1933 [ St. Andrews ]- Denny Shute, United States - 292 (+4) * defeated Craig Wood in playoff
1932 [ Prince's Golf Club ]- Gene Sarazen, United States - 292 (-5)
1931 [ Carnoustie ]- Tommy Armour, United States - 296 (+12)
1930 [ Royal Liverpool ]- (a) Robert Jones Jr., United States - 291 (+3)
1929 [ Muirfield ]- Walter Hagen, United States - 292 (+8)
1928 [ Royal St. George's ]- Walter Hagen, United States - 292 (+12)
1927 [ St. Andrews ]- (a) Robert Jones Jr., United States - 285 (-3)
1926 [ Royal Lytham & St. Annes ]- (a) Robert Jones Jr., United States - 291 (+7)
1925 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- James Barnes, England - 300 (+16)
1924 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Walter Hagen, United States - 301 (+13)
1923 [ Royal Troon ]- Arthur Havers, England - 295 (+7)
1922 [ Royal St. George's ]- Walter Hagen, United States - 300 (+20)
1921 [ St. Andrews ]- Jock Hutchison, United States - 296 (+8) * defeated Roger Wethered in playoff
1920 [ Royal Cinque Ports ]- George Duncan, Scotland - 303 (+15)
1915-1919 - Tournament not played due to World War I
1914 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Harry Vardon, Jersey - 306 (+22)
1913 [ Royal Liverpool ]- J.H. Taylor, England - 304 (+16)
1912 [ Muirfield ]- Edward Ray, Jersey - 295 (+11)
1911 [ Royal St. George's ]- Harry Vardon, Jersey - 303 (+23) * defeated Arnaud Massy in playoff
1910 [ St. Andrews ]- James Braid, Scotland - 299 (+11)
1909 [ Royal Cinque Ports ]- J.H. Taylor, England - 291 (+3)
1908 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- James Braid, Scotland - 291 (+7)
1907 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Arnaud Massy, France - 312 (+24)
1906 [ Muirfield ]- James Braid, Scotland - 300 (+16)
1905 [ St. Andrews ]- James Braid, Scotland - 318 (+30)
1904 [ Royal St. George's ]- Jack White, Scotland - 296 (+16)
1903 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Harry Vardon, Jersey - 300 (+16)
1902 [ Royal Liverpool ]- Alexander Herd, Scotland - 307 (+19)
1901 [ Muirfield ]- James Braid, Scotland - 309 (+25)
1900 [ St. Andrews ]- J.H. Taylor, England - 309 (+21)
1899 [ Royal St. George's ]- Harry Vardon, Jersey - 310 (+30)
1898 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Harry Vardon, Jersey - 307 (+23)
1897 [ Royal Liverpool ]- (a) Harold Hilton, England - 314 (+26)
1896 [ Muirfield ]- Harry Vardon, Jersey - 316 (+32)
1895 [ St. Andrews ]- J.H. Taylor, England - 332 (+44)
1894 [ Royal St. George's ]- J.H. Taylor, England - 326 (+46)
1893 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- William Auchterlonie, Scotland - 322 (+38)
1892 [ Muirfield ]- (a) Harold Hilton, England - 305 (+21)
(Prior to 1892, contestants played a total of 36 holes to decide the winner)
1891 [ St. Andrews ]- Hugh Kirkaldy, Scotland - 166
1890 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- (a) John Ball, Scotland - 162
1889 [ Musselburgh Links ]- Willie Park Jr., Scotland - 155 * defeated Andrew Kirkaldy in a playoff
1888 [ St. Andrews ]- Jack Burns, Scotland - 171
1887 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Willie Park Jr., Scotland - 161
1886 [ Musselburgh Links ]- David Brown, Scotland - 157
1885 [ St. Andrews ]- Bob Martin, Scotland - 171
1884 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Jack Simpson, Scotland - 160
1883 [ Musselburgh Links ]- Willie Fernie, Scotland - 159 * defeated Robert Ferguson in a playoff
1882 [ St. Andrews ]- Robert Ferguson, Scotland - 171
1881 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Robert Ferguson, Scotland - 170
1880 [ Musselburgh Links ]- Robert Ferguson, Scotland - 162
1879 [ St. Andrews ]- Jamie Anderson, Scotland - 169
1878 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Jamie Anderson, Scotland - 157
1877 [ Musselburgh Links ]- Jamie Anderson, Scotland - 160
1876 [ St. Andrews ]- Robert Martin, Scotland - 176
1875 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Willie Park, Scotland - 166
1874 [ Musselburgh Links ]- Mungo Park, Scotland - 159
1873 [ St. Andrews ]- Tom Kidd, Scotland - 179
1872 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Jr., Scotland - 166
1871 - Not played due to a disagreement over a new trophy
1870 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Jr., Scotland - 157
1869 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Jr., Scotland - 154
1868 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Jr., Scotland - 157
1867 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Sr., Scotland - 170
1866 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Willie Park, Scotland - 169
1865 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Andrew Strath, Scotland - 162
1864 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Sr., Scotland - 167
1863 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Willie Park, Scotland - 168
1862 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Sr., Scotland - 163
1861 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Tom Morris Sr., Scotland - 163
1860 [ Prestwick Golf Club ]- Willie Park, Scotland - 174