The 1968 Open Championship was the 97th Open Championship, played 10–13 July at Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland. Gary Player won the second of his three Open titles, two strokes ahead of runners-up Bob Charles and Jack Nicklaus. It was the fifth of Player's nine major titles.
This Open introduced the second cut at 54 holes, used through 1985. In addition, starting with this Championship all past Open champions were exempt from qualifying (though, eventually, an age restriction was placed on past champions).
The inaugural Greater Milwaukee Open was held in the United States during the same week, with a first prize of $40,000, over five times the winner's share of the Open Championship, which was $7,200 (£3,000).
The PGA Championship was played the next week in San Antonio, Texas, the fifth and final time in the 1960s that these two majors were played in consecutive weeks in July. The PGA Championship moved permanently to August in 1969 (except 1971, when it was played in late February) and remained there until 2019, when it moved to May between The Masters and U.S. Open.
Course Carnoustie Golf Links - Championship Course HoleNameYardsPar HoleNameYardsPar1Cup406410South America44642Gulley468411Dyke37043Jockie's Burn343412Southward Ho4734 4Hillocks429413Whins16835Brae389414Spectacles48556Long565515Lucky Slap46047Plantation386416Barry Burn24338Short163317Island45849Railway475418Home5255Out3,62436In3,62836 Total7,25272
Round summaries First round Wednesday, 10 July 1968 PlacePlayerScoreTo parT1 Brian Barnes70−2 Michael Bonallack (a)T3 Maurice Bembridge71−1 Peter MillsT5 Billy Casper72E Bob Charles Tony Jacklin Paddy SkerrittT9 Peter Alliss73+1 Sebastián Miguel Sandy Wilson
Second round Thursday, 11 July 1968 PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Billy Casper72-68=140−4T2 Brian Barnes70-74=144E Bob Charles72-72=144 Tony Jacklin72-72=144T5 Jack Nicklaus76-69=145+1 Gary Player74-71=145 Paddy Skerritt72-73=145T8 Maurice Bembridge71-75=146+2 Dave Thomas75-71=146T10 Harry Bannerman74-73=147+3 Michael Bonallack (a)70-77=147 Gay Brewer74-73=147 Brian Huggett76-71=147 Peter Mills71-76=147
Amateurs: Bonallack (+3), Monguzzi (+8), O'Connor (+12), Sweeny Jr (+12), Shade (+13), Oosterhuis (+16), Saddler (+16).
Third round Friday, 13 July 1968 PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Billy Casper72-68-74=214−22 Bob Charles72-72-71=215−13 Gary Player74-71-71=216E4 Jack Nicklaus76-69-73=218+2T5 Maurice Bembridge71-75-73=219+3 Gay Brewer74-73-72=219 Tony Jacklin72-72-75=2198 Arnold Palmer77-71-72=220+49 Michael Bonallack (a)70-77-74=221+5T10 Neil Coles75-76-71=222 +6 Bruce Devlin77-73-72=222 Brian Huggett76-71-75=222 Paddy Skerritt72-73-77=222
Amateurs: Bonallack (+5), Monguzzi (+18).
Final round Saturday, 13 July 1968 PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney (£)1 Gary Player 74-71-71-73=289 +13,000T2 Bob Charles 72-72-71-76=291 +31,738 Jack Nicklaus 76-69-73-73=2914 Billy Casper 72-68-74-78=292 +41,2255 Maurice Bembridge 71-75-73-74=293 +51,000T6 Brian Barnes 70-74-80-71=295 +7658 Gay Brewer 74-73-72-76=295 Neil Coles 75-76-71-73=2959 Al Balding 74-76-74-72=296 +8475T10 Roberto De Vicenzo 77-72-74-74=297 +9402 Bruce Devlin 77-73-72-75=297 Arnold Palmer 77-71-72-77=297
Amateurs: Bonallack (+12).
References
External links Carnoustie 1968 (Official site)