Who holds the record for the largest winning margin in The Open?

Old Tom Morris holds the record for the largest winning margin in The Open, winning the 1862 championship by 13 strokes. The historic result came at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.

Morris, whose formal name was Tom Morris Sr., completed the 36-hole event in 163 strokes. He beat Willie Park Sr., who finished on 176. The early Open was played over three rounds of Prestwick's 12-hole course, so the format was very different from today's four-round, 72-hole championship.

Morris led Park by seven strokes after the opening round and by 11 after the second. His final margin of 13 strokes remains the Open record. It was also the largest winning margin in any major championship until Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes.

Old Tom Morris won The Open four times: 1861, 1862, 1864 and 1867. His son, Young Tom Morris, became another early Open great, which is why the names Old Tom and Young Tom are frequently confused in historical quiz questions.