<P> There was no prize money in the first three Opens . In 1863, a prize fund of ten pounds was introduced, which was shared between the second -, third -, and fourth - placed professionals, with the champion keeping the belt for a year . Old Tom Morris won the first champion's cash prize of six pounds in 1864 . </P> <P> Until the late 1990s, The Open prize fund was significantly lower than the other three majors; by 2002, it was the highest . </P> <Ul> <Li> Oldest winner: Old Tom Morris (7004169030000000000 ♠ 46 years, 102 days), 1867 . </Li> <Li> Youngest winner: Young Tom Morris (7003636600000000000 ♠ 17 years, 156 days), 1868 . </Li> <Li> Most victories: 6, Harry Vardon (1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914). </Li> <Li> Most consecutive victories: 4, Young Tom Morris (1868, 1869, 1870, 1872--there was no championship in 1871). </Li> <Li> Lowest score after 36 holes: 130, Nick Faldo (66 - 64), 1992; Brandt Snedeker (66 - 64), 2012 </Li> <Li> Lowest score after 54 holes: 198, Tom Lehman (67 - 67 - 64), 1996 </Li> <Li> Lowest final score (72 holes): 264, Henrik Stenson (68 - 65 - 68 - 63, 264), 2016 . </Li> <Li> Lowest final score (72 holes) in relation to par: − 20, Henrik Stenson (68 - 65 - 68 - 63, 264), 2016 . </Li> <Li> Greatest victory margin: 13 strokes, Old Tom Morris, 1862 . This remained a record for all majors until 2000, when Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach . Old Tom's 13 - stroke margin was achieved over just 36 holes . </Li> <Li> Lowest round: 62, Branden Grace, 3rd round, 2017; a record for all majors . </Li> <Li> Lowest round in relation to par: − 9, Paul Broadhurst, 3rd round, 1990; Rory McIlroy, 1st round, 2010 . </Li> <Li> Wire - to - wire winners (after 72 holes with no ties after rounds): Ted Ray in 1912, Bobby Jones in 1927, Gene Sarazen in 1932, Henry Cotton in 1934, Tom Weiskopf in 1973, Tiger Woods in 2005, and Rory McIlroy in 2014 . </Li> <Li> Most runner - up finishes: 7, Jack Nicklaus (1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Oldest winner: Old Tom Morris (7004169030000000000 ♠ 46 years, 102 days), 1867 . </Li>

When did the british open become just the open