1996 Senior British Open

The 1996 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the tenth British Senior Open Championship, held from 25 to 28 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.^[1]

1996 Senior British Open

Tournament information
Dates	25–28 July 1996
Location	Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635
Course(s)	Royal Portrush Golf Club Dunluce Links
Organised by	The R&A
Tour(s)	European Seniors Tour Senior PGA Tour
Format	72 holes stroke play
Statistics
Par	72
Length	6,690 yd (6,120 m)
Field	105 players, 61 after cut
Cut	150 (+6)
Prize fund	€352,665 £350,000
Winner's share	€81,662
Champion
Brian Barnes
277 (−11)
Location map
Royal Portrush GC Location in Europe Show map of Europe Royal Portrush GC Location in the United Kingdom Show map of the United Kingdom Royal Portrush GC Location in Ireland Show map of island of Ireland Royal Portrush GC Location in Northern Ireland Show map of Northern Ireland
← 1995 1997 →

In 2018, the tournament was, as all Senior British Open Championships played 1987–2002, retroactively recognized as a senior major golf championship and a PGA Tour Champions (at the time named the Senior PGA Tour) event.^[2][3]

Brian Barnes won by three strokes over Bob Charles and David Oakley to successfully defend his title from 1995 and win his second Senior British Open title and senior major championship victory.^[4]

Venue

Main article: Royal Portrush Golf Club

The event was the second Senior Open Championship in a row held at Royal Portrush Golf Club.^[5][6]

Royal Portrush GC 5th hole

Field

105 players entered the competition. One of them withdrew. 61 players, all of them professionals, no amateurs, made the 36-hole cut. One of them was disqualified.

Past champions in the field

Seven past Senior British Open champions participated. Six of them made the 36-hole cut. Bobby Verway missed the cut by one shot.

Player	Country	Year(s) won	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	To par	Finish
Brian Barnes	England	1995	72	65	66	74	277	−11	1
Bob Charles	New Zealand	1989, 1993	68	69	69	74	280	−8	T2
Tom Wargo	United States	1994	68	70	76	72	286	−2	T7
Neil Coles	England	1987	67	70	74	76	287	−1	9
Gary Player	South Africa	1988, 1990	70	76	69	77	292	+4	T14
John Fourie	South Africa	1992	71	74	79	78	302	+14	T47

Past winners and runners-up at The Open Championship in the field

The field included two former winners of The Open Championship, Bob Charles (tied 2nd) and Gary Player (tied 14th).

The field also included three former runners-up at The Open Championship. Neil Coles (9th), Brian Huggett (tied 18th) and Christy O'Connor Snr (tied 32nd).

Final results

Sunday, 28 July 1996

Place	Player	Score	To par	Money (€)
1	Brian Barnes	72-65-66-74=277	−11	81,662
T2	Bob Charles	68-69-69-74=280	−8	42,532
	David Oakley	71-68-69-72=280
4	Tommy Horton	68-74-69-70=281	−7	24,500
5	John Morgan	70-71-72-70=283	−5	20,776
6	Malcolm Gregson	67-74-69-75=285	−3	17,150
7	Antonio Garrido	72-69-72-73=286	−2	13,475
	Tom Wargo	68-70-76-72=286
9	Neil Coles	67-70-74-76=287	−1	10,976
10	Chick Evans	70-70-76-72=288	E	9,800

Source:^[7]