1980 Open Championship
The 1980 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 109th Open Championship, held from 17 to 20 July at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, Scotland. Tom Watson won his third Open Championship, four strokes ahead of runner-up Lee Trevino. It was the fourth of Watson's eight major titles; he won two additional Opens in 1982 and 1983. It was Watson's first win in a major in three years.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 17–20 July 1980 |
| Location | Gullane, Scotland |
| Course(s) | Muirfield |
| Tour(s) | European Tour PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,926 yards (6,333 m) |
| Field | 151 players 87 after 1st cut 65 after 2nd cut |
| Cut | 149 (+7) (1st cut) 219 (+6) (2nd cut) |
| Prize fund | £200,000 $480,000 |
| Winner's share | £25,000 $60,000 |
| Champion | |
| Tom Watson | |
| 271 (−13) | |
Trevino, 40, had won the last Open played at Muirfield in 1972, successfully defending his 1971 title and ending the grand slam bid of Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus, also 40, tied for fourth. He won at Muirfield in 1966 and was runner-up by a stroke in 1972.
This was the first Open scheduled to end on a Sunday, with a Thursday start. The Open previously began on Wednesday and ended on Saturday. Prior to 1966, the final two rounds were scheduled for Friday. In 1970 and 1975, 18-hole playoffs were held on Sunday.