Golf is a sport that allows the best players to compete into their middle age and beyond – both at club level and at major championships.
Phil Mickelson became the oldest winner of a men’s major in 2021 by winning the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, beating Brooks Koepka by two shots in dramatic fashion.
It was his first major win since securing The Open Championship in 2013 at Muirfield – an incredibly emotional win for him and his caddie Bones McKay.
Many legends of the game have won majors into their 40s and 50s. Tom Watson almost won The Open in 2009 at the age of 58, but his heart and the hearts of thousands of golf fans were broken by Stewart Cink at Turnberry.
It has taken some defiant performances over the decades, but here is our list of the oldest golfers to win a major championship in the men’s game…
Oldest major winner: Golf countdown
10. Raymond Floyd
1986 US Open – 43 years, 9 months, 11 days
The American won four majors in a 40-year career, the last of which was when he edged out Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins at Shinnecock Hills.
9. Harry Vardon
1914 Open Championship – 44 years, 41 days
Harry Vardon beat the defending champion J.H Taylor by three strokes at Prestwick. He won The Open Championship six times between 1896 and 1914.
8. Roberto de Vicenzo
1967 Open – 44 years, 93 days
Roberto De Vicenzo was the 54-hole leader and never moved from the top of the leaderboard on the final day of the 1967 Open, eventually seeing off Jack Nicklaus by two at Hoylake.
7. Lee Trevino
1984 PGA Championship – 44 years, 8 months, 18 days
