Major Championship Scoring Records: The Numbers That Define Golf’s Greatest Tests
Golf’s four major championships represent the pinnacle of the sport, each with its own unique challenge and scoring history. The Masters stays at Augusta National each year, while the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship rotate between prestigious venues.
Let’s look at the remarkable scoring records that have been set in these tournaments over the years.
Masters Tournament
Augusta National has seen some incredible performances, though scoring tends to be different depending on when the tournament is played.
- Lowest 72-hole score: 268 (Dustin Johnson, 2020)
- Lowest 72-hole in relation to par: 20 under (Dustin Johnson, 2020)
- Lowest 18-hole round: 63 (Greg Norman, Rd. 1, 1996; Nick Price, Rd. 3, 1986)
It’s worth noting that Johnson’s record came during the November Masters in 2020, when the course played differently than its traditional April date. For April Masters, Jordan Spieth (2015) and Tiger Woods (1997) share the scoring record at 18-under 270.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship has recently seen scoring records shattered at Valhalla.
- Lowest 72-hole score: 263 (Xander Schauffele, 2024 Valhalla)
- Lowest 72-hole in relation to par: 21 under (Xander Schauffele, 2024 Valhalla)
- Lowest 18-hole round: 62 (Xander Schauffele, Rd. 1, 2024 Valhalla; Shane Lowry, Rd. 3, 2024 Valhalla)
Schauffele’s dominant performance at Valhalla in 2024 reset the record books for this championship. His opening 62 was matched by Lowry later in the tournament, showing just how gettable the course was that week.
U.S. Open
Traditionally the toughest test in golf, even the U.S. Open has seen some remarkably low scores in recent years.
- Lowest 72-hole score: 268 (Rory McIlroy, 2011 Congressional)
- Lowest 72-hole in relation to par: 16 under (Rory McIlroy, 2011 Congressional; Brooks Koepka, 2017 Erin Hills)
- Lowest 18-hole round: 62 (Xander Schauffele, Rd. 1, 2023 Los Angeles CC; Rickie Fowler, Rd. 1, 2023 Los Angeles CC)
McIlroy’s dominant performance at Congressional in 2011 stood alone until Koepka matched his 16-under total at Erin Hills. The 62s shot by Schauffele and Fowler at LACC in 2023 were particularly impressive given the course’s difficulty.
The Open Championship
Golf’s oldest major has seen its scoring records fall in recent years as well.
- Lowest 72-hole score: 264 (Henrik Stenson, 2016 Royal Troon)
- Lowest 72-hole in relation to par: 20 under (Henrik Stenson, 2016 Royal Troon)
- Lowest 18-hole round: 62 (Branden Grace, Rd. 3, 2017 Royal Birkdale)
Stenson’s duel with Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon produced not just a memorable championship but also record-setting scores. The following year, Grace made history with the first 62 in any men’s major championship.
What’s interesting is how Schauffele’s name appears multiple times across these records, highlighting his emergence as one of the game’s elite players. The scoring records also show how modern equipment, fitness, and course conditions have changed what’s possible at even the most challenging venues in golf.
