NEWS

The average age of a golf major champion is 32 years old

By Daniel Wilco
Published on
The average age of a golf major champion is 32 years old

If you’re looking to win one of golf’s four major championships, you better be around 32 years and 143 days old. That’s the average age of a major winner since the PGA changed to stroke play in 1958. 

The average winner for each are all within 173 days of the average, and 244 days of each other.

But the oldest average champions are found at the PGA Championship, barely. There, the average winner is 32 years, 316 days old — 244 days older than the average winner of the U.S. Open.

Here’s how each major stacks up, with the oldest and youngest to win since 1958 included:

 

Masters:

Average champion age: 32 years, 73 days

Oldest champion since 1958: Jack Nicklaus in 1986 — 46 years, 94 days

Youngest champion since 1958: Tiger Woods in 1997 — 21 years, 110 days

 

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U.S. Open

Average champion age: 32 years, 72 days

Oldest champion since 1958: Hale Irwin in 1990 — 45 years, 260 days

Youngest champion since 1958: Jordan Spieth in 2015 — 21 years, 334 days

 

The Open Championship

Average champion age: 32 years, 115 days

Oldest champion since 1958: Roberto DeVicenzo in 1967 — 44 years, 103 days

Youngest champion since 1958: Seve Ballesteros in 1979 — 22 years, 108 days

 

PGA Championship

Average champion age: 32 years, 316 days

Oldest champion since 1958: Julius Boros in 1968 — 48 years, 152 days

Youngest champion since 1958: Rory McIlroy in 2012 — 23 years, 106 days