| 1996 Senior British Open | |
| Dates: | 25–28 July 1996 |
| Location: | Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates: | 55.2°N -6.635°W |
| Course: | Royal Portrush Golf Club Dunluce Links |
| Lang: | uk |
| Org: | The R&A |
| Format: | 72 holes stroke play |
| Par: | 72 |
| Yardage: | 6690yd |
| Field: | 105 players, 61 after cut |
| Cut: | 150 (+6) |
| Purse: | |
| Champion: | Brian Barnes |
| Score: | 277 (−11) |
| Map: | Europe#United Kingdom#Island of Ireland#UK Northern Ireland |
| Map Label: | Royal Portrush GC |
| Map Relief: | yes |
| Map Size: | 200 |
| Previous: | 1995 |
| Next: | 1997 |
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]
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]
See 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]
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.
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 | 72 | 65 | 66 | 74 | 277 | −11 | 1 | |||
| Bob Charles | 1989, 1993 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 74 | 280 | −8 | T2 | ||
| Tom Wargo | 1994 | 68 | 70 | 76 | 72 | 286 | −2 | T7 | ||
| 67 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 287 | −1 | 9 | ||||
| Gary Player | 1988, 1990 | 70 | 76 | 69 | 77 | 292 | +4 | T14 | ||
| John Fourie | 1992 | 71 | 74 | 79 | 78 | 302 | +14 | T47 |
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).
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]