Gene Sarazen won his only Open title, five strokes ahead of runner-up Macdonald Smith.

[14] With a 70 in the third round on Friday morning, Sarazen increased his lead to four over Arthur Havers, who shot a course-record 68 (−4).

Havers, playing well behind Sarazen, needed a 69 to win, but made the turn in 37 and could not close the gap.

Subsequent winners of both were Ben Hogan (1953), Lee Trevino (1971), Tom Watson (1982), and Tiger Woods (2000).

This was the only Open Championship held at Prince's, just north of Royal St George's, which has since been the only venue in southeastern England to host.