Tom Lehman won his only major championship by two strokes over runners-up Mark McCumber and Ernie Els.

[2] Lehman built a six-stroke lead after 54 holes and became the first American to win at Lytham since Bobby Jones seventy years earlier.

[3][4] Tiger Woods, age 20, was the only amateur to make the cut and finished tied for 22nd; he turned professional six weeks later.

Jack Nicklaus, 56, was one stroke out of the lead after 36 holes, but fell back on the weekend and tied for 45th.

Source:[5] Previous lengths of the course for The Open Championship (since 1950):[1] Thursday, 18 July 1996 Friday, 19 July 1996 Amateurs (a): Woods (−1), Bladon (+4), Allan (+5), García (+7).