The 1976 Open Championship. The 1976 Open Championship was the 105th Open Championship, played 7–10 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Johnny Miller was playing the best golf of anyone in the world when he won The Open in 1976. The blond American had been second and third in the previous three years and won the U.S. Open in 1973 with a record closing round of 63. At Royal Birkdale he finished with a 66 that took him from two behind to six ahead of the field. He played suprem